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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.

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) 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 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 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.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is making additional assistance available to help families following the recent flooding disaster. Qualifying families who received damage to their homes or have been unable to work because of the August 21, 2021 storm are now able to apply for a one-time payment of Emergency Cash Assistance.