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

This month, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has been honored with multiple awards, including the Tennessee Employment First Inclusive Employer Award. At TDHS, we not only support Tennesseans with disabilities in achieving employment success, but we also actively welcome and value the talents of team members with disabilities and we are proud to be recognized by the state’s Employment First Task Force as an Inclusive Employer. This award demonstrates our commitment to fostering competitive, integrated employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

In addition, I would also like to take a moment to recognize two dedicated staff members, Deputy Commissioner Cherrell Campbell-Street and Field Management Director Nancy Lisic, for their outstanding contributions to our agency. Deputy Commissioner Campbell-Street was awarded the prestigious Jerry W. Friedman Excellence in Leadership Award at this year’s annual Information Technology (IT) Solutions Management for Human Services (ISM) + Public Human Services Attorneys (PHSA) Education Conference & Expo. With over 25 years of experience in human services, her leadership has been pivotal in enhancing our employment services for individuals with disabilities and in strengthening our public-serving programs. Her guidance has also been instrumental in advancing our technology initiatives to meet the challenges of COVID-19 and to better serve vulnerable Tennesseans in our communities. We are grateful for her continued service and extend our congratulations on this well-deserved honor.

Furthermore, I would also like to recognize Nancy Lisic who was awarded the Governor's Excellence in Service Award. With more than five decades of dedicated service, Lisic’s experience has been vital in roles ranging from Eligibility Counselor to her current position as Field Management Director 1. Her focus on training and her commitment to improving both employee and customer experiences have made her a true inspiration to both frontline staff and management alike.

I would like to thank you all for your dedication, and I look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen Tennessee by strengthening Tennesseans.

Deputy Commissioner Cherrell Campbell-Street receiving Friedman Leadership Excellence Award

Nancy Lisic and Governor Lee at the Governor's Excellence in Service Award Luncheon

The aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues to impact many residents in East Tennessee. In response, the TDHS has provided several emergency assistance programs to help families recover, including SNAP Replacement, Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP), Hot Foods Waiver and Emergency Cash Assistance.

While the application windows for many of these programs have closed, the SNAP Hot Foods Waiver remains available until November 30, 2024. This waiver allows SNAP, D-SNAP, and Summer EBT recipients in Carter, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties to use their benefits to purchase hot and prepared foods at USDA-authorized EBT retailers.

More details about TDHS emergency programs can be found on the TDHS Disaster Related Emergency Assistance web Page.

In addition, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is currently hosting Multi-Agency Resource Centers and sharing Hurricane Helene relief information for Tennesseans at TN.Gov/Tema/Updates/Hurricane-Helene.html.

The deadline for customers to request for SNAP Replacement benefits due to skimming, cloning or similar fraud has been extended from September 30th, 2024 to December 20, 2024, due to the federal government’s continuing resolution.

Customers that are impacted by EBT card skimming, cloning, and similar fraud can file for replacement requests within 30 days using 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.

Common Types of Benefit Theft and Fraud Include:

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

Tennessee has converted to a new EBT vendor, and customers now have access to new online and mobile features. With the new EBT vendor, cardholders will now have access to enhanced tools through EBT EDGE , including balance alerts, transaction history, and the ability to freeze their card if needed. We encourage customers to utilize this updated feature in order to protect their benefits and monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity.

With the EBT EDGE app, cardholders can also securely check when deposits are available without waiting on the phone, providing a convenient, on-the-go solution to remain updated. For more information, please visit: https://www.fisglobal.com/ebtedgemobile

The Tennessee Department of Human Services is proud to announce it has received the Tennessee Employment First Inclusive Employer Award. This award recognizes TDHS’s commitment to creating an inclusive and integrated workplace that offers meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), TDHS has hosted a variety of events across the state, including job fairs, employment training, interview preparation sessions, and conferences. These initiatives aim to raise awareness of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services and promote job readiness for Tennesseans with disabilities. Future events can be found by visiting the Events page on the TDHS website.

TDHS’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services are available to all Tennesseans with disabilities who desire a job that is integrated and at fair wages consistent with their strengths, capabilities, and interests. Within the VR services umbrella are programs like Project SEARCH, Transition School-to-Work Services, Business Employment Services, and individualized services to connect people with disabilities to work opportunities in their local community.

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).

FEMA has approved more than $13.5 million in Individual and Housing Program funds. Individuals in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) online, by phone at 1-800-621-3362, or in-person at a Multi-Agency Resource Center or Disaster Recovery Center. The deadline to apply for IA is December 2, 2024.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) continues to collaborate with our local, state, and federal partners to respond and assist with recovery efforts following the floods that devastated many counties in Northeast Tennessee. 

Three Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) have been established for individuals affected by Hurricane Helene. Each MARC is staffed with personnel from FEMA and other federal, state, and regional partners to ensure residents have access to all available resources following the flooding event.  Eligible individuals in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) at a MARC location, if preferred. 

More information on services, resources and MARC sites can be found on TEMA’s dedicated Hurricane Helene webpage.

Local Health Departments Offer Free Vaccinations for Communities Impacted by Hurricane Helene

The Northeast Region’s local health departments will be offering free Tdap, Hepatitis A, and Flu vaccines in Carter, Johnson, Greene, Unicoi, and Washington County.

Adults who were not vaccinated previously and want to be protected against hepatitis A should get the vaccine. There is a potential risk of hepatitis A from exposure to flood water contaminated with sewage.

If citizens have any health and safety concerns related to flooding due to Hurricane Helene, they can contact the Citizen Information Hotline through the Northeast Regional Health Office Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM at 423-979-4689.

For more information, please visit: https://www.tn.gov/health/news/2024/10/9/local-health-departments-to-offer-free-vaccinations-for-communities-impacted-by-hurricane-helene.html

Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Revenue announced four tax relief measures for Tennessee businesses and individuals affected by Hurricane Helene.

Consistent with the IRS’s decision to extend federal due dates for those businesses located in a designated disaster area resulting from Hurricane Helene, the Department of Revenue has extended the franchise and excise tax filing and payment due dates to May 1, 2025, for all taxpayers located in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties. Additionally, the department will extend the franchise tax Schedule G refund filing deadline for businesses located in these counties to May 1. These extensions will be applied automatically.

Tennessee residents whose primary residence was damaged or destroyed due to Helene can also apply for a sales tax refund of up to $2,500 on major appliances, residential furniture, or residential building supplies.  A person can file only one claim per residence.  Read more information on the Department of Revenue’s website.

The department will also approve, on a case-by-case basis, tax extension requests from affected taxpayers for other taxes.  Affected businesses should email requests to Revenue.DisasterExtension@tn.gov and include the business name, entity ID or Tennessee account number, business location, and a brief description of the impact. For more information, please read this important notice. 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently installed new American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant kiosks in local offices. The kiosks are designed to enhance accessibility particularly for people who are blind or have low vision. New features include:

SSA also provides additional resources that can be found here: https://www.ssa.gov/people/blind/. The publications are also available in PDF, audio formats, and in alternative media such as Braille, large print, and on audio CD if needed.

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: November 7, 2024 4:30pm-5:30pm CDT

Where: Online; Register Here

What: Statewide Independent Living Quarterly Meeting

The purpose of the meeting will be to review the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Council’s responsibility under Title VII, relating to promoting a philosophy of independent living to maximize the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. The SILC is required to hold regularly scheduled meetings that are open to the public.

When: November 8, 2024 10am-1pm Central

Where: Home 2 Suites
One Bellevue Place, 7616 Hwy 70 S.  Nashville, TN 37221

What: Computer Literacy Workshop Series

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: November 20, 2024 from 10am-11am EDT

Where:  American Job Center, 5600 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411

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.

Office of Inspector General

Auditor 2*
Davidson County - 62547 (Closing Date 11/4/2024)

Operations

Statistical Research Specialist
Davidson County – 62667 (Closing Date 11/4/2024)

Child Care and Community Services

APS Investigative Specialist 1*
Coffee County – 62286 (Closing Date 11/4/2024)

Family Assistance

Eligibility Assistant
Fayette County – 62576 (Closing Date 11/4/2024)
Robertson County - 62308 (Closing Date 11/4/2024)

Eligibility Counselor 1*
Rutherford County – 62614 (Closing Date 11/4/2024)

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.

Commissioner Carter presents the 2024 Commissioner's Excellence Awards to dedicated staff members for their outstanding work and achievements in serving Tennesseans across the state.

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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