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.

Happy New Year! I am excited to begin another year of productivity and impact alongside my TDHS family as we continue supporting Tennessee families. As we enter this new year, I am proud to share an important update on our collective progress.

Five years ago, when I started with the Tennessee Department of Human Services, I stepped into a significant challenge: Tennessee held the largest unexpended Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reserve balance in the country. At the time, the state had accrued a $732 million dollar balance, exceeding nearly every other state nationwide. This prompted us to develop a thoughtful and intentional plan to spend down these funds while maintaining the fiscally responsible reserve fund of $191 million set by our state legislature.

This effort resulted in the TANF Opportunity Act (TOA), which represents a strategic balance of responsible spend-down and innovative testing of what works best to serve vulnerable Tennessee families. Through TOA, we have reshaped and strengthened existing programs to reduce intergenerational dependency on public benefits by promoting self-sufficiency, education, and economic mobility for families with children.

As part of this work, we launched the Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative (TOPI) and Families First Community Grants to put these priorities into action by investing in programs that advance education, health, economic stability, and family well-being. TOPI supports seven lead agencies, who have worked with over 50 local community-based organizations, who provide critical resources, services, and pathways to financial stability for Tennessee families. Through this innovative pilot program, thousands of participants have already accessed services that reduce dependence and open doors to new opportunities. Additionally, through the Families First Community Grants, we have established 72 grant partnerships aimed at breaking cycles of poverty across the state. This innovative TANF work puts resources into all 95 counties, empowering communities to best serve their neighbors and meet local needs.

Today, Tennessee’s TANF reserve balance stands at $305 million, with a clear and actionable plan in place to continue expending excess funds responsibly.

I am incredibly proud of the meaningful strides we have made together. In looking ahead, I am hopeful that we can continue building on the success of this innovative pilot program and position Tennessee as a national model, demonstrating what is possible when progress and innovation intersect to create sustainable pathways to opportunity, independence, and long-term success for families.

For more than 32 years, Kevin Wright has been a champion for Tennesseans with disabilities and their families. Throughout his tenure, Kevin has embodied thoughtful, detail-oriented leadership and commitment to public service.

As Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Kevin has provided visionary leadership, guiding the division’s strategic planning, daily operations, and overall mission. Under his direction, nearly 1,000 TDHS team members have worked tirelessly to deliver essential services and support to individuals with disabilities and their families across the state.

Before assuming his current role, Kevin served as the division’s Director of Operations for over six years, overseeing the administrative and operational functions of multiple federal and state-funded programs. His career also includes serving as Executive Director of the Tennessee Technology Access Program and Director of the Tennessee Partners in Policymaking Institute. Beyond these roles, Kevin has contributed his expertise through service on numerous boards and councils, offering invaluable insight and fostering collaboration across agencies.

Kevin’s dedication, leadership, and passion have left a lasting mark on our department and the communities we serve. We are deeply grateful for his decades of service and the positive impact he has had on countless lives.

Many Tennesseans experienced extended power outages due to severe winter weather over the weekend. Replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits may be available to current SNAP households that lost food as a result of these conditions.

Replacement SNAP benefits are available to existing SNAP recipients who:

Individuals requesting replacement benefits need to sign an affidavit and send it to TDHS using the Upload Documents option, within the One DHS Customer Portal available here: OneDHS.tn.gov/csp. New to the One DHS Customer Portal? Simply create an account from the One DHS Customer Portal and link your case.  Once your account is set up and case linked, you may submit a Affidavit Request for SNAP Replacement Benefits.

For more information on replacement SNAP benefits, please visit TDHS website here: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/tdhs-disaster-emergency-assistance.html.

Tennessee has received federal approval for its Healthy SNAP waiver, which was signed by Secretary Rollins on December 10th. This waiver aligns with federal efforts to encourage healthier food choices by limiting the purchase of certain processed foods, candy, and soda with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As the state prepares for implementation on July 31st, additional details and guidance will be shared to ensure partners and SNAP participants are well informed. Please stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks.

Access to affordable, high-quality child care continues to be a priority for families across Tennessee. Quality child care is a central ingredient for overall community well-being and economic opportunity. Access to child care allows families to maintain employment and helps businesses build a steady workforce. To support families in accessing this critical resource, the Tennessee Department of Human Services is engaging Tennessee employers to invest in their workforce through innovative child care strategies. 

One of these efforts is the New Employer Workforce (NEW) Care Partnership Grants program. This grant opportunity is designed to encourage meaningful partnerships between licensed child care providers and private employers to create and implement strategies that expand child care capacity for working families. By aligning the needs of employers with the expertise of child care providers, NEW Care partnerships help remove barriers that prevent parents from fully participating in the workforce.

With a rolling application deadline, the NEW Care Partnership Grants aim to increase the number of available child care slots by supporting the expansion of existing child care agencies or the creation of new child care programs. A key focus of the program is leveraging and increasing private investment, helping ensure long-term sustainability while meeting workforce needs.

Access to child care is important for families across Tennessee, and TDHS remains committed to seeking innovative funding strategies and building strong partnerships to continue supporting providers, the early childhood workforce, and families throughout the state. 

For more information on the NEW Care Partnership Grants, please visit the TDHS website here: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/new-care-partnership-grants.html.

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the customer experience, we continue to add new enhancements to the One DHS Customer Portal. The portal offers seamless access to all TDHS programs and services in one convenient location.

Using the One DHS Customer Portal, customers can:

By integrating more programs into the portal and enhancing existing tools, we aim to reduce barriers, improve response times, and ensure that customers can connect with the help they need more efficiently.

To visit the One DHS Customer Portal, click here.

On January 24, 2026, Governor Bill Lee announced that President Donald J. Trump has granted an Emergency Declaration to support Tennessee’s ongoing response to the winter weather event that is impacting all 95 counties across the state. The request was submitted to the White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday, ahead of the forecasted winter storm. The Emergency Declaration provides Tennessee the ability to access federal operational assistance to protect lives and protect public health and safety.

Crisis Cleanup was activated to assist residents with free property cleanup as a result of winter weather impacts. To request assistance, call: 844-965-1386. Please note, all services are provided by volunteer organizations, but service is not guaranteed due to what may be an overwhelming need. Volunteers work free of charge and provide the tools and equipment necessary to complete the work.

TEMA continues to work with local, regional, and state partners to support readiness actions and any requests for resources. The state remains at a Level 3, State of Emergency, to be able to respond to the winter weather.

For continuous updates and resources, please review TEMA website here: https://www.tn.gov/tema/updates/2026-disasters/january-2026-winter-weather.html.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) helps families who make less than $84,000/ year get the tax credits they deserve without the fees. You can file in-person, virtually, or do-it-yourself all for free. VITA is a program of United Way of Greater Nashville in partnership with the IRS. Each year, VITA volunteers help thousands of individuals and families prepare their taxes.

During the 2024 tax season, United Way and the VITA free tax prep program completed 10,604 tax returns, helped taxpayers save $2.6 million in tax preparation fees and brought $10.6 million in federal refunds back to the community.

For more information, please visit VITA Free Tax Prep to learn more.

The Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) recently announced that it has received funding to award Tennessee Believes grants to higher education institutions in 2026.

DDA officially launched the Tennessee Believes program in 2021, aiming to expand opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities at colleges and universities across the state. Governor Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly provided $1 million in funding to DDA to continue the program in 2026. While half of those funds will go to continue already awarded multi-year grants, approximately $537,000 is available to new awardees.

Since its inception, the TN Believes grant has provided over $4 million in funding to ten Tennessee colleges and universities. Based on 2025 reporting, 195 students benefited from programs supported by TN Believes. In addition, students completed 1,491 classes, 352 internships, and 61 students graduated from their respective programs during the 2025 fiscal year.

The application period began on January 5, 2026, and grant applications are due to DDA for review by February 13, 2026. DDA expects to select recipients and award the funding by summer 2026. 

More information about the grant, including the application, can be found on the Grant Funding Opportunities page on the DDA website at https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/disability-and-aging/resource-directory/grants.html.

What: TDHS Virtual Career Expo

The Tennessee Department of Human Services is hosting a Virtual Career Expo for talented professionals in social work, human resources, disability services, and other areas.

If you’re ready to make a difference in Tennessee, this is a great opportunity to speak directly to hiring managers and learn about. 

-Competitive Pay

-Development Opportunities

-Benefits

-Life at the Tennessee Department of Human Services

 

When: January 30 2026, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm CT

Where: Online; Register Here

What: Virtual Lunch and Learn: Hiring Individuals with Vision Loss and Blindness

TDHS is hosting a Virtual Lunch and Learn for employers and human resource professionals who are ready to expand their talent pipeline. This session will focus on hiring talent who have vision loss or who are blind.

 

This is a great opportunity for individuals to gain:

-Confidence in interviewing and hiring individuals with vision loss

-Practical guidance on accommodations and workplace success

-Clear next steps to support inclusive hiring

 

Attendees can learn, ask questions, and receive answers about how to elevate and expand their talent search.

 

When: February 18, 2026, 11:00 am-12:00 pm CT

Where: Online; Register Here

 

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: February 26, 2025, 4:00pm - 5:00pm 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.

Rehabilitation Services

Assistant Commissioner 2        

Davidson County – 74595 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)

 

Pre-Employment Transition Specialist

Davidson County – 74460 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)

 

Vocational Rehabilitation Business Employment Consultant

Shelby County – 74469 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)
Madison County – 74468 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)
Rutherford County -  74467 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)

                       

Vocational Rehabilitation Career Training Coordinator

Maury County – 74454 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)
Madison County – 74487 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)

 

Vocational Rehabilitation Career Training Specialist    

Blount County – 74473 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)
Henry County - 74471(Closing Date 2/9/2026)
Sumner County – 74441 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)
Madison County – 74485 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)        

 

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor – Masters

Madison County – 74464 (3) (Closing Date 2/9/2026)
Rutherford County -  74559 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)

 

Vocational Rehabilitation Support Coordinator

Madison County – 74461 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)

 

Child Care and Community Services

APS Program Manager

Davidson County – 74465 – (Closing Date 2/9/2026)

 

Family Assistance and Child Support                       

Eligibility Counselor 1*

Hickman County – 74458 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)                    
Loudon County -  74456 (Closing Date 2/9/2026)
Humphreys County – 74189 (Closing Date 2/2/2026)            

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.

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.