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.

Did you know that the Tennessee Department of Human Services has specific programs to help people with disabilities? Within our division of Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR Program), we have top-notch team members that are ready to serve. Our goal is simple – to ensure that no Tennessean is defined by their disability. Instead, we focus on harnessing their strengths, resources, and abilities to enhance our state's community and economy.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VR) provides a variety of individualized services to persons with disabilities in preparation for their employment in the competitive labor market. Within the VR services umbrella are programs like Project SEARCH, Transition School-to-Work Services, Business Employment Services, and much more.

For more information about VR services and resources within your region of the state, please visit the Tennessee Department of Human Services website at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/ds/vocational-rehabilitation.html or call (833) 772-TDHS (8347).

Middle and high school are a critical time for developing social skills, self-advocacy, and the groundwork for employment and, life after high school and independence made possible through employment. The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) Vocational Rehabilitation Services is dedicated to helping students with disabilities across the state find employment success, wellness, and independence by offering Pre-Employment (PREP) Summer Camps to students with disabilities in secondary school between the ages of 14-22. Vocational Rehabilitation Services will offer PREP camps beginning in April and will include training and experience in the following areas:

Camp details are below:

Marion County Camp

When: April  30 – May 15 9:00 am - 1:00 pm EST

Where: Marion County High School

160 Ridley Ave.

Jasper, TN 37343

 

Grundy County Camp

When: June 3-7, 2024 9:00 am - 1:00 pm EST

Where: Grundy County High School

24970 TN-108

Coalmont, TN 37313

 

Maury County

When: June 3-7, 2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Where: Columbia Central High School

921 Lion Parkway

Columbia, TN 38401

To review more information on camp availability, please visit the links below: Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and/or Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Visit the TDHS event calendar to learn more. 

On April 20, 2024, some customers receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Families First (TANF) benefits received their May benefits earlier than scheduled. We have notified affected customers via text message and email to help them plan accordingly.

Customers who are unsure if they received their May benefits early can check their EBT card balance by calling 888-997-9444 or by reviewing their case on the One DHS Customer Portal at https://onedhs.tn.gov/.

Additionally, customers can find resources for meal planning, shopping, and budgeting here. 

Once school is out, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) begins. The SFSP is a partnership between the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, TDHS and community-based organizations to provide free meals to children in their communities throughout the summer.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing its participation in the 2024 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the opening of this year’s application period. 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.

Each year TDHS partners with sponsors across the state to provide summer meals. The program traditionally runs from the end of May to August when the next school semester begins.

Historically, the SFSP has operated in most areas of the state, however the need is especially important in rural counties and those designated as distressed. TDHS is hoping to recruit sponsors willing to serve those counties and additional sponsors for every county in the state to help their communities.

Applications for organizations to participate in SFSP will be accepted until May 1, 2024. If your organization is interested in becoming a SFSP sponsor or becoming a feeding site under an existing sponsor, please contact the Tennessee Department of Human Services by e-mail at TNSFSP.DHS@tn.gov. For more information on the Summer Food Service Program, please visit the TDHS website.

In addition to children of school age, adults 19 and older with a mental or physical disability are eligible to receive free meals if they participate in a school program established for individuals with disabilities during the prior school year.

Parents interested in finding a Summer Food Service Program feeding location near them are encouraged contact the TDHS Summer Food Service Program main line at 615-313-4749 or contact their local school as the end of the school year approaches.

TDHS 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. Unfortunately, some criminals are willing to steal benefits meant to help families on their way to financial stability.

Common Types of Benefit Theft and Fraud

Customers can file for replacement requests within the One DHS Customer Portal at OneDHS.tn.gov. Customers that cannot access the online portal to submit a request can retrieve a paper form at their local TDHS office.

For more information on replacement benefits related to fraud, please visit https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/need-help-/tdhs-fraud.html.

The Tennessee Investments Preparing Scholars (TIPS) program was created to encourage families of qualifying income levels to save for the growing costs associated with post-secondary education.

You want your kids to go to college. Find out how TIPS can help you get them there. Parents want to save and invest in their child’s future, but getting started can be the hardest part. The Tennessee Department of Treasury created a program to help. Tennessee Investments Preparing Scholars (TIPS) is a 4-to-1 matching grant program encouraging families that meet the income requirements to save for the future cost of college. That’s $100 for every $25 contributed by the account holder. Beneficiaries can receive a match of $500 per year, with a lifetime maximum match of $1,500.

For more information, please visit: https://treasury.tn.gov/Services/For-All-Tennesseans/College-Savings/TIPS-Program

Tennessee Pathfinder Disability Helps TN Residents with Disabilities

Did you know that the Division of Rehabilitation Services is one of several state agencies that supports Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, a hub of resource information?

Whether you are assisting one of your own customers or their family members with finding disability related services or trying to help someone navigate on their own, Tennessee Disability Pathfinder makes the task much simpler.

Tennessee Disability Pathfinder (“Pathfinder”), helps people with disabilities, their family members, educators, and other professionals like TDHS employees find and access disability resources, support, and services across the state. Pathfinder has a directory of services that contains over 3,000 agency resources in Tennessee organized by county, including rural areas and marginalized communities. As an organization that is connected to thousands of agencies, Pathfinder is considered a centralized location (a hub) for resource information and can help you navigate in the right direction to finding resources for your client’s specific needs and in their local area. 

Resource information can be obtained in one of two ways: by searching the Pathfinder’s Directory of Services website TNPathfinder.org or by calling 1-800-640-4636 to talk to experienced information and referral specialists.

What: TDHS Virtual Career Fair   

TDHS will host a virtual career fair for professionals and college grads with training in social work, child care, vocational rehabilitation, accounting, finance and data analytics. Please join this virtual career fair if your career goals and interest are aligned with these focus areas.

When: April 29, 2024 1pm-3pm CST

Where: Online registration required.

What: 2024 Domestic Violence Symposium for Advocates and Child Support Professionals 

The Tennessee Department of Human Services recognizes that collaboration with domestic violence advocates is a critical step for Child Support access for Tennessee parents and children. The department’s Child Support Team is hosting a series of symposiums to build connections and share knowledge on services, procedures and best practices for trauma-informed care, advocacy, and related subjects.

When: May 2, 2024 9am-4pm EST

Where: Tennessee Department of Human Services Office
2700 Middlebrook Pike Suite 200 Knoxville, TN 37921

Online registration required deadline to register is April 26.

What: Transition Tuesday   

The Transition Services Team is hosting a series of virtual presentations to help students who are deafblind and other adolescents with disabilities. These sessions will focus on resources and options for life after high school. Students with disabilities, parents, providers, and advocates are invited to join and bring questions to these virtual sessions happening on the first Tuesday of each month between February 2024 and January 2025.  

When: May 7, 2024 3:30pm-4:30pm CST

Where: Available Online

What: Hamilton County Computer Literacy Workshop

The Division of Rehabilitation Services  Vocational Rehabilitation team is joining forces with the American Job Center of Northwest and Southwest Tennessee to host a Community Resource Fair on May 7, 2024, in Paris Tennessee.

 Job seekers in the Henry County area are welcome to attend this free event to connect with these organizations and find additional resources.

When: May 7, 2024 at 5pm-7pm

Where: Central School Building
55 Jones Bend Rd. Ext. Suite 200 Paris, TN 38242

What: Davidson County Community Resource Fair

The Division of Rehabilitation Services is hosting a free Resource Fair for community members with disabilities and other Davidson County residents. 

When: May 10, 2024 at 11am-2:30pm CST

Where: Tennessee State Library and Archives 
1001 Rep. John Lewis Way N. Nashville, TN 37219

What: Computer Literacy Workshop

The Division of Rehabilitation Services is partnering with the American Job Center to help Hamilton County residents learn basic computer skills. Community members are invited to attend one-hour workshops held on the third Wednesday of the month.

When: May 15, 2024 at 10am-11am EST

Where: American Job Center
5600 Brainerd Road Suite A-5 Chattanooga, TN 37411

What: Benton County Community Resource Fair

The Division of Rehabilitation Services is hosting a free Resource Fair for community members with disabilities and other Benton County residents. 

When: May 22, 2024 at 10am-1pm CST

Where: Community Tennessee Rehabilitation Center
560 Benton Industrial Road Camden, TN 38320

What: Parents and Partners Connect – Child Support

A virtual question and answer session with Child Support professionals from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. These online sessions are an opportunity for Tennessee parents to get answers about Child Support Services from TDHS with topics including services offered by the TDHS, case classifications, the parties involved in child support, the application processes, and problem-solving.

If you’re new to child support in Tennessee or have questions about related services, this is a great opportunity to ask questions with experts.

When: May 23, 2024 4:30-5:30pm CST

Where: Online; Register Here

At TDHS, we are consistently looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals who are eager to make a meaningful difference in our state. If you are interested in joining our team, please review new career opportunities on our website.

Detailed listings on all open positions (Preferred and Executive Service) can be found at https://www.tn.gov/careers/apply-here.html. Preferred Service job postings through the Tennessee Department of Human Resources (DOHR) open on Thursday and close on the following Wednesday evening at 11:59 pm CST, depending on the length of the requisition.

Rehabilitation Services

DHS Program Director 3 (TN Business Enterprises Program Director)

Davidson County – 56579 (Closing Date 4/29/2024)

 

Child Care and Community Services

APS Investigative Specialist 1*

Monroe County – 56760 (Closing Date 4/29/2024)

Washington County – 56874 (Closing Date 4/29/2024)

 

Family Assistance

Eligibility Counselor 1*

Claiborne County – 56968 (Closing Date 4/29/2024)

 

Rehabilitation Services

Administrative Services Assistant 3

Rutherford County – 57030 (Closing Date 4/29/2024)

 

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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