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.

I am delighted to share that our Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative (TOPI) is well underway across the state providing crucial support, resources, and pathways to financial stability. Through this innovative pilot program, thousands of participants have already accessed services that break cycles of poverty and dependence, and open doors to new opportunities.

With thousands of Tennesseans already served across the entire state, this program is making a measurable impact. Families have benefited from transitional benefits, milestone payments, education support and more, helping them move toward long-term stability. Nearly six thousand financial coaching sessions have empowered individuals with the knowledge and tools to build a secure financial future, while career training and educational programs have led to increased income and college admissions.

TOPI grantees include: Our Chance TN, Empower Upper Cumberland, United Way of Greater Knoxville, Family & Children’s Service, GROWWTH, STRONG Families TN, and AFIRM who are all deploying an array of vital resources and support across the state.

For more information on TOPI and how the program is impacting the lives of Tennesseans, please review the latest video below. 

The Tennessee General Assembly has unanimously passed two significant child care bills, HB105/SB1286 and HB106/SB1288, aimed at expanding child care access across the state. These bills will enhance funding opportunities for child care agencies and provide clear licensure exemptions for casual care options.

The first bill passed, HB105/SB1286, expands the criteria for child care agencies to access funds from the Child Care Improvement Fund, which includes TDHS Non-Profit/Employer Workforce (NEW) Care Partnership grant opportunities. Previously available to non-profit agencies only, now all types of licensed child care providers are eligible to submit a proposal to expand licensed capacity through partnership with an employer.  These funds can be used to address capital improvements and operating expenses associated with increasing capacity in order to serve the employer’s workforce.

More information on the TDHS Non-Profit/Employer Workforce (NEW) Care Partnership Grants can be found here: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/new-care-partnership-grants.html.

When it comes to regular child care services, it is important for parents to look for the license to confirm that the provider is monitored for compliance with health and safety requirements.  Some types of care do not fit the model for licensure.  HB106/SB1288 was unanimously passed providing greater clarity and accessibility to child care licensing exemptions, allowing providers and families to better understand exempt qualifications under the law.

Key provisions of this bill include:

Registration materials and a full list of programs exempt from licensing requirements will be updated on the TDHS website prior to the July 1st effective date.

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. TDHS is currently accepting applications for new food sponsors until May 1, 2025.

The program aims to ensure children 18 and younger, who benefit from school meal programs, continue to have access to nutritious meals during the summer months. The program traditionally runs from the end of May to August when the next school semester begins. This year’s sponsors will be able to have the flexibility to provide “grab and go” meals to children in some rural areas.

While the SFSP has historically operated in most areas of the state, the program is focused on further expanding into rural counties that have little to no SFSP meal sites including Benton, Carroll, Carter, Cocke, Fayette, Grainger, Houston, Humphreys, Johnson, Lauderdale, Marshall, Moore, Rhea, Sequatchie and Sumner counties. TDHS is actively recruiting sponsors to serve these counties and welcomes additional sponsors for every county across Tennessee.

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.

To further support customers and protect their benefits and personal information, TDHS strongly recommends customers change their pin regularly and check their balance often. TDHS has launched tools for EBT cardholders through the ebtEDGE cardholder website and mobile apps to better protect customers’ account(s) and benefits. This app gives customers more control of their cards through advanced security features including PIN changes, the ability to freeze cards when not in use, blocking of out-of-state transactions, and other card management features. The ebtEDGE mobile app allows customers to log-in securely using touch ID or facial recognition instead of entering a user ID and password. The ebtEDGE mobile app is available from the Apple App Store for iPhone and the Google Play Store for Android devices.

For more information on how to download the ebtEDGE mobile app, please visit review the instructional video by clicking here.

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.

The Tennessee Department of Education released the Education Freedom Scholarship (EFS) Program student application checklist and encouraged interested families to begin gathering required documentation to submit when the application launches in May. The department will announce the program’s launch date in the coming weeks. Families can access the checklist for Education Freedom Scholarships, Tennessee’s landmark universal school choice plan, here.

Interested Tennessee families are also encouraged to sign up for regular email updates here and make plans for the 2025-26 school year by viewing the most updated list of schools intending to participate, totaling 198 eligible schools, here. Additionally, the department continues to invite eligible and interested schools to signal their intent to participate.

To learn more about the EFS Program and access additional resources, visit the EFS webpage. If you are a Category I, II, or III school interested in participating in the EFS Program, please email EFS.Questions@tn.gov.

What: Kingsport Community Resource Fair

Job seekers with disabilities, families and other residents in the Sullivan County area are invited to find employment, wellness, education and other supports at a free Community Resource Fair hosted by the Vocational Rehabilitation Program at the Tennessee Department of Human Services. This free event is a great opportunity to connect with local businesses, non-profits and government agencies that serve the Kingsport region.

When: May 2, 2025 from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm ET

Where: Kingsport Civic Auditorium

1550 Fort Henry Dr.

Kingsport, TN 37664

What: Benton County Community Resource Fair

Tennesseans with disabilities and other community members are invited to discover job supports and life resources at a free Community Resource Fair hosted by the Vocational Rehabilitation Program at the Tennessee Department of Human Services and other community organizations.

When: May 2, 2025 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm CT

Where: First United Methodist Church (Gym)

104 N. Church Ave.

Camden, TN 38320

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. This one-hour class is open to Tennesseans with disabilities and the general community.  Workshops will be held on the first Wednesday of each month, with Chattanooga Public Library staff on-site to assist.

When: May 7, 2025 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am ET

Where: American Job Center

5600 Brainerd Road

Chattanooga, TN 37411

What: Montgomery County Kids and Family Resource Fair

Parents, guardians and families with young Tennesseans are invited to discover resources and organizations that serve families in Montgomery County. The Family Resource Fair is an opportunity to connect with nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations that serve parents and children. This free event is hosted by the Paternity Program at the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

When: May 9, 2025 10:00 am - 1:00 pm CT

Where: Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library

350 Pageant Ln #501

Clarksville, TN 37040

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 14, 2025 11:00 am -12:00 pm CT

Where: Online; Register Here

What: Franklin County Career Fair 

The Franklin County Career Fair offers a one-stop opportunity for individuals to connect with a wide range of businesses and employers. Attendees can explore job openings, network with potential employers and take the next step in their careers. Food truck vendors will also be on-site. Don’t miss this chance to jumpstart your career!

When: May 16, 2025 10:00 am CT

Where: Franklin County Annex Community Room

855 Dinah Shore Blvd.

Winchester, TN 37398

What: Hamilton County Transportation Access Expo

Having reliable transportation can impact employment success. The Vocational Rehabilitation program is hosting a free Transportation Access Expo to help workers with disabilities and job-seekers find reliable transportation options in Hamilton County. This expo is great place to start for community members who may have questions about gaining their driver’s license, using public transit or related safety practices.

When: May 18, 2025 10:00 am - 3:00 pm ET

Where: American Job Center Eastgate Town Center

5600 Brainerd Rd. Suite A-5

Chattanooga, TN 37411

What: Statewide Independent Living Council 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. To learn more about the SILC please visit https://www.silctn.org/.

When: May 30, 2025 10:00 am – 1:00 pm CT

Where: Fairfield Inn & Suites Nashville Bellevue

7636 Highway 70 South

Nashville, TN 37221

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

Audit Director 3
Davidson County – 67249 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)

Program Monitor 2
Hamilton County – 67065 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)

Family Assistance and Child Support

Eligibility Assistant
Coffee County – 67040 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Meigs County – 67114 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Rutherford County – 67041 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)

Eligibility Counselor 1*
Roane County – 67244 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Jefferson County – 67115 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Johnson County – 67037 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Unicoi County – 67064 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)

Rehabilitation Services

Administration Services Assistant 2*
Davidson County – 67245 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor – Masters
Franklin County – 67247 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Rutherford County – 67282 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Gibson County – 67036 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Hardin County – 67113 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)
Sumner County – 67111 (Closing Date 5/5/2025)

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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