DHS Inspections heat up as tempertures rise
June 9, 2010
Child Care Providers that offer Transportation put on Alert during Summer Months
Nashville, TN — In a renewed effort to ensure that comprehensive transportation rules are being followed, as well as remaining extra vigilant to keep children safe during hot summer days, child care providers across Tennessee who transport children will face increased inspections again this summer. The Department of Human Services licensing staff is cracking down with extra monitoring visits to providers who transport children. Those caught breaking the rules face a range of penalties, from being put on notice, probation or suspension of their operation.
Last summer more than 475 visits were conducted and 70 agencies were “Put on Notice” for violations that ranged from failure to conduct a walk-through to not reconciling the transportation logs. While violations have become less severe in the years since the transportation crackdowns began in 2003, DHS is not letting up. [Read more]
Thousands of Flood Victims receive disaster food and cash assistance
June 6, 2010
DHS Office of Inspector General working to fight Flood Fraud
Nashville, TN – Thousands of Tennesseans from 45 disaster-designated counties received millions of dollars in food and cash assistance from May 13th through May 28th. The DHS-administered programs have helped put food on the table of more than 9,600 families who were not previously enrolled in the Food Stamp (now called SNAP) program. Nearly $4.4 million in Disaster SNAP benefits were distributed to these families. In addition, more than 5,400 families already enrolled in the program received replacement benefits for food that was lost due to power outages or flood damage. An additional 6,700 families were granted Disaster Supplemental SNAP benefits because of storm damage to their residences. More than $1.4 million was issued to these households.
DHS also administered a cash assistance program for eligible citizens who sustained flood damage to their homes. More than 12,500 families qualified for the $250.00 and $500.00 payments. Just under $5 million in disaster cash benefits were issued. [Read more]
