Let’s coordinate, share ideas, and learn from our individual customer groups on how we can work together to better serve Tennessee’s low-income families.

At TDHS, we are dedicated to transforming Tennessee's safety net, including our goal of expanding access to affordable, high-quality childcare in Tennessee. We believe that childcare is an essential part of the foundational support needed among working families to help them achieve economic prosperity. We are thrilled to share a significant milestone in our journey towards this goal.

This month, we celebrated the grand opening of the Tyson Learning Center, a remarkable four-year development made possible through a powerful collaboration between Tyson Foods, TDHS, KinderCare and local government. This new center aims to provide access to high-quality, employer-sponsored childcare to support Tyson Foods team members in Humboldt, TN.

This innovative public and private partnership will play a crucial role in bolstering our state's workforce by offering much-needed affordable childcare. We believe that when families are supported and children have access to a nurturing environment, they can thrive and reach their full potential.

Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to Tyson Foods for their unwavering commitment to their employees and for setting a shining example for other employers in the region and state. This joint effort highlights the positive impact that can be achieved through employer-led initiatives.

As TDHS remains committed to further enhancing and expanding Tennessee's childcare system, we look forward to exploring and supporting additional initiatives that benefit families and uplift our community.

To learn more about this partnership, visit the TDHS News Page.

The TDHS Child Care Services team came together with Tyson Foods and KinderCare to celebrate the grand opening of the new Tyson Learning Center in Humboldt, TN that will provide needed employer-sponsored child care to Tyson employees. During the grand opening, TDHS Assistant Commissioner of Child Care and Community Services, Jude White, presented Tyson Foods with a $150,000 Establishment Grant to support start-up costs such as furniture, equipment, supplies, materials, and curriculum.

 

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) recently provided extra support to more than 13,000 families who receive monthly cash assistance through the state’s Families First program. The department distributed one-time payments on July 15th of $500 to provide extra support to Families First households with an active case as of July 1, 2023 to help them prepare for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

Families First is Tennessee’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. TANF is a federally funded program that emphasizes work, family strengthening, and personal responsibility to empower families for long-term success. The program helps participants reach this goal by providing temporary cash assistance, transportation, child care assistance, educational support, job training, and other support services.

For further information about the Families First program, please visit the TDHS website at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/families-first-tanf.html

TDHS recently celebrated it’s partnership 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. For eligible employees, they can receive financial assistance through the TDHS Smart Steps Child Care Payment Assistance program, contribute a small copayment based on their income and family size and Tyson will pay the difference of up to $125 per week. The grand opening of the new learning center was held on July 17th and will have the capacity to accept approximately 100 children ages six weeks to preschool offered exclusively to Tyson employees.

On an ongoing basis, the Tyson Learning Center will have access to quality supports such as WAGE$, a salary supplement program tied to continuing education, enhancement grants, professional development opportunities for child care agency staff, technical assistance and training resources.  These types of supports are available to all TDHS licensed child care providers as important investments in promoting early childhood environments that are safe, healthy, and educationally rich. 

TDHS aims to extend support to additional employer-led initiatives that can enhance and expand Tennessee's child care system through the department’s Establishment Grant Program. The Establishment Grant Program supports the creation of quality on-site child care facilities, and employers can apply for up to $1,000 per slot of licensed capacity to support start-up costs such as furniture, equipment, supplies, materials, and curriculum. The grant program is open for employers to apply after completing designated phases of the pre-licensure process. To learn more about TDHS Establishment Grant Program and other resources to assist child care providers, please visit the TDHS website.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services has opened applications for Community Child Care Hub Pilot Grants, an initiative that will make available up to $5 million dollars in funding to public/government and non-profit organizations as a way to develop and establish locally managed child care administrative hubs that will support networks of newly licensed child care locations. The intent of community child care hubs is to generate additional licensed capacity and lessen the administrative burden on child care agencies, particularly in underserved communities. This is a new and innovative opportunity in Tennessee and TDHS encourages all qualifying public/government and non-profit organizations to learn more and apply from the TDHS website through July 28th at 5pm CST.  

A detailed application guide and application form are available on the TDHS website.  Please visit the Child Care Services page for more information about resources available to Tennessee families and child care providers such as child care payment assistance and enhancements grants.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services is here to ensure every Tennessean has the tools they need to become financially stable. Many of our programs provide benefits based on documented need and some programs utilize Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Cards to deliver food or cash benefits. Unfortunately, some criminals are willing to steal benefits meant to help families on their way to financial stability. 

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) will accept renewal applications for the 2023-2023 Federal Fiscal Year through August 1st. For access to the online application system contact the Food Programs via email at CACFP.DHS@tn.gov or call (615) 313-4749. 

The CACFP is a federally funded program that provides reimbursement for eligible meals that are served to participants who meet age and income requirements. Administrative payments are also provided for those agencies that sponsor the participation of day care homes. All payments are based on annual rates established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). CACFP provides aid to child and adult care institutions and family or group day care homes for the provision of nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children, and the health and wellness of older adults and chronically impaired disabled persons.

CACFP also helps facilities implement "best practices" to ensure children have access to a variety of nutritious foods. 

For more information please visit our website https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/children/dhs-nutrition-programs/child-and-adult-care-food-program.html or reach out to us at CACFP.DHS@tn.gov or (615) 313-4749.

Governor Bill Lee invites Tennesseans to take advantage of back-to-school savings during this weekend’s July 28-30 traditional sales tax holiday.

This year, the traditional sales tax holiday will suspend state and local sales tax from Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30, giving Tennesseans the opportunity to save up to 9.75 percent on back-to-school items, including clothing, school supplies and computers. Tennessee families can learn more here.

The traditional sales tax holiday comes in addition to Gov. Lee’s Tennessee Works Tax Act, the largest tax cut in Tennessee history, which includes a three-month grocery tax suspension this August 1 through October 31.

Tennessee Serves: July Service Challenge

As summer winds down and kids across the state are gearing up to return to the classroom, Tennessee Serves is focusing on back-to-school efforts this month to support students and low-income families in preparing for the upcoming school year.

Equipping students with the tools necessary for them to learn is crucial to their lifelong success—in and out of the school building. Help meet the needs of students at your local schools or connect with an organization near you here.

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

Stuff the Bus

For some families across the state, ensuring their children have new school supplies to start the school year off is difficult to do. You can help provide the resources needed for students in your community to succeed in school by taking part in or leading a Stuff the Bus event.

Host your own collection drive or donate school supplies to a Stuff the Bus event in one of the following areas: McMinn and Meigs Counties, Sevier and Cocke Counties, Franklin County, Rutherford and Cannon Counties or Nashville.

American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge

When patients undergoing cancer treatment live far away from their medical team, the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge offers a comfortable, safe and loving environment to families for extended stays. Hope Lodge is in need of volunteers to help with daily operations and driving patients to and from appointments. Find volunteer opportunities here.

As a part of Governor Bill Lee’s Strong Families grants for crisis pregnancy support, the State is seeking to retrieve input from community organizations, TN residents and state agencies to better understand the availability of resources to individuals experiencing pregnancy. To facilitate this process, the State is asking for individuals to complete a brief survey that covers various aspects related to services, resources, and challenges faced by individuals and families during the perinatal period. Survey responses will be collected through July 31st. Please see the link below to complete the brief survey.

Trevecca Nazarene University Offers Poverty 101 Course from the Center for Human Flourishing

Trevecca’s Center for Human Flourishing has introduced a free course called Poverty 101 that’s open to the public. This unique learning opportunity guides students through the complex nature of poverty and teaches them how to journey with those trapped in cycles of poverty in dignifying ways.

Through support from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Trevecca is offering this program free of charge to applicants. The course consists of eight video sessions that allow for a self-paced, asynchronous experience for students. 

The content includes expertise in community development and poverty alleviation from knowledgeable leaders at Shepherd Community Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The educational resources they provide are built on decades of research in front-line community development. 

Through the sessions offered in the course, Trevecca is connecting with a growing number of poverty alleviation organizations, churches and nonprofits across Tennessee. The goal of the course is intended to help break the cycle of generational poverty in Nashville and beyond by equipping participants with useful practices and assets.   

The online course is available to anyone, and those interested can register at 
trevecca.edu/poverty-101.

What: Parents and Partners Connect

This event is hosted by the Child Support Team at the Tennessee Department of Human Services to provide an opportunity for Tennessee parents and residents to register and “drop-in” to this virtual event to engage with Child Support professionals directly to ask and answer any lingering questions.  

When: August 9, 2023, from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm CST and August 10, 2023, from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm CST

Where: Virtual Event

Click here to view the event flyer. Please click this link to register.

What: TACEE Annual Conference 2023

The Tennessee Association for Children’s Early Education (TACEE) will hold its annual state conference at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on September 8 and 9, 2023 (pre-conference on Friday and conference on Saturday). This year’s theme is Be the  Change, Be a Difference Maker. The conference will provide 6.5 hours of TDHS approved training on Saturday. Participants can receive up to an additional 6 hours of approved training if they also attend the pre-conference.

When: September 8-9, 2023  

For more information on conference agenda, please review the TACEE website.

Where: Middle Tennessee State University 1301 E Main St., Murfreesboro, TN 37132

What: Baby Celebration – Johnson City

New and expecting parents in the Johnson City area are invited to a Baby Celebration hosted by the Child Support Division of the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). This free family event is an opportunity for new and expecting parents and guardians to receive free baby supplies (while supplies last), speak with Child Support professionals, and receive other helpful resources.

When: September 15, 2023, 10am-2pm EST

Where: Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church

225 Princeton Rd., Johnson City, TN 37601

For more information, contact the TDHS Paternity Program at ChildSupportPaternity.VAoP.DHS@tn.gov.

What: TDHS Amplifying Fatherhood Conference

Hosted by Commissioner Clarence H. Carter and TDHS, this statewide event will bolster efforts to raise awareness around the issues and challenges surrounding fatherhood. The conference will bring together organizations and practitioners in the field of social services and other programs serving fathers. 

When: September 25-27, 2023

Where: Gaylord Opryland Hotel

2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, TN 37214

If you are interested in attending, please register here.

Appeals and Hearings

Clerk 3
Davidson County – 48191 (2) (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

 

Child Care and Community Services

APS Intake Counselor 2*
Davidson County – 47877 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

APS Investigative Specialist 1*
Lauderdale County – 48332 (Closing Date 8/9/2023)
Rhea County – 48279 (Closing Date 8/9/2023)

DHS Licensing Consultant 2*
Knox County – 48333 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

 

Family Assistance

Eligibility Assistant
Monroe County – 48247 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Sumner County – 48231 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

Eligibility Counselor 1*
Campbell County – 48245 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Haywood County – 48331 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Madison County – 48238 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Meigs County – 48312 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Monroe County – 48250 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Robertson County – 48244 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Scott County – 48315 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Sumner County – 48228 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Carroll County – 48133 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

 

People Operations

Talent Acquisition Specialist
Davidson County – 48361 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

 

Quality Improvement and Strategic Solutions

DHS Continuous Improvement Analyst
Davidson County – 48112 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

 

Rehabilitation Services

DHS Program Coordinator
Davidson County – 48337 (2) (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

DHS Program Supervisor
Rutherford County – 48336 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

Rehab Assistant
Davidson County – 47787 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

Rehabilitation Instructor – Blind*
Hamilton County – 48334 (Closing Date 8/9/2023)
Madison County – 48089 (Closing Date 8/9/2023)

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor – Masters
Bradley County – 48138 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Montgomery County – 48210 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)
Sevier County – 48189 (Closing Date 8/2/2023)

 

Detailed listings on all open positions (Preferred and Executive Service) can be found at https://www.tn.gov/careers/apply-here.html.

Everyone can be a recruiter! Please help us by tapping into your network of talented friends, family and associates.

NOTE: You may now find TDHS jobs also posted on the TDHS LinkedIn page

Tennessee Department of Human Services: Overview | LinkedIn

Please encourage your friends and colleagues to visit our site for opportunities at TDHS.

This Newsletter will be distributed on the last Wednesday of each month, and we kindly ask that all news be approved by leadership and submitted at least three weeks in advance.

Let’s coordinate, share ideas, and learn from our individual customer groups on how we can work together to better serve Tennessee’s low-income families.

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