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.

Do you have a heart for serving vulnerable Tennesseans? Are you seeking a fulfilling opportunity to lead with compassion and utilize your skills effectively? If this is you, we are looking for dedicated leaders in the field of social services to join our team at the Department of Human Services.

We have offices in all 95 counties, and we are committed to expanding our workforce to ensure that we maintain the highest standard of service for our valued customers. If you're ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families in need, then we invite you to embark on this rewarding journey with us.

Our department offers 17 various programs and services that positively impact about two million Tennesseans across the state. As we continue to work towards our mission to ‘Strengthen Tennessee by Strengthening Tennesseans,’ our goal is to expand our efforts to find dedicated individuals that can work in tandem with this mission in mind. At TDHS, individuals will have the opportunity to contribute to our collective efforts and make a real impact on the communities we serve. For more information on how you can use your skills to make a meaningful difference, please click the link below.

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

TDHS is excited to announce that kidcentral tn is now managed by TDHS’s new kidcentral tn Director, Brent Goodard.

kidcentraltn.com is a one-stop shop for Tennessee families to connect with important information and resources provided by different state departments.  In July 2023, ownership of kidcentraltn.com was transferred to TDHS from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.

The website organizes content from across departments, making it easier for families to find exactly what they need. In addition to articles about valuable topics relating to health, education, development, and support, kidcentraltn.com features a comprehensive directory of state-operated and state-funded services for children and families.  From the website, parents and caregivers can sign up to receive periodic newsletters with feature stories related to seasonal and current events/resources. We encourage everyone to explore kidcentral tn today to discover the wealth of resources available to Tennessee families.

After the successful launch of the Amplifying Fatherhood Conference last year that brought together government officials, nonprofit leaders, practitioners, legislators, policymakers, fathers themselves, and over 300 community leaders, we are excited that within the coming weeks we will be announcing details surrounding our Fatherhood Grant Program.

More details will be forthcoming, and we hope that you will share the news widely as we strive to empower fathers across the state.

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.

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.

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.

Tennessee’s Department of General Services and the Central Procurement Office (CPO) are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Governor's Office of Diversity Business Enterprise (Go-DBE) with their 2024 Diversity Marketplace Conference. This milestone event, taking place on April 4, 2024, at the Nashville Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee, aims to empower businesses to embrace diversity in procurement opportunities and drive economic inclusion.

With the theme “Go BIG. Go FAR. Go-DBE,” this year's conference invites small and diverse businesses in Tennessee to attend as Go-DBE provides resources to aid the education and advancement of diverse business opportunities across the State. Through impactful workshops, engaging panels, and networking opportunities, attendees will gain invaluable insights, forge strategic partnerships, and access resources to propel their businesses forward.

To register and learn more about the conference agenda, visit bit.ly/3ViJhLB.

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) recently announced that applications are open for a new, multi-million dollar behavioral health scholarship program.

The Tennessee Behavioral Health Pathways Scholarship is designed to support the next generation of professionals working in mental health and substance use treatment careers as they earn the advanced degrees necessary to begin their journey.

Eligible students can receive up to $15,000 in tuition assistance per academic year for up to two years as they pursue a master’s degree in fields including counseling, psychiatric nursing, social work, psychology, or similar behavioral health professions.  In return for the tuition support, students must commit to working for a public behavioral health provider for the same amount of time they were on scholarship.

Learn more about the scholarship and apply at this link.

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: April 10, 2024 11am – 12pm CST

Where: Online; Register Here

What: Hamilton County 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: April 17, 2024 10am-11am EST

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

What: Sumner County Resource Fair

Tennesseans who are unhoused or at risk of losing housing in Sumner County are invited to attend a free Resource Fair. The Tennessee Department of Human Services, ShowerUp Nashville, nonprofits, other government agencies and will be on-site to offer assistance and connect community members with resources. 

When: April 17, 2024 10am-2pm CST

Where: First Baptist Church Gym 
260 E. Winchester St. Gallatin, TN 37066

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: April 25, 2024 9am-4pm EST

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

Please register online by April 19th. 

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.

Child Care and Community Services

Administrative Services Assistant 2*
Knox County – 56218 (Closing Date 4/1/2024)

DHS Licensing Consultant 1*
Davidson County – 56148 (2) (Closing Date 4/1/2024)
Davidson County – 56534 (3) (Closing Date 4/1/2024)
Shelby County – 56308 (Closing Date 4/8/2024)

DHS Program Specialist
Knox County – 56441 (Closing Date 4/8/2024)

 

Family Assistance

Eligibility Assistant
Wilson County – 56040 (Closing Date 4/1/2024)
Van Buren County – 56437 (Closing Date 4/8/2024)

Eligibility Counselor 1*
Hamblen County – 56145 (Closing Date 4/1/2024)
Knox County – 56042 (Closing Date 4/1/2024)
Roane County – 56144 (Closing Date 4/1/2024)

 

People Operations

HR Generalist 2
Davidson County – 56515 (Closing Date 4/8/2024)

 

Quality Improvement and Strategic Solutions

DHS Continuous Improvement Analyst
Davidson County – 55933 (Closing Date 4/1/2024)

 

Rehabilitation Services

Business Enterprises Specialist
Davidson County – 56147 (Closing Date 4/1/2024)

Vocational Rehabilitation Case Manager
Rutherford County – 56304 (3) (Closing Date 4/8/2024)
Rutherford County – 56451 (3) (Closing Date 4/8/2024)

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - Masters
Knox County – 56149 (Closing Date 4/1/2024)
Shelby County – 56232 (Closing Date 4/8/2024)

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.

You are receiving this email because you are a partner of a TDHS administered program, communications partner, state agency partner, or have signed up to receive our emails through our website or by contacting one of our staff members.