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 TDHS, we are more focused than ever before to serve as a catalyst in redesigning a fragmented and siloed safety net through a shared vision of Transforming Tennessee.

The safety net as it is currently configured and operated is not designed with the intention to lift people beyond the economic, social, and developmental vulnerability which has them needing a program or service. The existing system is fragmented being overly concerned with program quantity, spending, and enrollment. Our goal at the department is to work together to reconstruct the safety net to truly uplift individuals from economic vulnerability. We don’t view this as being exclusive work of the department or Tennessee state government. This must be a collaborative effort for all of Tennessee.

We view the human services system as more than 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.

We are committed to ensuring that our investments, programs, and services in communities statewide are supported with the resources they need to successfully move families from crisis to and through career pathways. We have implemented several innovative strategies to help us achieve this goal such as: the TANF Opportunity Act, the Fatherhood Initiative, Public and Private Partnerships, and the Economic Absentee Employment Initiative.

By leveraging our collective assets and knowledge, we believe that Tennessee will transform the safety net and serve as a model for the country. Please join us in our efforts because we understand that this work cannot be done in isolation, we need everyone’s help to reconstruct a system where all families can thrive.

Learn more about the work we are doing at the department and listen below to a recent interview I completed with host John Clark for the Tennessee Matters podcast.

♫ TN Matters - TN Dept. of Human Services (iheart.com)

On September 25-27th, TDHS spearheaded the first Fatherhood Conference at Gaylord Opryland in Tennessee. This dynamic event brought together hundreds of practitioners, advocates, nonprofits, state agencies, policymakers, and fathers from all over the U.S. to spotlight the indispensable role fathers play in the health and well-being of their children, families, and our entire community. At TDHS, our vision extends beyond individual assistance, we strive to empower families as a whole.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services is preparing to acknowledge National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October and will host an array of events to raise awareness. Please stay tuned for more information regarding events using this link.

The Division of Rehabilitation Services supports Tennesseans with disabilities as they strive to achieve their employment and independent living goals. The goal of the division is to ensure that no Tennessean is defined by their disability, but able to leverage their strengths, resources, and abilities in contributing to our state’s community and economy. The Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VR) provides a variety of individualized services to persons with disabilities in preparation for their employment in the competitive labor market. 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 here.

At TDHS, we believe that child care is an essential part of the foundational support needed among working families to help them achieve economic prosperity.

At the department, we are actively working to explore innovative strategies to deploy regular Child Care Development Funds to promote stability and sustainability of child care providers.  Supports that are available include enhancement grants and the WAGE$ salary supplement program. Information on these programs can be found on the TDHS website.

We also believe this is a critical time to focus on and expand upon investment from the private sector.  Engagement from employers is a key strategy for long-term access and affordability. Fortunately, we have a wide range of resources that we can deploy to help employers in this area. A good example of this is our recent collaboration with Tyson Foods. It is our goal to increase employer-led efforts across the state to expand access to affordable child care that is tailored to the needs of working families.

To learn more about TDHS grant programs and other resources to assist child care providers, please visit the TDHS website.

TDHS recently reached a major milestone in the department’s modernization journey, impacting the departments largest audience of customers to date. Over the past several months, TDHS has launched pilot operations of the Eligibility Benefits Management System, and the One DHS Customer Portal to revolutionize how we serve our customers. The One DHS Customer Portal now provides even more seamless functionality for customers. Features include:

To learn more about how customers can manage and track their cases using the One DHS Customer Portal, please review the video below.   

To visit the One DHS Customer Portal, click here.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services is here to ensure every Tennessean has the tools they need to become financially stable. Many of our programs provide benefits based on documented need and some programs utilize Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Cards to deliver food or cash benefits. Unfortunately, some criminals are willing to steal benefits meant to help families on their way to financial stability. 

Tennessee Serves: September Service Challenge

Tennessee is proud to be home to the greatest natural beauty and resources in the country with the most beautiful State Parks. Throughout September, Tennessee Serves is focusing on preserving and restoring our state’s historic recreational and scenic sites with volunteer opportunities at nearly every park across the state.

Join this month’s service challenge by volunteering at a state park near you.

Hire My Strengths is a social media campaign that is designed to encourage everyone (with a disability or not) to think about what they're good at. No matter what it is, if you're good at it, there's an employer who wants what you have to offer. 

As an advocacy group, disability service provider, business owner, educator, mentor, parent, sibling, friend—whatever role you have that brings you in contact with people with disabilities, we encourage everyone to help us organize and energize people about the upcoming National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.

If you would like to participate, please follow these five easy steps!

1. Click here to download and print the sign

2. Write down your strength

3. Take a picture

4. Post that picture on social media with the hashtag #HireMyStrengths

5. Get your colleagues, employees, family, and friends to join in!

You can also learn more by clicking this link.

What: Project SEARCH 10th Anniversary and KAEC Breakfast

Please join the Knoxville Area Employment Consortium for the annual National Disability Employment Awareness Month Project Search and KAEC Breakfast. Come celebrate the 10th anniversary of Project SEARCH in Knoxville, TN and hear testimonials of how the program has contributed to success in competitive integrated employment.

When: October 19, 2023, 8:00 am Eastern

Doors will open at 7:30 am Eastern

Where: Rothchild Catering & Conference Center  

8807 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923

Please click this link to purchase tickets or learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

What: Empowering Tennessee Workers with Disabilities: Job Seeker Preparation Day + VR 101 Job Fair

Celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month with TDHS. The Division of Rehabilitation Services is hosting a free two-day employment event for workers and job seekers with disabilities.

When: Job Seeker Preparation Day, October 24, 2023, from 9am -3pm Central

VR Job Fair, October 25, 2023, 8:30am-1pm Central

Where: Community Tennessee Rehabilitation Center

955 E. 20th Street Cookeville, TN 38501

What:  Parents and Partners Connect

This event is hosted by the Child Support Team at the Tennessee Department of Human Services to provide an opportunity for Tennessee parents and residents to register and “drop-in” to this virtual event to engage with Child Support professionals directly to ask and answer any lingering questions. 

When: November 8, 2023, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm Central

November 9, 2023, from 4:30 pm-6:00 pm Central

Where: Virtual Event

Please click this link to register.

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 below and on the TDHS website.

Public Information and Legislative Office

Executive Administrative Assistant 2 (Kidcentral TN Director)

Davidson County – 50366 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

Child Care and Community Services

APS Intake Counselor 2*

Davidson County – 50592 (2) (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

DHS Licensing Consultant 1*

Putnam County – 50604 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

Family Assistance

Eligibility Assistant

Haywood County – 50530 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

Knox County – 50526 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

Eligibility Counselor 1*

Marshall County – 50605 (2) (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

Montgomery County – 50493 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

Morgan County – 50600 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

Shelby County – 50552 (9) (Closing Date 10/11/2023)

Smith County – 50574 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

Washington County – 50495 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

Washington County – 50588 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

People Operations

Training Officer 1 (Learning Facilitator)

Davidson County – 50528 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

Rehabilitation Services

DHS Campus Life Assistant

Rutherford County – 50533 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

Field Supervisor 2

Rutherford County – 50557 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

Licensed Practical Nurse 2*

Rutherford County – 50597 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

Rutherford County – 50599 (Closing Date 10/4/2023)

 

Rehabilitation Instructor - Blind

Hamilton County – 50590 (Closing Date 10/11/2023)

Shelby County – 50603 (Closing Date 10/11/2023)

 

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.

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.

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