Sullivan County Showing High Rate Of Student Suspensions, Child Abuse Cases

Northeast Tennessee’s largest county, Sullivan, ranks 21st in the Volunteer State in child well being and one of its biggest opportunities for improvement is reducing the high rate of students who are being suspended from school and an above average rate of substantiated child abuse cases. The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth says the suspension rates could be reduced through clear definitions of what constitutes suspendable behavior and restorative discipline practices. The commission also suggested programs such as evidence based home visiting have shown to reduce instances of child abuse.