NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This National Preparedness Month, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) will provide 300 Emergency Go-Kits to Tennesseans who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, and have low vision.

NASHVILLE, TN– The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has opened applications for the 2024 Families First Community Grant Program, an initiative that will make available approximately $5 million in funding to non-profit organizations providing direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need and promote self-sufficiency.

NASHVILLE– Following the successful launch of the Fatherhood Initiative and the Amplifying Fatherhood conference last year which brought together hundreds of thought leaders in the industry, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is delighted to announce for the first time the opening of applications for its highly-anticipated Fatherhood Grant Program.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Human Services today announced that the department, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, has launched the Summer EBT Program for the 2023-24 academic school year.

NASHVILLE – In response to the early May issuance payment that occurred on April 20, 2024, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) announced today that June 2024 benefits will be split into two payments for customers who received their May benefits early and participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

USDA FNS requires that the Summer Food Service Program waiver checklist is publicly available. This listing includes the PDF version of the waiver checklist in its entirety.

NASHVILLE– The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) announced today the opening of applications for the Non-Profit and Employer Workforce Care Partnership Grants, (also known as NEW Care Partnership Grants). This opportunity is made available through the Child Care Improvement Fund, a 3-year pilot, which allocates $15 million a year in state dollars to support child care provided through non-profit organizations. Following the success of the department’s collaboration with Tennessee businesses such as Tyson Foods to enhance employer-sponsored child care, this new initiative will use some of the Child Care Improvement Fund to aid in the creation of child care access for employers and their workforce.

NASHVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing its participation in the 2024 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). The goal of the Summer Food Service Program is to ensure children 18 and younger, who benefit from meal programs at school, continue to have that same access to nutritious meals outside of school.

NASHVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) today announced that the department will begin accepting requests for replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) benefits stolen from households impacted by EBT card skimming, cloning, and similar fraud between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024. The review period will open on November 6, 2023 and close on September 30, 2024.

NASHVILLE, TN – As part of the commitment to improve affordable child care services for Tennesseans across the state, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is taking significant steps to bolster child care access for families in need. Beginning October 1st, a majority of licensed child care agencies participating in the Child Care Certificate Program will receive increased reimbursement rates.

With Tennessee currently ranked among the top five states within the U.S. in recognition to the Project SEARCH graduation outcome, securing a 97% post-graduation employment rate with wages at a minimum of $12/hour and working an average of 26+ hours/week, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services today announced ongoing opportunities for employers and students to participate in the nationally acclaimed Project SEARCH model, which offers transition services to high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to help them into employment through hands-on training and internships. TDHS Rehabilitation Services is diligently working to increase the reach of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services and connect more Tennesseans with disabilities to employment and educational opportunities by forging new community partnerships.

NASHVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) celebrated that the department has partnered with Tyson Foods, one of the world’s largest food companies, to provide employees at their Humboldt, TN location with employer-sponsored on-site child care. In collaboration with TDHS and KinderCare, a provider in early childhood and school-age education and care, Tyson Foods will provide access to child care to eligible employees through development of their new Tyson Learning Center.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) will provide extra support to more than 13,000 families who receive monthly cash assistance through the state’s Families First program. The payment will provide extra support to Families First participants as they begin to prepare for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Households with an active case in the Families First Program as of July 1, 2023, will receive a one-time payment on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. This one-time payment will be available around July 15, 2023.