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.

This year, TDHS continued its transformative modernization efforts, streamlining operations and enhancing customer experience. The One DHS Customer Portal now provides a single access point for programs and services, making it easier for Tennesseans to find support while helping our team manage cases more efficiently. We also expanded self-service options, improved case transparency, strengthened verification capabilities through tools such as Truv, and connected additional programs to our call center and online portal, reflecting our commitment to innovation and accessibility.

As artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies become increasingly integrated into today’s business environment, TDHS is thoughtfully exploring how these tools can further strengthen the way we serve Tennesseans. Our goal is not simply to adopt new technology, but to use it with purpose of reducing administrative burdens, improve efficiency, support our workforce, and create a simpler, more responsive experience for the people who rely on our services. With any technology used by TDHS, security and protection of sensitive information remain at the forefront of our design, development and implementation to ensure technology is used responsibly and effectively in service to our customers.

As we move forward, we will continue embracing innovation while keeping people at the center of our work. Technology may help us work smarter and faster, but our ultimate measure of progress will remain the same: how effectively we connect Tennesseans to the services and opportunities they need to thrive.

TDHS continues to modernize its technology systems to strengthen service delivery and create a more efficient, accessible experience for our customers.

In a recent StateTech Magazine article, TDHS Director of Operations for Customer Experience Pamela Fusting discusses the Department’s ongoing modernization efforts and how technology is helping improve the way we serve customers. The article highlights our continuous efforts to streamline operations, enhance access to services, and leverage innovative technology to better meet the evolving needs of the individuals and families we serve.

These advancements reflect TDHS’s continued commitment to using technology thoughtfully and effectively to strengthen the customer experience and support our mission of strengthening Tennessee by strengthening Tennesseans.

Read the full StateTech Magazine article using the link below:

How State and Local Governments Are Using ServiceNow to Modernize Citizen Services and Operations | StateTech Magazine

Recently, TDHS Assistant Commissioner of Child Care and Community Services, Jude White, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce to highlight how innovative partnerships are creating meaningful solutions for children, working parents, and employers.

Child care is essential for families in Tennessee and across the nation. In her testimony, Assistant Commissioner White shared how our Child Care and Community Services Division uses technology, research, strategic collaboration, and streamlined processes to reduce administrative burdens, strengthen quality rating systems, increase transparency, elevate program quality, and expand access to care.

This work supports:

At TDHS, we are proud of Assistant Commissioner White’s leadership and grateful for the opportunity to exchange ideas with other states and civic leaders who are committed to family‑focused solutions that strengthen communities.

Please watch her full testimony on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce YouTube channel here: Supporting Working Families: State-Led Child Care Solutions - YouTube. 

For several years, the Department of Human Services has been engaging Tennessee employers to invest in their workforce through innovative child care strategies.  For example, Emory Valley Center’s Little Learning Lab is expanding access to high-quality, inclusive childcare for families in East Tennessee. Developed through an innovative partnership between Emory Valley Center (EVC) and UT-Battelle, which manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for the U.S. Department of Energy, the Little Learning Lab was created to help address the region’s growing need for childcare.

With support from the Tennessee Department of Human Services NEW Care Partnership Grant, the Little Learning Lab has expanded its capacity and is now capable of serving up to 126 children from six weeks old through kindergarten. The grant also supported an expanded outdoor playground, a dedicated gross motor skills room, and technology and resources that enhance learning and communication.

The Little Learning Lab provides a high-quality, inclusive environment designed to meet a variety of developmental and learning needs. EVC’s decades of experience supporting children and people with disabilities are central to the center’s approach to early childhood education.

Through partnerships like this, TDHS and EVC are helping to strengthen Tennessee’s child care infrastructure while creating more opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive.

Please click the link here to learn more about Little Learning Lab: https://www.littlelearninglab.org/.

The TDHS Child Care Services team has begun contacting families who are currently on the state’s Smart Steps Child Care Payment Assistance waitlist. We recently began outreach to an initial group of nearly 100 families who received direct communication from our Child Care Services team via email inviting them to apply for child care payment assistance if they remain interested and in need of support.

Families who are contacted will have 14 days to respond and submit their application. Please note that not all applicants will meet eligibility requirements. Once the response window closes, TDHS will move forward by reaching out to the next group of families on the waitlist.

TDHS is intentionally taking a gradual, measured approach to ensure eligibility is assessed carefully and funding is allocated responsibly without overextending available resources.

If your family is currently on the child care waitlist, please keep an eye on your email for official communication from TDHS Child Care Services. Prompt responses will help ensure your place in the review process.

The Department is committed to increasing access for families approved for child care payment support through the weekly Child Care Reimbursement Rates issued to child care agencies on their behalf. We evaluate the market rates through an annual Market Rate Survey conducted by our Data Strategies Unit to inform how we adjust rates to meet the needs of families and within our Child Care Development Fund budget. The current Market Rate Survey for 2025-2026 located here indicated increases in rates for several types of providers and across different care levels. We are excited to announce that effective October 1, 2026, based on budget review, we will implement targeted adjustments to align with expectations from our federal partners at the Administration for Families and Children Office of Child Care, and to further support access for families. There are a few exceptions due to some rates that were already at or above the targeted levels.

We will continue to offer 15% differentials for infant care, and children with diagnosed disabilities.

The Quality Bonus structure will not change. For agencies scoring between 80 to 89, a 5% bonus will be calculated on the base rate. Agencies scoring between 90 to 100 will receive a 10% bonus calculated on the base rate.

To view the Reimbursement Rate Chart effective October 1, 2026, please click here.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention, encourage meaningful conversations about mental health, and remind Tennesseans that help and hope are available.

This year, Tennessee is also recognizing the fourth anniversary of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which launched nationally in July 2022. The easy-to-remember, three-digit number provides 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors for people experiencing thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, or other forms of emotional distress. Tennesseans can also contact 988 if they are concerned about a loved one who may need support.

Since its launch, the 988 Lifeline has received nearly 300,000 calls, texts and chats from Tennesseans experiencing mental health emergencies. During the most recent state fiscal year alone, Tennessee’s 988 system received more than 93,000 calls and nearly 52,000 text and chat contacts, demonstrating the growing number of Tennesseans reaching out for support when they need it.

As we recognize Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services encourages communities to help spread the word about this important resource.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. In Tennessee, callers can press 0 to connect with a crisis counselor. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Click the link here to learn more: https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/crisis/988.html.

The Tennessee Department of Health is offering everyone over the age of six months old the opportunity to receive this year’s flu vaccine. Flu vaccinations will be free on Tuesday. Oct. 20, 2026, at more that 200 locations across the state for Fight Flu TN ’26.

Click to visit the Fight Flu website and visit the Fight Flu event location map to find the site closest to you and its hours of operation. On the event location map, enter your address and find the site of the closest event location for a free flu shot on Oct. 20th.

Fight Flu TN, now in its 9th year, is an annual event that offers free vaccines while also exercising your Local Health Department’s ability to provide important services in the community.

The flu vaccine is safe and effective and can protect against the most common types of flu, and the virus’s worst symptoms and outcomes. Nationally, flu vaccination is estimated to have prevented about 10 million flu illnesses, 5 million medical visits, 180,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths during the 2024 – 2025 influenza season.

Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions are at the highest risk of getting the flu and facing its severe complications. Flu symptoms can include mild to severe cough, fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, and stuffy or runny noses.

Precautions to prevent the spread of the flu virus include proper handwashing with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the bend of an elbow, and staying home if you are sick.

For more information about precautions against respiratory viral illnesses, like the flu, visit TDH’s Respiratory Viral Illness webpage.

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: October 22, 2026, 4:00pm – 5:00pm CT

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.

Executive Service

Office of General Counsel
Associate Counsel  - Rehabilitation Services     
Davidson County – 81154 (Closing Date 10/12/2026)                   

Associate Counsel - HR       
Davidson County – 81156 (Closing Date 10/12/2026)  

Child Care and Community Services

Administrative Assistant 1
Davidson County – 81120 (Closing Date 10/5/2026)  

Family Assistance and Child Support 

Eligibility Clerk
Jefferson County – 80973 (Closing Date 10/5/2026)

Rehabilitation Services      

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - Masters
Lewis County - 81118 (Closing Date 10/12/2026) 
Rutherford County – 81117 (Closing Date 10/5/2026)    

On September 2, 2026, team members from across the Department gathered to celebrate one of our most inspiring traditions—the Commissioner’s Excellence Awards. This distinguished recognition honors team members who go above and beyond in delivering exceptional customer service to Tennesseans. Their work reflects the very best of servant leadership and demonstrates our mission in action: to strengthen Tennessee by strengthening Tennesseans.

We are proud to recognize the following individuals for their extraordinary contributions:

These winners represent a wide range of roles and responsibilities, yet they share a common thread: they consistently put Tennesseans first. Whether by solving complex challenges, supporting families in crisis, or improving processes that make our services more accessible, each awardee has demonstrated exceptional leadership and heart. Their work continues to make a meaningful difference across the state, and we are grateful for their contributions.

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.