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’m grateful to share that I recently received the Public Service Innovation Award from United Ways of Tennessee. This recognition is both humbling and deeply meaningful.

Over more than three decades in human services, I’ve had the opportunity to see where our systems succeed, and where they fall short. That perspective has helped shape my commitment to strengthening the support systems that individuals and families rely on during some of life’s most vulnerable moments.

It has been a privilege to help lead efforts like Tennessee’s Opportunity Pilot Initiative, investing in education, health, economic stability, and family well-being. Through our continuous efforts at TDHS, we have worked to be more intentional, whether by addressing long-standing challenges like the benefits cliff, supporting and valuing the role of fathers through dedicated programming, or ensuring resources are used in ways that reach those they are meant to serve. This is truly what our human services system is all about.

This recognition is not about a single effort, but it is about the ongoing work to make systems more responsive, more effective, and more centered on people. I remain committed to that work by upholding our mission at TDHS to strengthen Tennessee by strengthening Tennesseans. Thank you to my team for your dedicated service, and to United Ways of Tennessee for recognizing our work.

We are excited to share that Suzanne Carr has been promoted to Assistant Commissioner of TDHS Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).

Suzanne brings significant experience to this role. As the former Policy Advisor for TDHS, Suzanne led cross agency and divisional implementation efforts, advancing key initiatives aligned with the Commissioner’s vision. She previously served as Director of Legislation and Special Projects, where she helped drive major legislative priorities, including passage of the TANF Opportunity Act.

A proud University of Tennessee alum, Suzanne earned her B.A. in psychology and later her Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating Cum Laude. Before joining state government, she practiced family law in the private sector.

In her new role, Suzanne will lead the DRS team of nearly 1,000 staff statewide, guiding strategic direction, operational excellence, and modernization efforts for a division with an annual budget of approximately $160 million. Her leadership will be instrumental in strengthening employment focused rehabilitation services and enhancing outcomes for the Tennesseans we serve.

TDHS has introduced a new feature in the One DHS Customer Portal to simplify the verification process for SNAP applicants. Continuing our push to modernize and enhance the customer experience, TDHS recently added Truv, a secure online verification service, to the portal. With Truv, TDHS customers can save time when submitting personal information for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Families First (TANF) applications. Functioning like tax preparation tools, Truv links financial accounts directly to the application, allowing users to automatically fill in sections related to income and assets. This streamlined approach helps applicants submit accurate information with ease. For additional details and step-by-step instructions for online applications, please refer to the One DHS Knowledge Base.

TDHS will open its 2026 Application Cycle for Families First Community Grants very soon. This grant program is an initiative that provides funding to non-profit organizations providing direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need and promote self-sufficiency. 

The Families First Community Grant program was created as an additional method to invest TANF funds in ways to help low-income families overcome barriers and help them move towards sustainable economic stability. The grants will support a wide range of services in the areas of education, health and well-being, economic stability and fostering safe, stable, and nurturing relationships.

Please stay tuned for more information regarding this grant opportunity coming soon.

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.

Each year, TDHS partners with food sponsors across the state to provide these meals. The program traditionally runs from the end of May to August when the next school semester begins.

While the SFSP has historically operated in most areas of the state, the program is focused on serving rural counties that have little to no SFSP meal sites including Benton, Carroll, Carter, Cocke, Fayette, Grainger, Houston, Humphreys, Johnson, Lauderdale, Marshall, Moore, Rhea, and Sequatchie. 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 meal 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.

Image Courtesy of NewsChannel 5

Jacob Kirby, Instructor for Tennessee Rehabilitation Center (TRC) in Smyrna, was recently featured in a Nashville NewsChannel 5 interview to discuss a new partnership between the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center and Little Blossoms child care agency. The partnership provides hands-on job training experience in child care for adults with disabilities.

The program, launched in partnership with Allied Behavioral Health Solutions, blends child care with trauma-informed support for children and families while giving adults with disabilities a sense of belonging and professional experience.

TRC-Smyrna is a TDHS-operated training center that provides career and technical education to prepare individuals with disabilities for greater independence and competitive integrated employment in their local communities. In addition to comprehensive vocational evaluation, TRC-Smyrna provides vocational skills training in several Areas of Study and offers additional enhancement courses as needed to support individual students’ educational goals.  Students who attend TRC-Smyrna participate in classroom instruction, hands-on-training, and campus life activities. To learn more, please review the recent NewsChannel 5 interview below or visit TDHS website here: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/ds/trc-smyrna.html.

Link to NewsChannel 5 interview: https://youtu.be/mwl_IkpH3q8?si=Kvg7fSj0yCbOovlq.

The State of Tennessee has received an amendment to the federal major disaster declaration for Winter Storm Fern, expanding available aid to include FEMA Individual Assistance for 29 impacted Tennessee counties. 

Under the amendment, survivors in the following counties are now able to apply for Individual Assistance: Benton, Carroll, Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson, and Wilson. 

This assistance comes after all 95 counties were either designated for FEMA Public Assistance or emergency protective measures under Public Assistance. 

About FEMA Individual Assistance (IA)

Individual Assistance can help eligible survivors with disaster-related expenses such as temporary housing, home repairs, replacement of essential personal property, and other serious disaster related needs.

Survivors in the designated counties who sustained damage from Winter Storm Fern are encouraged to apply for assistance through FEMA. 

Tennesseans can apply for FEMA IA by:

To watch an accessible video on how to apply for disaster assistance, visit FEMA Accessible: Registering for Individual Assistance (youtube.com).  

If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or other communication services, give FEMA your number for that service. More information on FEMA’s IA program can be found here.

Applying for federal disaster assistance from FEMA will not affect other federal benefits that survivors may receive, like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or other federal welfare and entitlement programs.

Before an Applicant starts a FEMA application, they should be prepared to provide:

Important Reminder for Applicants 

After applying for assistance, survivors may receive phone calls from FEMA from an unknown or unfamiliar number. It is important to answer these calls, as FEMA may need to speak with applicants to continue processing their case. In some situations, an application may be delayed or initially denied if FEMA is unable to reach the applicant. Survivors should also remember that FEMA representatives will never ask for payment. FEMA representatives will identify a case using the registration number assigned to the survivor’s application. 

What: Hamilton County Kids and Family Resource Fair

This free event is open to parents, guardians and families with young Tennesseans to discover resources and organizations that serve families in the Hamilton County area. The Kids and Family Resource Fair is an opportunity to connect with nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations that serve parents and children.

When: May 5, 2026, 10:00am – 1:00pm ET

Where: Avondale Community Center

1305 Dodson Ave.

Chattanooga, TN 37406

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: April 30, 2026, 11:00pm - 12:00pm CT

Where: Online; Register 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.

Child Care and Community Services

APS Investigative Specialist 1*      
Fayette County – 76863 (Closing Date 5/11/2026)

DHS Licensing Consultant 1*   
Hamilton County – 76875 (Closing Date 5/4/2026)

Family Assistance & Child Support

DHS Child Support Re-Entry Coordinator    
Rutherford/Sevier (SW) – 76916 (2) (Closing Date 5/11/2026)

Rehabilitation Services

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - Masters
McMinn County – 76885 (Closing Date 5/4/2026)

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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