Today, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), in partnership with Governor Bill Lee and the Families First Community Advisory Board, recognized the 7 collaborative groups selected for $175 million in Implementation Grants to further the Department’s vision of fundamentally changing the way low-income families are served in Tennessee.

A public hearing to offer comments on Tennessee’s Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) application has been scheduled for August 19, 2022. The SSBG plan can be found on the DHS website.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services is announcing 3 new developments with the administration of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program (P-EBT).

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing new actions to support child care providers and parents. On July 1, 2022, TDHS increased child care payment assistance reimbursement rates by 20% across all categories of care in the Child Care Certificate Program. Beginning August 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, TDHS also will waive co-pay costs for families currently participating in the State’s child care payment assistance programs. The Department initiated these changes in direct response to rising costs faced by families and child care providers.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is providing extra support to thousands of families who receive monthly cash assistance through the state’s Families First program. Households with an active, ongoing case in the Families First Program as of May 31, 2022, will receive a one-time payment of $450 on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. This one-time payment will be available July 1, 2022.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) and Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability (TCAD) are recognizing June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) by bringing awareness to the signs of abuse, methods to report abuse, and resources for caretakers.

In accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Services policy memorandum, SP 15-2018, CACFP 12-2018, SFSP 05-2018 - Child Nutrition Program Waiver Request Guidance and Protocol-Revised, May 24, 2018, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a waiver of statutory and/or regulatory Program requirements to allow SFSP Sponsors to provide non-congregate meal service at outdoor sites when experiencing excessive heat.

In accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Nutrition Services policy memorandum, SP 15-2018, CACFP 12-2018, SFSP 05-2018 - Child Nutrition Program Waiver Request Guidance and Protocol-Revised, May 24, 2018, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking a waiver of statutory and/or regulatory Program requirements to assist CACFP and SFSP program operators in transitioning to normal operations while understanding the ongoing impacts of COVID-19.

NASHVILLE – As part of the Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative, seven public-private groups have been selected by the Families First Community Advisory Board to implement innovative strategies for moving Tennessee families with economic, social, and developmental vulnerabilities beyond their current circumstances and on to self-sufficiency. Each group will receive $25 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for their three-year pilots. The implementation grants for these pilot initiatives further the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ (TDHS) vision of fundamentally changing the way government assistance is delivered to families in need.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) in partnership with the Families First Community Advisory Board, will host a 2-day series of pilot program presentations from 17 public-private partnerships, vying for $175 million in Implementation Grants to further the Department’s vision of fundamentally changing the way government assistance is delivered to families in Tennessee. The presentations mark a significant milestone in the state’s plans to effectively put federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to use on a local level.

TN Department of Human Services (DHS) is requesting three waivers from USDA FNS in its operation of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

Beginning March 4, 2022, eligible children that did not receive assistance through Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program for the 2020-2021 school year will receive a retroactive benefit payment. This single retroactive payment will be sent to children who experienced a change in P-EBT eligibility status during the 2020-2021 school year, or that were not accounted for initially.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has received federal approval making new disaster relief assistance available to Tennesseans who suffered during the severe storms of December 10-11, 2021. Starting Monday, February 14th, qualifying families can apply for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits and the Families First/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Cash Assistance (ECA) program.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is providing another resource to help communities with the launch of this year’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The goal of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is to ensure children 18 and younger, who benefit from meal programs at school, continue to have that same access to nutritious meals when school is out for the summer.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is accepting applications for Families First Community Grants through February 4, 2022. These grants will make up to $122 million in funding available to public and private organizations who can demonstrate family-focused solutions that help Tennesseans move beyond economic, social and developmental vulnerabilities and on to a path of self-sufficiency.