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.

As you know, the United States Congress has not reached an agreement on federal funding for the new fiscal year which began on October 1st.

While we remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon, we have a responsibility to plan for every possibility.

Over the past few weeks, the TDHS leadership team has been working through contingency plans for many of our programs to ensure that we can continue serving Tennesseans for as long as possible and that we communicate clearly with staff, community partners, and customers if a shutdown extends.

While we are still waiting to receive federal guidance to evaluate the potential impact of a prolonged government shutdown, our priorities remain the same:

We know this uncertainty is difficult; however, please know that every decision is being made thoughtfully, with the goal of minimizing disruption and ensuring that, when federal operations resume, we are ready to adjust quickly and serve without delay. To ensure our customers and partners remain informed, we will continue to share updates on our website as more information becomes available at:  https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/federal-shutdown.html.  

Thank you for your continued partnership and understanding as we work together to support Tennesseans and maintain services during this time.

On October 10th, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) received notification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA FNS) that, if the federal government shutdown continues, federally funded SNAP benefits for November will be unavailable. To date, the federal government has not yet reached an agreement to continue funding.

SNAP benefits for October were issued as normal.  However, as the federal government shutdown continues, benefits for November will not be issued. Please note that if customers have any unused benefits from October they can still be used beyond November 1.

We will continue to share any updates on our website as any new information becomes available at:  https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/federal-shutdown.html.

In addition, if customers are in need of additional resources, a list of community resources can be found on the TDHS website here: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/information-and-resources/tdhs-resource-library/community-resources.html.

If you are a community partner that would like to be added to our community resource page, please complete the form here: https://stateoftennessee.formstack.com/forms/community_organization_interest_form. 

TDHS recently announced updates to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) following the passage of HR 1 in July 2025.

The work requirements for SNAP Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) will require customers to follow certain work rules to maintain SNAP eligibility.  The updated ABAWD work rules will apply if adults:

ABAWD customers may only receive SNAP benefits for three months in a three-year period unless they:

ABAWD customers may lose SNAP benefits after three months if they do not adhere to the updated ABAWD work requirements.

Some customers are excluded from ABAWD work requirements and may still receive SNAP benefits if they are:

Customers who believe they qualify for an exemption are encouraged to upload their verification documents via the One DHS Customer Portal (https://onedhs.tn.gov/csp) no later than October 31, 2025.

For additional details, including exemption criteria and resources, please visit the TDHS ABAWD information page at: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/snap-abawd-information.html.

The Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging recently announced the launch of the Academic and Behavioral Learning Certificate Program for Tennessee Teachers (ABLC), in partnership with Trevecca Nazarene University.

The ABLC program is aimed at equipping Tennessee’s teachers with the knowledge and tools necessary to better serve students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This 12-week program will be offered to all licensed Tennessee teachers at no cost and will provide 90 professional development (PD) hours upon completion.

Through a series of training modules, the ABLC program will teach educators best practices for creating inclusive, supportive classroom environments that promote success for all students.

The ABLC program will highlight topics such as fostering effective co-teaching relationships between classroom teachers and educational assistants (EAs), understanding Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), inclusive practices, classroom engagement strategies, and enhancing social-emotional learning.

Learn more about the program and apply here: https://info.trevecca.edu/abs-certificate

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, 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 12, 11:00am – 12:00pm CT

Where: Online; Register Here

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: November 14, 2025 9:00am-1:00pm CT

Where:  Online; Details 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.

Office of General Counsel

DHS Records Management Coordinator
Davidson County – 71998 (Closing Date 11/3/2025)

Child Care and Community Services

APS Investigative Specialist 2*

Shelby County – 72233 (Closing Date 11/10/2025) 

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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