Tennessee Department of Human Services Making Childcare Easier to Find, More Affordable
September 29, 2021
Nashville, TN – 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 1st, 2021, TDHS will increase child care payment assistance rates by 10% across all categories of care in the Child Care Certificate Program.
Under this program, the state pays a reimbursement rate directly to child care providers on behalf of families who are enrolled and meet the income and work or education requirements of the program. This overall rate increase will save many participating families money by reducing the portion they have to pay to cover tuition expenses.
New Investments Part of a Larger Goal to Support Working Parents Who Depend on Quality Childcare
Additionally, this rate increase will provide financial support to child care providers who may be recovering from financial losses during the pandemic. This additional income for child care providers and will help providers stay open and remain available to serve families in their communities that need quality care for their children.
“Many child care providers have continuously and consistently served families throughout the pandemic, enabling parents to work and children to continue their critical early learning,” said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “This rate increase will create incentives to grow the child care industry and remove some of the barriers that make it challenging for parents to enter the workforce and support their families.”
Beginning October 1st, 2021, TDHS will also begin providing additional assistance to child care agencies who care for children identified with disabilities or special needs. A 15% rate bonus will be applied to each qualifying child that participates in the Child Care Certificate Program. In addition to the 15% bonus, the Department is partnering with the Child Care Resource and Referral Network to establish a team of Inclusion Quality Coaches to promote inclusive early childhood environments.
These investments are the latest in a series of moves to support and expand child care in Tennessee. In recent years TDHS has offered Enhancement and COVID Relief grants, established a WAGE$ program to raise salaries, and created a bonus for providers operating in communities that don’t have an adequate supply of child care providers.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services is dedicated to making our state a place where all Tennesseans can move beyond the barriers they may face, to self-sufficiency, and on to new heights
Tennessee Landmarks Lit Green for Child Support Awareness Month
August 21, 2021
Tennessee adds new resources to help parents provide the necessary support for children
Nashville, TN – The State Capitol Cupola and other well-known landmarks across Tennessee were lit green Friday night in recognition of Child Support Awareness Month.
Each August the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) works to light up recognizable locations in green as a shining reminder of the important role its Child Support Program plays in the health and well-being of Tennessee children.
Eiffel Tower in Paris
Tennessee Launches Additional Effort to Feed Children This Summer
August 8, 2021
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) wants Tennesseans to know additional benefits will be available for families who need help purchasing food this summer. The state’s fourth round of benefits made available as part of the Summer Pandemic Electronic
Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program will provide hundreds of dollars in benefits to qualifying families so they can immediately begin purchasing food.
Department of Human Services Provides Additional Food Benefits to Tennessee Families
Tennessee’s Coordinated Community Response Protects Seniors
June 17, 2021
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) by highlighting the impact the state’s Coordinated Community Response (CCR) has had over the last five years.
Coalition of agencies and organizations is now in its fifth year of serving vulnerable adults
Tennessee Department of Human Services announces Summer Food Service Program Expanded to Provide Meals During COVID-19 Pandemic
December 8, 2020
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing an extension to its summer program to provide meals to children.
With the recent approval from the USDA, sponsors of Tennessee’s Summer Food Service Program now have the ability to offer meals to their communities throughout the entire 2020/2021 school year.
USDA has extended the Summer Food Service Program to help Feed Children during the Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Tennessee Department of Human Services Extending Deadline for Families to Apply for Pandemic Food Assistance until July 27th
July 13, 2020
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is taking steps to ensure parents are able to receive a program designed to help them feed their children during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
Applications will be accepted online for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program here until Monday, July 27th at 4:30pm CT.
Coronavirus
Tennessee Making it Possible for More Families to Receive COVID-19 Assistance
July 5, 2020
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is giving more families an opportunity to apply for a program that’s already provided valuable financial assistance to thousands across the state who’ve been impacted by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
The deadline has been extended to apply for a unique program that provides emergency cash assistance to families who lost employment
Deadline Extended for Families to Apply for COVID-19 Food Assistance
July 2, 2020
Applications for Pandemic EBT program will now be accepted until July 13th
Nashville, TN – Families across Tennessee still have time to apply for an important program designed to help support them through the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has extended the deadline to apply for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program until Monday, July 13th, 2020 at 4:30pm Central Time.
Coronavirus
Combating Elder Abuse Remains Priority During the COVID-19 Pandemic
June 12, 2020
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is taking a number of important precautions this year as the state recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).
Tennessee taking special steps to protect older adults while investigating cases of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation
Tennessee makes changes to Child Support Guidelines
May 11, 2020
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is implementing revised child support guidelines this week that will help align all child support orders with changing family economics, improve the system for both custodial and noncustodial parents, and meet new federal requirements.
These are the first major changes to Tennessee’s child support guidelines since 2005.
Revised rules recognize the needs of low-income mothers and fathers and provide better support for incarcerated parents to fulfill their child support obligations.
