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.

February has come and gone, and I believe we are all ready to usher in the spring after enduring the bitter cold and aftermath of the Winter Storm Fern. So many Tennesseans were impacted by prolonged power outages and are still recovering from the devastation left behind. Yet, even in the most challenging moments, I was deeply encouraged by the way our neighbors, community partners, and TDHS staff came together to deploy resources, offer support, and ensure customers maintained access to essential services.

In times like these, we are reminded that our work is not just about programs and policies — it is about people. It is about showing up with compassion, urgency, and a commitment to serve, especially when families are facing uncertainty.

I am especially grateful to our Family Assistance team, who acted swiftly to collaborate with our federal partners and secure approval for automatic replacement SNAP benefits for customers most impacted by the winter weather. This automatic replacement ensured households received timely support without additional paperwork, allowing families to focus on recovery and meeting their basic needs during a difficult time.

It is never easy to navigate unforeseen tragedy. But moments like these reaffirm the strength of our shared mission and the power of collective action. Thank you to everyone who stepped up, leaned in, and demonstrated what it truly means to serve Tennessee with excellence and heart.

TDHS received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA) to automatically issue replacement Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to households impacted by prolonged power outages caused by the January 2026 Winter Storm Fern in Tennessee. To deliver timely relief of replacement SNAP benefits, TDHS automatically issued 45% of affected SNAP households’ January 2026 SNAP benefit amount beginning February 13, 2026, without requiring households to submit an individual food loss affidavit.

This automatic replacement was issued to SNAP households that were active and had received January 2026 benefits as of January 24, 2026, and that reside in the following impacted areas: Chester, Davidson, Decatur, Hardeman, Henderson, Hickman, Macon, and Wayne; or zip codes 37012, 37025, 37046, 37062, 37090, 37146, 37184, 37307, 37321, 37322, 37325, 37327, 37332, 37367, 37381, 37826, 37880, 38061, 38425, 38504, 38549, 38572, 38573, and 38583.

As of January 24, 2026, TDHS estimated that there were approximately 36,486 active SNAP households that may have been impacted in the approved counties and ZIP codes.

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

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.

Did you know the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) licenses child care agencies across the state? At TDHS, we are dedicated to fostering early childhood environments that are safe, healthy, and educationally rich.

Ensuring children are in safe, high-quality child care is a top priority for TDHS, and our Child Care Locator tool makes it easier than ever for parents to make informed decisions. This is an important tool parents can use when looking for licensed child care agencies, as it includes details on child care agencies, ratings, and compliance history. By choosing a licensed child care provider, families can have peace of mind knowing their children are in an environment that meets state standards for safety, education, and well-being. We invite parents to explore this valuable resource and learn more about how we are committed to supporting Tennessee families find quality child care by visiting TDHS website here: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services.html.

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.

What: Vocational Rehabilitation Employment and Expungement Resource Clinic in Dyer County

Job seekers with disabilities and other community members are invited to a free workshop to find employment resources and guidance on expungement options.

This is a great opportunity for job hunters of all abilities to:

-Learn about job readiness, training, and employment opportunities

-Explore Vocational Rehabilitation services and workplace supports

-Get information and guidance on (record) expungement resources

-Connect directly with employment professionals

This free event is hosted by the Vocational Rehabilitation Program at the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the American Job Center.

No registration is required to attend. Justice-involved workers are welcome.

When: March 10, 2026, 2:00pm – 4:00pm CT

Where: McIver's Grant Public Library

410 W. Court St.

Dyersburg, TN 38024

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: March 25, 2026, 11:00am - 12:00pm CT

Where: Online; Register Here

What: Stable Workforce Career Fair in Hickman County 

Job seekers with disabilities and other workers in the Hickman County area are invited to a Stable Workforce Career Fair hosted by the Division of Rehabilitation Services at the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). The event is free and available for individuals seeking to: find job resources, connect with employers, and discover family focused supports.

No registration is required to attend the event.

When: March 27, 2026, 10:00am– 2:00pm CT

Where: The Stables Event Space

1726 Highway 100

Centerville, TN 37033

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 & Community Services
APS Investigative Specialist 1*
Wilson County – 75251 (Closing Date 3/9/2026)

Family Assistance and Child Support         

Eligibility Counselor 1*
Knox County - 75259 (2) (Closing Date 3/2/2026)
Montgomery County – 75113 (Closing Date 3/2/2026)

Rehabilitation Services                             

Vocational Rehabilitation Career Training Specialist
Madison County – 75117 (Closing Date 3/2/2026)

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor – Masters
Maury County - 75257 (Closing Date 3/2/2026)

On Valentine's Day, TDHS employees expressed their gratitude and love for the department. Our mission would not be possible without our 3,000+ member workforce, who assist with programs and services across the state. Here are just a few reasons why our staff enjoy working for 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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