I am excited to join the TDHS team as the new Assistant Commissioner for Child Care and Community Services.  In this role, I will oversee Child Care Services (including licensing, assessment, and certificate), Adult Protective Services, and the Community Services Block Grant.

Prior to joining DHS, I worked as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet for about 6 years.  This role allowed me to work with DHS and partner agencies such as TECTA, the Family Child Care Alliance, Child Care Resource and Referral, the TN Head Start Association and many others.  Through these collaborations, we worked to raise awareness about the importance of quality care and educational experiences for children ages birth-five.   We created the Tennessee School Readiness Model and developed the website, kidcentraltn.com, to empower parents with information about children’s health, education, development, and support and to provide them with a directory of state services for children and families.  Check out this video about how Loving Words Boost Brain Development.

I am particularly delighted to step into this role at TDHS because it allows me to carry forward so many of those relationships and to continue the focus on strengthening families and supporting children across Tennessee.  Each person reading this note has a powerful opportunity and responsibility to educate and care for our youngest citizens and to partner with their families to promote their future success.  I look forward to getting to know you all better and to working with you on this vital mission to guide the future health and prosperity of our state.  Thank you for all you do for the children and families in your community. 

The 2017-2018 Market Rate Survey is now available on the TDHS website at  https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/child-care-certificate-program.html. 

The Tennessee Department of Human Services partners with The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research to conduct the survey on child care rates, including subsidy rates. The Market Rate Survey is compiled using rate data collected from all licensed child care agencies. The survey results include information on statewide rates for child care centers and homes by age group.  In addition, this year’s report also includes county-level data on median fees by age group and facility type.  This data gives all of us deeper insight into this aspect of the child care services system.