TDMHSAS Receives New Grant to Help Parents Address Addiction

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is receiving a new five-year, $3,000,000 grant to support families and children affected by opioids and other substance misuse.

The Regional Partnership Grant through the Federal Administration for Children and Families is designed to increase the well-being, improve permanency, and enhance safety of children who are in or are at risk of out of home placement due to a parent or caregiver’s opioid or other substance misuse.

“When addiction hits a person, it impacts their whole family in ways that will be felt for years to come,” said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW.  “We’ve seen time and time again that if a person can achieve recovery, they can unlock the door to being the parent they always wanted to be.  We’re so grateful to our partners in this work, and we know that it will truly have a generational impact for hundreds of families.”

The project will utilize the HOMEBUILDERS model, which is the nation’s oldest and best-documented intensive family preservation services program, to achieve goals for eligible children and families.  Services last about four to six weeks depending on the needs of the family and are delivered in-home to reduce barriers to service.

TDMHSAS will be working with partners at Centerstone, the Department of Children Services, Department of Human Services, and the Administrative Office of the Courts to deliver these services for children and families.  The coverage area for this grant is nine counties in middle Tennessee: Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marshall, and Maury Counties.

Grant funding for this program runs through the end of September 2027.