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.

The Families First Community Advisory Board selected 17 collaborative groups to receive a portion of the nearly $5 million the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) will make available during the first phase of the Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative. Up to $445,000 will be available to each organization, made up of public-private partnerships dedicated to developing innovative, community-driven strategies for moving Tennesseans with economic, social, and developmental vulnerabilities beyond their current barriers and on to self-sufficiency.

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 qualifying as a “child-only” case in October will receive a one-time payment of $950 on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards December 1, 2021.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), the state’s Office of Customer Focused Government, and IT group (Strategic Technology Solutions) are teaming up to add new helpful services for users of Tennessee’s MyTN mobile application. Customers can now file and check the status of an appeal for the denial of TDHS programs on their smartphone through MyTN.

Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) Commissioner Clarence H. Carter is joining a nationally recognized group of leaders dedicated to providing guidance on the most important governance issues of the nation. As a member of the National Academy of Public Administration, Carter will join more than 940 Fellows on the Academy including former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors, state legislators, prominent scholars, business executives, nonprofit leaders, and public administrators.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is the leading government agency to partner in a new nationwide support system for others who are facing adversity. The National Overcomers Network will acknowledge individuals who prevailed over their personal vulnerabilities in-spite-of the existing public support system and connect them with adults who are now facing similar challenges.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing additional steps to help parents navigate the balance of raising a family and holding down a job. Beginning October 1, 2021, TDHS will increase child care payment assistance rates by 10% across all categories of care in the Child Care Certificate Program

With the launch of the Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is taking a groundbreaking step to transform the way Tennessee serves its most vulnerable families. Over the next four years, this initiative will provide up to $5 million in Planning Grants and $175 million in Implementation Grants to further the Department’s vision of fundamentally changing the way government assistance is delivered to families in Tennessee.