Tennessee Code Title 37. Juveniles § 37-5-402

(a) The person, agency or corporation with whom a child is placed for either of the purposes set out in § 37-5-401 shall be responsible for the child's proper care and training.

(b) The department of human services, through its agents, shall permit the placing of such child only with a licensed child-caring or child-placing agency or maternity home or in a family home that has been studied and approved by the department's own agent.