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.

At the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), we understand that community partnerships are vital in the work we do to help Tennesseans overcome their vulnerabilities to reach a place of wholeness and economic independence. We view the human services system as more than just a mechanism for delivery of benefits, goods, and services to help people in crisis; we are an engine that works to propel people towards economic prosperity.

As we move forward, we are excited to continue our collaboration with community partners who work tirelessly every day to support TDHS in our mission to Strengthen Tennessee by Strengthening Tennesseans. We recognize that we cannot do this vital work alone and that working together is crucial to achieving our goals. We are committed to strengthening these partnerships for the benefit of those we serve.

We believe that together we can build a brighter future for our great state, and we look forward to our continued work together in effort to transform Tennessee’s safety net for our most vulnerable citizens.

Did you know the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) licenses child care agencies across the state? At TDHS, we are dedicated to fostering early childhood environments that are safe, healthy, and educationally rich.

Over the last few years, our Child Care Division has been on a transformation and modernization journey to improve the way services are provided to Tennesseans. As part of this journey, there is an updated way for parents to search for licensed child care agencies across the state using our Child Care Locator tool. This is an important tool parents can use when looking for licensed child care agencies, as it includes details on child care agencies, including compliance history.

If a child care space is providing care to five or more unrelated children for more than three hours a day without a license, it is operating ILLEGALLY.

It is important parents #LookfortheLicense when visiting any child care agency to ensure their children are in safe, licensed environments that support their growth and development. To learn more, please visit TDHS website.

In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education, the Tennessee Department of Human Services launched the Summer EBT Program for the 2023-24 academic school year.

Summer EBT is a new supplemental nutrition benefit program that provides families $120 for each eligible school-aged child to buy groceries when school is out. Eligible students received Summer EBT benefits starting June 14, 2024. Most families received these benefits automatically if their child is enrolled in the National School Lunch Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Families First (TANF), and/or TennCare, but some parents need to apply. The Summer EBT application will close on August 15, 2024.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) distributed Summer EBT benefits based on records provided by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE), school districts, and through funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service.

For Summer EBT Eligibility details, click here.

A Summer EBT application is required for families who were not automatically enrolled but attended a NSLP-participating school during the 2023-24 school year. The application can be completed using the Summer EBT Parent Portal at https://onedhs.tn.gov/parent. Benefit approval will be based on income guidelines.

Summer EBT benefits are provided on a new EBT card and can be used to buy groceries after the card has been activated. The new Summer EBT card will be mailed to the eligible child’s home based on current school records. 

Parents can log in to the Summer EBT Parent Portal at https://onedhs.tn.gov/parent to view Summer EBT benefits, link their child(ren), verify or change address, sign up to receive text message notifications, and file for a reconsideration request or appeal if necessary.

If a parent or guardian has questions that are not answered through the Summer EBT website or Summer EBT Parent Portal, they may call One DHS Customer Service at 833-772-TDHS (8347) for assistance.

TDHS recently announced that as of July 1, 2024, Public Chapter No. 733 (2024) requires all child care agencies to have carbon monoxide alarms in each room where care is provided. This is a significant step aiming to enhance the safety and well-being of children in care environments across Tennessee.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office will be responsible for ensuring compliance with this new requirement. If a licensed child care agency does not have carbon monoxide alarms, the agency can submit a request for alarms to be delivered or installed at no cost. In collaboration with the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, TDHS is providing these resources at no cost to child care agencies. 

Please note that for any child care agencies that have already made requests, the CO alarms will be shipped or installed in order of license expiration date, with those expiring in August sent first. The CO alarms are battery-operated and do not require a power connection. They can be placed on a shelf, table, or wall-mounted and do not need to be connected to a fire alarm system.

Child care providers with existing alarm systems should verify if they include carbon monoxide detection. For assistance or questions regarding alarm system compliance, providers are encouraged to contact their local fire department.

With an increase in fraudulent activity involving Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards across the state, the department is working to implement innovative new fraud mitigation technologies that will help protect vulnerable Tennesseans. Many of our programs provide benefits based on documented need, and some utilize EBT cards to deliver essential food or cash benefits. Unfortunately, some criminals are willing to steal benefits meant to help families on their way to economic stability.  While skimming, cloning, and phishing fraud are not limited to customers in Tennessee, we are dedicated to helping our customers protect their benefits and personal information.  

Common Types of Benefit Theft and Fraud

Customers can file for replacement requests within 60 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.

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

Share your needs in this 15-minute survey

This survey is your chance to tell FOUR statewide disability agencies what you need. The TNDD Network is a partnership between the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities, Disabilities Rights Tennessee, UTHSC Center on Developmental Disabilities, and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center UCEDD. The organizations are working together to better understand the needs of the disability community across the state.

The survey will take about 15 minutes and will include questions about what is working well, what is not working and the gaps that need to be filled for people with disabilities. The survey is available in both English and Spanish. The organizations will use the information from the survey to decide what changes to incorporate over the next 5 years. 

Each partner is preparing to write a new five-year workplan. These plans outline the future goals and priority areas of each organization. Think of them as the roadmap to how we will help create long-term change in state programs and public policy that impacts Tennesseans with disabilities and their families.

If you have questions, please contact Emily Lanchak at emily.r.lanchak@vanderbilt.edu or (615) 343-9664. 

Department of Disability and Aging Providing $3 Million in Grant Funding for Senior Centers  

The Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) is now accepting applications for competitive grant funding for senior centers. 

The Tennessee General Assembly has provided $3 million to be distributed to senior centers throughout the state.  The one-time funding is intended to support senior centers in providing older adults with access to resources, activities and social connection.

DDA will be distributing both minor grants of up to $10,000 and major grants of up to $100,000.  The grant funding is encouraged to fund the following goals:

In order to qualify for grant funding, the senior center must be:

The grant is not available to individuals or to assisted living facilities.

Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. Central on August 9, 2024. The funding for minor grants must be spent no later than September 30, 2025.  Funding for major grants must be spent by March 31, 2026. 

What: Transition Tuesday

The Transition Services Team is hosting a series of virtual presentations to help students who are deafblind and other adolescents with disabilities. These sessions will focus on resources and options for life after high school. Students with disabilities, parents, providers, and advocates are invited to join and bring questions to these virtual sessions happening on the first Tuesday of each month between February 2024 and January 2025.  

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: August 6, 2024 3:30pm-4:30pm CST

Where: Available Online

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: August 7, 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: August 21, 2024 at 10am-11am EST 

Where: American Job Center

5600 Brainerd Road Suite A-5

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.

Child Support - Associate Counsel
Jefferson County – 59914 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)

Office of General Counsel - Associate Counsel
Davidson County – 59917 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)

Child Care and Community Services

DHS Licensing Consultant 1*
Davidson County – 59811 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)
Davidson County – 59862 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)
Davidson County – 59863 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)
Hamilton County – 59864 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)

Child Support

DHS Program Coordinator
Davidson County – 59720 (2) (Closing Date 8/12/2024)

Family Assistance

Eligibility Assistant
Carroll County – 59867 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)

Eligibility Counselor 1*
Blount County - 59813 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)
Loudon County  - 59814 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)
Robertson County – 59746 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)

Rehabilitation Services

Administrative Services Assistant 2
Davidson County – 59945 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)

Business Enterprises Consultant
Davidson County – 59719 (Closing Date 8/12/2024)

Business Enterprises Specialist - Commissary Specialist
Davidson County – 59860 (Closing Date 8/12/2024)

Business Enterprises Specialist - Warehouse Inventory Control
Davidson County – 59872 (Closing Date 8/12/2024)

DHS Vocational Trainer
Rutherford County – 59729 (Closing Date 8/5/2024)

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.