Federal Initiatives

Here you will find a description of federal funding and the standards by which DCS is responsible to comply.  There also are reports showing the Department's compliance by year.

Assistance for Youth in Transition

The John H. Chafee Foster Care Independent Living Act of 1999 was created with the passage of the Foster Care Independence Act to better assist young people aging out of foster care.

If you have any questions or want more information, please contact:

Independent Living - Transition to Adulthood Program 
State of Tennessee
Department of Children's Services 
UBS Tower, 9th Floor
315 Deaderick
Nashville, TN 37243
(844) 887-7277
Email Independent Living

Multi-Ethnic Placement Act / Inter-Ethnic Adoption Provision 

The purpose of the Multi–Ethnic Placement Act as amended by the Inter-Ethnic Adoption Provision of 1996 is to eliminate delays in placement of children for adoption or into foster care when at all possible. The intent of the law is to ensure a person or governmental agency involved in adoption or foster care placement not deny to any individual the opportunity to become a foster or adoptive parent on the basis of race, color or national origin of the individual or child involved.

Education Amendments of 1972 

The purpose of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender in any educational program or activity that receives federal funds. It ensures legal protection against discrimination based on gender for both students and employees, and includes protection against sexual harassment. With some exceptions, Title IX covers all aspects of an educational program activity.

Equal Opportunity 

The purpose of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is to prohibit programs that receive federal funds from discriminating against participants or clients on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The intent of the law is to ensure all persons, regardless of their race, color, or national origin, are allowed equal opportunity to participate in these federally funded programs. To insure DCS meets its compliance responsibility, the following procedures have been established to provide for monitoring of Title VI compliance activities and complaint processing in all programs that receive federal funding.

Overview of Title IV-E Funding

Title IV-E, Federal Foster Care is a federal program administered by state and local public child welfare agencies that assist children. The program is an open-ended entitlement funded with a combination of federal and state/local matching funds and is authorized under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.

Tennessee Code (TCA 4-3-304) Title IV-E State Plan Requirements

These are state laws used to uphold federal laws related to public child welfare and obtain federal funding to ensure citizens receive services.

Title VI Implementation Plan

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination of meaningful access to any program, service, or activity on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

Tennessee Human Rights CommissionTitle VI Compliance Program Guidelines

Title VII

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law which prohibits discriminatory harassment in the workplace on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 & over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, or veteran status. 

Title IX

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”