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.

In preparation of recognizing Elder Abuse Awareness Day next month, I had the pleasure of joining our Adult Protective Services team on May 19th for their annual CARES Conference on Aging. The conference brought together practitioners, agencies, caregivers, advocates, and community members from across the state, along with nationally recognized experts and trainers from around the country focused on addressing challenges facing aging and vulnerable adults.

The conference provided an important opportunity for attendees to learn about best practices in the field, strengthen professional skills, and elevate public awareness surrounding abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older and vulnerable adults.

In recent years, our Adult Protective Services (APS) program has led efforts to strengthen coordination among key partners, including sister state agencies, state councils and commissions, law enforcement and legal authorities, and community organizations, to combat elder abuse more effectively and ensure vulnerable adults receive the protection and support they deserve.

While we do our best as an agency to protect our vulnerable neighbors, we know we cannot do this alone. It takes all of us working together to recognize the warning signs, speak up when something seems wrong, and ensure older and vulnerable adults are treated with dignity, respect, and care.

Please help us keep our vulnerable neighbors safe and report suspected abuse at https://reportadultabuse.dhs.tn.gov/ or by calling 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366).

On December 10, 2025, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins approved Tennessee’s request to participate in the “Healthy SNAP” two-year pilot program. As a part of this new program, Tennessee will exclude certain foods and beverages from being eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits to align with the federal efforts to encourage healthier food choices. Those items excluded from SNAP purchases will include:

1. Processed Foods: Processed foods include foods altered from their natural state and that list the following as the first ingredient:

2. Beverages: Certain beverages such as sodas or energy drinks that list carbonated water and one of the following as the first two ingredients: 

Please note: Infant formula is not a part of the pilot program and therefore ALL infant formula is eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.

If you are an approved SNAP retailer, please visit our website here: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/healthy-snap-tennessee.html to access our retailer toolkit, signage, attestation form, and FAQs about the waiver. We will continue to post updates to this website regularly.

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 additional details coming soon.

TDHS recently announced that it has opened its applications for the 2026-27 Families First Community Grant Program, an initiative that will make available approximately $4 million in funding to non-profit organizations providing direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need and promote self-sufficiency. Qualifying non-profit organizations are invited to apply here through 5PM Central Time Monday, July 13, 2026.

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.

TDHS encourages all community-based, non-profit organizations ready to play a central role in the design and implementation of programs that address the unique problems of low-income families in their communities and fosters at least one of the federal TANF goals to submit an application for a Families First Community Grant. The department is focused on partnering with organizations that can provide family-focused solutions that demonstrate measurable impacts designed with the goal of transforming Tennessee’s safety net by growing the capacity of vulnerable families to self-sufficiency and economic prosperity.

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.

This program, also known as SUN Meals, aims to ensure children 18 and younger, who benefit from school meal programs, continue to have access to nutritious meals during the summer months. The program traditionally runs from the end of May to August when the next school year begins.

No application is required for summer meals available at most meal sites.

Tennessee families can use the USDA Summer Meals Site finder to search for SUN Meals or SUN Meals to-Go in their city or county. Use the button below to find a meal site using the USDA Meal Site Finder.

On June 15th, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) Adult Protective Services team will observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), encouraging Tennesseans to recognize and report signs of elder abuse. The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization established WEAAD in 2006 to increase community awareness of this growing problem.

Elder abuse can take various forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, as well as neglect and abandonment. The signs of elder abuse may not always be evident, making it imperative for friends, family members, caregivers, and community members to stay informed and recognize the warning signs. Some common indicators of elder abuse include unexplained injuries, sudden changes in behavior or mood, withdrawal from usual activities, unexplained financial transactions, and poor personal hygiene.

We encourage all Tennesseans to actively engage in preventing and reporting elder abuse. Individuals can report suspected abuse by calling our hotline 1-888-277-8366 or reporting online https://reportadultabuse.dhs.tn.gov/.

Learn more about Adult Protective Services at https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/adults/adult-protective-services.html.

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) recently released the first funding opportunity of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). A link to the RHTP grant application portal, with funding materials and submission instructions, is available on both the RHTP homepage and in its Opportunities content section.

This marks the first in a series of 2026 funding opportunities, with TDH aiming to commit its first year of funding to rural health projects by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) deadline of Oct. 30, 2026.

The inaugural funding opportunity, for a Perinatal and Pediatric Behavioral Health Teleconsultation and Education Project, will support the use of technology to expand access to behavioral health education and consultation services. The initiative is designed to improve health outcomes for women, infants and children in rural communities.

Additionally, upcoming RHTP competitive grant opportunities, with release dates and application deadlines, include:

Potential RHTP applicants can sign up to receive email notifications and be informed when the department announces new project funding and grant opportunities.

CMS awarded Tennessee $206,888,882 in late 2025 through the federal RHTP grant program, a nationwide, five-year commitment of $50 billion dedicated to improving access to care, quality, and health outcomes in rural communities nationwide.

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: June 18, 2026, 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.

  Child Care and Community Services

Adult Protective Services (APS) Program Manager        

Davidson County (SW) – 77820 (Closing Date 6/1/2026)

Family Assistance and Child Support

Eligibility Counselor 1*    

Loudon County – 77816 (Closing Date 6/1/2026)                     

Rehabilitation Services

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor - Masters

Madison County – 77836 (Closing Date 6/8/2026)

Maury County – 77824 (Closing Date 6/1/2026)

Knox County – 77529 (2) (Closing Date 6/1/2026)

The TDHS Adult Protective Services team came together with Tennessee State University, to host the annual 2026 CARES Conference. The conference provides an environment for community partners, APS team members and subject matter experts to network and discuss ways to better protect, serve, and care for vulnerable Tennesseans.

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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