Program population: Children

Project Diabetes

Project Diabetes is a grant program that funds prevention projects that focus on changing policies, systems, and/or the environment to support healthier lifestyles in communities. Recent focus areas center on food and beverage accessibility and increasing physical activity. Approaches to PSE change help highlight how communities function, including how resources are allocated and how services […]

Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant

The Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant provides flexible, core funding for prevention and health promotion activities in Tennessee. The grant covers several primary areas including: cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, community-based prevention services, healthy weight, injury prevention, dental and oral health services, and poison control.

Energy Efficient Schools Initiative

The Energy Efficient Schools Initiative (EESI) provides low-interest loans to Tennessee public K-12 school districts for projects that reduce energy consumption and operating costs. The program supports a wide range of efficiency measures, including lighting upgrades, HVAC improvements, insulation, energy management controls, and building retro-commissioning. Loan terms are based on the project’s projected energy savings, […]

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), is designed to assist states, local governments, and Tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use and improve energy efficiency. The Tennessee program funds audits of and energy efficiency upgrades to county-owned, […]

Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund (EERLF)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund (EERLF) Capitalization Grant Program, funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), provides funding to states to establish revolving loan funds to support energy efficiency audits, upgrades, and retrofits to improve the efficiency, performance, and comfort of buildings. The Tennessee program funds audits […]

Assessment Treatment Homes

Assessment Treatment Homes provide safe and stable transitional housing for children entering state custody who have complex psychiatric and behavioral needs. Specialized evaluations and testing help determine long term placement options.

Tennessee Health Link (THL)

The primary objective of THL is to coordinate health care services for TennCare members with the highest behavioral health needs. Through better coordinated behavioral and physical health services, THL is meant to produce improved member outcomes, greater provider accountability and flexibility when it comes to the delivery of appropriate care for each individual, and improved […]

Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH)

PCMH is a comprehensive care delivery model designed to improve the quality of primary care services for TennCare members, the capabilities of and practice standards of primary care providers, and the overall value of health care delivered to the TennCare population. Tennessee has built on existing PCMH efforts by providers and payers in the state […]

Healthy Built Environment Grants

The Healthy Built Environment Grants program funds the construction or planning projects that promote the physical, mental, and social health of communities, drawing on evidence-based strategies related to access to physical activity opportunities and access to healthy foods. Projects include the establishment of walking tracks, playgrounds, sports facilities, greenways, and parks, all which are available […]

Tennessee Strong Homes

Provides support to children who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and are in state custody. Support can include direct care services, support for foster families, and home and community-based services for children with complex needs. Direct care includes short-term placement in community homes for children with high medical needs currently awaiting placement while receiving care […]

Tennessee Strong Families

A healthcare reimbursement account (HRA) for children who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and are in state custody. An Independent Support Coordinator assists families with utilizing the benefit and understanding eligible expenses.

Health Starts

Health Starts aims to address members’ non-medical risk factors such as food insecurity, transportation, social supports and others. Through collaboration with the Managed Care Organizations and TennCare providers (including primary care, behavioral health, LTSS, BESMART, and others), program initiatives better screen, identify, and refer for non-medical risk factors. The program draws on evidence around the […]

Tennessee’s Managed Medicaid Program

TennCare is the state of Tennessee’s managed Medicaid program. The program is a partnership between the state and federal government. TennCare contracts with statewide managed care organizations to provide healthcare to mostly low-income pregnant women, parents or caretakers of a minor child, children, and individuals who are elderly or have a disability. To get Medicaid, […]

Tourism Marketing, Outreach, and Visitor Engagement

The Tourism Marketing, Outreach, and Visitor Engagement program aims to increase the state’s economic viability and support the growth of tourism in all 95 counties, helping make Tennessee the 11th highest state for direct visitor spending. It does that by inspiring travel, developing programs, digital campaigns, and enhancing industry partnerships which drive job creation, visitor […]

Veterans Advocacy Program

The Veterans Advocacy Program advocates for the rights, benefits, and well-being of veterans through a multifaceted approach. That includes disability and compensation claims advocacy and assistance, guidance and representation in the appeals process, and community engagement and partnerships to increase the awareness and accessibility of services. The program also provides regular training for local service […]

Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (EPSDT)

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children under age 21 who are enrolled in Medicaid. The program uses evidence-based approaches including primary care, preventive care visits, and vision screening. EPSDT is key to ensuring that children and adolescents receive appropriate preventive, dental, mental […]

Employment and Community First (ECF) CHOICES

Employment and Community First (ECF) CHOICES is for people of all ages who have an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD). It provides a range of supports and services to help the person with I/DD become as independent as possible including support to explore the possibility of working. It also includes support to be involved in […]

Population Health

Population Health is the state of Tennessee’s care coordination effort to support TennCare Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) populations. The program contracts with statewide managed care organizations to improve healthcare outcomes such as increasing child vaccinations, reducing preterm births, and enhancing behavioral health services for adults with substance use disorder. To advance those […]

Episodes of Care

Episodes of Care is a state-wide value-based payment program incentivizing high-quality, cost-effective care for specific acute or specialized services over a specific time period, which is called an “episode”. The program includes 48 episodes. The program assigns a single principal accountable provider who has the most impact on the overall cost and quality of a […]

Katie Beckett Program (Part A)

The TennCare Katie Beckett Program is for children under age 18 with disabilities or complex medical needs who are not Medicaid eligible because of their parent’s income or assets. It helps to provide care for the child’s medical needs or disability that private insurance does not cover. Katie Beckett Part A (or “Part A” for […]

TDMHSAS-Homebuilders

TDMHSAS-Homebuilders is an intensive family preservation services (IFPS) model designed to increase well-being, improve permanency, enhance safety, and increase family stability of children (ages 0-18) who are in or at imminent risk of out-of-home placement (OOHP) as a result of parent/caregiver substance misuse (PSM). The program utilizes the Homebuilders model, the nation’s oldest and best-documented […]

School Resource Officer Grant Program

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security provides grant funds to law enforcement agencies to support the deployment of school resource officers in every K-12 public and charter school in Tennessee. This is part of Tennessee’s effort to promote school safety.

Behavioral Highway Safety Grant Program

The Behavioral Highway Safety Grant Program within the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) provides grant funding to implement statewide programs addressing occupant protection, impaired driving, speed enforcement, pedestrian and bicycle safety, crash data collection and analysis, and other initiatives relating to the human behavioral aspects of highway safety. The goal is to change driver behavior […]

Juvenile Justice Diversion Program

Juvenile Justice Diversion Program is a grant program that provides six providers across Tennessee with funding for community-based behavioral health services to justice-involved youth. This program utilizes evidence-based strategies such as motivational interviewing, aggression replacement training, and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.

Mobile Crisis Services

Mobile Crisis Services is a 24/7/365 response team for those who are experiencing a mental health emergency. Services may be accessed by calling 988 the suicide and crisis lifeline. Services may include telephone services provided by trained crisis specialists, face-to-face or telehealth crisis assessment, referral for additional services & treatment, stabilization of symptoms, and follow-up […]

Project Rural Recovery

Project Rural Recovery provides mobile, integrated primary, mental health, and substance abuse services to rural Tennesseans of all ages regardless of ability to pay. This program uses several evidence-based strategies including, Behavioral Health Integration (BHI), Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Individual Placement and […]

Regional Intervention Program (RIP)

The Regional Intervention Program (RIP) is a parent-implemented, professionally supported program for young children (2-6 years old) and their families experiencing challenging behaviors. This unique, internationally recognized program guides parents in learning the skills necessary to work with their own children, while they receive training and support from other RIP families.

Statewide Family Support Network

Family Support and Advocacy program provides comprehensive family advocacy, outreach, support, and referral service for families of children with Serious Emotional Disturbances and professionals who work with these children. The program promotes the provision of services to youth with emotional disturbance and their families based on system of care principals, including evidence-based strategies such as […]

Project BASIC

Project BASIC (Better Attitudes and Skills in Children) is a school-based mental health early intervention and prevention program. The program targets students from kindergarten to third grade, providing early identification and intervention, teacher consultation and classroom programming to promote positive attitudes and mental health wellness concepts. Families with students at high risk of emotional disturbances […]

Mental Health 101

Mental Health 101 provides mental health information with a focus on youth suicide prevention and resources to middle school and high school students statewide. This program includes evidence-based practices like gatekeeper training.

Youth Respite/Planned Respite

Youth Respite provides services to families of children identified as seriously emotionally disturbed (SED) or dually diagnosed as SED and Autism Spectrum Disorder who are two through fifteen (2-15) years of age. Respite consultants provide short-term respite, and work with the family to identify long-range respite resources. An Individualized Family Respite Plan (IFRP) is developed […]

Child Care Consultation

Provides early childhood mental health training, coaching and consultation (using best practices) to centers and systems that serve young children across the state. In addition, capacity development and awareness building will be provided around the need for early childhood mental health and healthy social emotional development. The training site in Nashville serves the whole state, […]

Adolescent Substance Use Disorders Services Program (ASUDSP)

The Adolescent Substance Use Disorders Services Program (ASUDSP) provides for the treatment of adolescents, 13–17 years old, with a primary alcohol or other drug abuse or dependency diagnosis or co-occurring substance use and psychiatric diagnosis. Services are provided on an as-needed basis and as applicable for each individual who meets the eligibility and income requirements […]

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides administrative and operational payments to eligible agencies for serving meals to low-income children. The SFSP is a partnership between the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) and community-based organizations to provide free meals to children in their communities throughout the summer. Eligible […]

Tennessee Technology Access Program (TTAP)

The Tennessee Technology Access Program (TTAP) is a statewide program designed to increase access to, and acquisition of, assistive technology devices and services. Through funding assistance, device demonstration, device loan and device reutilization, TTAP and a network of assistive technology centers help people with disabilities and their families find and get the tools that they […]

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritional assistance initiative administered at the state level. SNAP funding provides SNAP Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed), Informational Activities to Low-Income Households (SNAP Outreach), Disaster SNAP, SNAP Employment and Training (individual section), and Online Purchasing programs.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federally funded program that provides reimbursement for eligible meals that are served to participants who meet age and income requirements.

Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Community Grants

Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing Community Grants—administered by the Tennessee Council for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing (TCDDBHH)—enable the provision of culturally appropriate services and direct support to Tennesseans who experience hearing loss and their families. Services include pro bono American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting services, educational workshops and training, and support […]

School Based Dental Prevention Program

The School Based Dental Prevention Program (SBDPP) is a statewide program targeting children in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth in Title I eligible schools. The program offers preventive services that include, but not limited to, oral health education, oral health screenings, referrals for care, immediate need follow-up, dental sealants, and fluoride applications to children in the […]

Faith-Based and Community Engagement

Faith-Based and Community Engagement provides enhanced patient-centered engagement, assistance with navigating complex systems, and care coordination of medical and social service needs for minority, rural and vulnerable populations. It does this through outreach workers who attend community events and work with community health partners to connect individuals to services through referrals to community providers and […]

Hemophilia

The Hemophilia program assists individuals suffering from hemophilia and other genetic bleeding disorders. The program provides financial assistance to participants in the form of reimbursements to health care providers. It also contracts with four hemophilia treatment centers to provide professional and clinical services to patients.

Renal Health

The Renal Health program assists individuals suffering from End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or who are at risk of developing ESRD. The program provides financial assistance to participants in the form of reimbursements to health care providers. It partners with dialysis centers to provide professional and clinical services to patients.

Waterborne & Zoonotic Diseases Program

The Waterborne and Zoonotic Diseases Program is responsible for tracking and responding to illnesses from animals and water. It does this by collaborating closely with local health departments, heath care providers and laboratories to collect information on any illnesses and investigate outbreaks. It also conducts prevention activities through outreach for individuals who own private wells. […]

Clinical Dental Services

The Clinical Dental Services program provides oral health education, emergency and basic dental services to adults and children in health department settings. By providing these services, this program seeks to improve the oral health and ultimately the overall health of Tennesseans.

Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee (CHANT)

The Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee (CHANT) program is an integrated model of care coordination provided through local health departments. The program serves children and youth with special health care needs, pregnant and postpartum women, children under 21, and families. It provides enhanced patient-centered engagement, assistance with navigating complex systems, and care coordination of […]

Tuberculosis Elimination Program

The Tuberculosis Elimination Program provides surveillance, oversight of case management activities and contact investigations, training and education, procurement of anti-tuberculosis medications, and fiscal oversight to health departments throughout the state of Tennessee. Program staff work collaboratively with regional and local health department TB staff to ensure screening, testing, and treatment of individuals with suspected or […]

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program (VPDIP)

The Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program (VPDIP) works to reduce and eliminate the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases affecting children, adolescents, and adults by raising the immunization coverage rates of Tennessee citizens. VPDIP operates federally-funded vaccine programs, supports providers with voluntary immunization data, and prepares to support communities in the case of disease outbreak.

Environmental Epidemiology Program

Environmental Epidemiology Program (EEP) protects people who live, work, play, and study in Tennessee from harmful chemicals and pollutants. EEP conducts health risk assessments in all 95 counties to make sure harmful chemicals—including at spills, dumps, and waste sites—are properly cleaned up to protect people. EEP leads public education efforts through public meetings, fact sheets, […]

Viral Hepatitis

The Viral Hepatitis Program oversees hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevention, surveillance, linkage to care, and provides clinical support to health departments throughout the state. It includes Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) HCV Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) that builds treatment capacity for adults and children living with hepatitis C. TDH HCV Project ECHO […]

Children’s Special Services (CSS)

Children’s Special Services (CSS) is the State Title V Program for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). CSS provides access to comprehensive medical care for children with physical disabilities from birth to 21 years of age. One of the primary goals of the program is to increase the number of children who […]

Lead Poisoning Prevention

The Lead Poisoning Prevention Program promotes the prevention of lead poisoning in children and links lead-poisoned children from birth through 6 years of age to recommended services. The program assists medical care providers and other community members to reduce and prevent lead poisoning by providing case management, local outreach and education, and surveillance of lead […]

Injury Prevention and Detection

The Injury Prevention and Detection program implements evidence-based interventions to reduce accidental injuries and death within the state. Unintentional injury is the number one cause of death for Tennesseans ages 1-44. The program works to reduce adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), traumatic brain injury, motor vehicle crashes, and suicide through education and training, technical assistance, and […]

Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) provides services and resources to special needs children and their families. Services and resources are comprehensive, culturally sensitive, evidence-based and family-centered and are based on the individualized and specific child and family needs. CYSHCN services include the Children’s Special Services Program, Community Health Access and Navigation […]

Diabetes Prevention and Management Programs

Diabetes Prevention and Management Programs make it easier for people with prediabetes to participate in affordable, high-quality lifestyle change programs to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and improve their overall health. Through the program, partner organizations deliver CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs as well as diabetes self-management programs that help patients and families […]

Tobacco Use Prevention & Control Program (TUPCP)

The Tobacco Use Prevention & Control Program (TUPCP) administers, promotes, and evaluates programs and initiatives that prevent initiation and support tobacco cessation across the state. Public and private sector organizations partner to implement programs including community and youth engagement, policy development, the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, and the prenatal smoking cessation program. All programs are free […]

Victims Services

Victims Services provides funding to support foundational services for victims of crime, including safe housing, crisis hotlines, forensic exams, victim advocacy, therapeutic services, legal assistance, and more. Program funding also providing opportunities for innovative, systems-level projects that focus on coordination between multiple agencies and levels of government, like Family Justice Centers, Sexual Assault Response Teams, […]

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is a National Service program that provides an opportunity for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to give their time and talent to address critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, fighting poverty, sustaining national parks, preparing for disasters, and more. Subrecipients (local non-profit organizations receiving funding) engage AmeriCorps members in service […]

EPA DERA – Reducing Diesel Emissions for a Healthier Tennessee (RDE4HT)

Reducing Diesel Emissions for a Healthier Tennessee provides funding to replace older, diesel vehicles, including school buses and work trucks, with new alternative fuel or diesel vehicles. Funding can also be requested for efforts towards replacing engines in older diesel vehicles with new alternative-fueled or diesel engines, converting OEM diesel vehicles to run on alternative […]

Interpretive and Education Programming

Interpretive and Education Programming provides education, recreation, interpretive, and volunteer programming that helps Tennesseans become active stewards of our parks. A steward takes responsibility for the careful and responsible use of the natural and cultural resources entrusted to our state parks. Stewards can be staff, volunteers, Friends, active stakeholders, responsible recreators, user-group representatives, or elected […]

Work-Based Learning (WBL)

Work-based learning (WBL) is a proactive approach to bridging the gap between high school and high-demand, high-skill careers in Tennessee. Students build on classroom-based instruction to develop employability skills that prepare them for success in postsecondary education and future careers. Through experiences like internships, apprenticeships, and paid work experience, juniors, and seniors (16 years or […]

Summer Learning Camps

Summer Learning Camps serve students in all districts across the state in rising K – grade 9, focusing on supporting students defined as priority status. Students receive an additional 4 – 6 weeks of instruction and intervention using grade-level materials in small groups to catch them up prior to the start of the new school […]

TN ALL Corps

TN Accelerating Literacy and Learning Corps (TN ALL Corps) was launched to address learning gaps and accelerate student achievement across the state of Tennessee. TN ALL Corps is a grant opportunity to empower school districts across the state to implement or strengthen robust tutoring programs for students. Using a research-based model, each participating district has […]

TN AWARE

The TN AWARE project aims to build state and local collaborative infrastructure to plan and implement mental health services within grant awarded school districts. The grant program increases youth access to services and resources in schools by raising awareness about mental health issues, increasing early identification and screening of youth to detect unmet behavioral health […]

Education Savings Account Program

The Education Savings Account (ESA) Program allows eligible K-12 students in certain zoned districts to use state and local money to attend an approved nonpublic school and pay for educational expenses such as tuition, uniforms, textbooks, technology, tutoring, and summer programs.

Free and Reduced Price Meals

The Free and Reduced-Price Meals program provides students who qualify, based on family income or specific program eligibility, with free or reduced-price breakfast, lunch, and/or snacks. The program is implemented by school districts, who receive reimbursement via federal funding.

PK-12 Career Awareness, Exploration, and Advising

PK-12 Career Awareness, Exploration, and Advising ensures that every student has access to high-quality career awareness, exploration, and advising by providing clear expectations for districts and schools, research-based resources (including career assessments and curriculum), implementation supports, and high-quality professional development to support school staff in using resources and analyzing data to support student decision-making. College […]

School Improvement

The School Improvement Program is designed to provide a continuum of supports and interventions to Tennessee’s districts and schools that are federally designated as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI). Through ongoing planning support, grant funding opportunities, technical assistance and monitoring, this program ensures […]

Access for All Learning Network K-8

Access for All Learning Network (AALN) aims to ensure districts and school leaders are empowered to effectively meet the needs of students with disabilities in accessing high-quality instructional materials and instruction. Districts receive ongoing professional learning to identify access points and provide adequate scaffolds within high-quality instructional materials for students with disabilities. District leads engage […]

Computer Science Program

The Computer Science Program ensures that all public elementary, middle, and high school students have access to computer science (CS) coursework and resources and provides teachers with a no-cost route to earn a computer science additional endorsement and offers teachers and schools incentives to participate in high quality professional development in CS. An important component […]

Family Resource Centers (FRCs)

Tennessee Family Resource Centers (FRCs) serve as a resource and support hub within school districts. FRCs help connect families to resources in the community and ensure students have the supports they need to come to school ready to learn. In particular, FRCs help families learn to resolve problems through the collaborative efforts of many disciplines […]

Individualized Education Account Program

The Individualized Education Account (IEA) Program is a school choice program for eligible students with qualifying disabilities. The IEA Program provides parents, guardians, and qualified students options for choosing the educational opportunities that best meet the individual student’s unique needs through access to public education funds.

Innovative School Models

Innovative School Models (ISM) is a way to eliminate structural barriers that exist between high school, workforce, and postsecondary systems. They allow students the ability to seamlessly make connections ensuring that all students graduate high school prepared to successfully complete a postsecondary credential or attain high-quality employment. ISM empowers schools to transform the traditional high […]

K-3 Summer Home Library Program

This program provides students, teachers and families with quality resources to support student learning in the home and combat learning loss. In partnership with book-gifting organizations, this program mails books and literacy tools (e.g., activity sheets to help children engage with the books) to kindergarten through third grade students during the summer, at no cost […]

Caregiver Engagement

We partner with vendors to give families the tools to turn conversations into learning opportunities by connecting books with experiences. Resources, like reading tips and learning activities, are shared digitally with caregivers and model how everyday interactions at home can be used to boost learning.

Seating & Positioning Clinics

The Seating and Positioning Clinics— located in Greeneville, Nashville, and Arlington— serve children and adults with seating and positioning needs by creating custom therapeutic equipment and modifying existing seating systems. At the clinics, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and equipment fabricators work closely with individuals to support them in a safe and comfortable way, promoting optimal […]

Katie Beckett Program (Part B)

The Katie Beckett Program provides supports and services for children with disabilities and complex medical needs under age 18 who do not qualify for Medicaid due to their parents’ income or assets. Part B is for children in Tennessee who have disabilities and complex medical needs who live at home and do not qualify for […]

Family Support Program

The Family Support Program offers individuals with severe disabilities and their families who do not receive any other comprehensive services the opportunity to remain together and to choose supports that increase their quality of life and well-being, regardless of age and income. The program is used for a wide range of costs and services related […]

Assessment and Stabilization Teams

The Tennessee START Assessment & Stabilization Teams (TN START) is a statewide mental health service for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have complex behavioral or mental health needs (MH-IDD). The START model is a comprehensive model of service supports for community-based crisis prevention and intervention that optimizes independence, treatment, and community living for […]

Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

In Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), parents are coached by a trained therapist in behavior-management and relationship skills. PCIT is a program for two- to seven-year-old children and their parents or caregivers that aims to decrease externalizing child behavior problems, increase positive parenting behaviors, and improve the quality of the parent-child relationship. During weekly sessions, therapists coach […]

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is provided to children with a known trauma history who are experiencing significant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, whether or not they meet full diagnostic criteria. Children with depression, anxiety, and/or shame related to their traumatic exposure, and children experiencing childhood traumatic grief can also benefit from the treatment.

Fire Education and Outreach

The Education & Outreach programs support strategies to reduce fire loss in communities throughout the state. Using data analysis of fire reports, targeted fire prevention programs, such as “Get Alarmed, TN,” Fire Loss Consultants and Close the Door have been developed and delivered. Additional programs support community risk reduction efforts at the local level to […]

Child Programs: Non-Custodial Services

Non-Custodial Services supports the provision of services, resources, and support to non-custodial families to help promote a positive and stable home, free of safety risks and concerns that may threaten a child’s continued stay in their home. Non-custodial services utilizes case management and evidence-based strategies, such as Relative Caregiver Programs, Intercept, Multisystemic Therapy (MST), Parent […]

Child Programs: Permanency Services

Child Programs: Permanency Services supports the timely achievement of permanency for children in foster care by safely returning children to their families or building other permanent relationships. This program is dependent upon ensuring an adequate pool of well-supported and well-trained, quality foster homes and an adequate pool of quality residential treatment centers sufficient to meet […]

Juvenile Court Prevention Grants

Juvenile Court Prevention Grants are provided annually to twenty-seven (27) grantee to provide prevention services for youth in danger of coming into state custody due to delinquent behavior. Program areas include intensive probation, intensive aftercare, alternative school programs, and truancy prevention.

Juvenile Justice: Custodial

Justice-involved youth can be placed into state’s custody for an indeterminate and determinate amount of time to receive rehabilitative services. This includes case management, medical, dental, mental health and educational services. Placement is located based upon treatment needs and level of risk youth pose to the community.

Intercept

Intercept is an integrated, intensive in-home parenting skills program used to safely prevent children from entering custody or to reunify them with family as quickly as possible if a period of out of home care is necessary. Intercept provides intensive in-home services to children and youth (ages 0-18) at risk of entry or re-entry into […]

Juvenile Justice: Non-Custodial

The non-custodial juvenile justice program serves youth who are on probation, intensive probation, diversion or have been released from state custody and are on aftercare. These youth are at imminent risk of coming into or recommitting to state custody, due to delinquent behavior. One evidence-based intervention for these case types is Multisystemic Therapy (MST).

Child Advocacy Centers

Child Advocacy Centers provide a safe, child-friendly environment for child victims of severe abuse, in which law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, medical and mental health professionals may share information and develop effective, coordinated strategies sensitive to the needs of each unique case and child.

Forensic Interviews

A forensic interview is a way for specially trained staff to gain details about possible abuse from a child in his or her own words. Sensitive to the child’s emotional and developmental needs, interviewers gather as many facts as possible about allegations in a comfortable and child-focused manner.

Safe Baby Court

Tennessee Safe Baby Courts use a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to dependency and neglect cases with the needs of the youngest children (ages 0-3 and their siblings) as the touchstones for decisions in a case. Anchored by the Juvenile Court judge or magistrate, each court team works together to address barriers to permanency and to meet […]

Absconder Program

The Absconder Unit is a team of investigators who continuously work with local and state law enforcement agencies to locate missing children/youth who have ran or absconded from DCS custody or supervision. The investigators spend most of their time in the communities looking for youth by responding to leads, making home/school visits, participating in surveillance […]

Child Health and Safety

The Child Health division of DCS works to ensure that the health care needs of the children served by DCS are met through a variety of efforts: 1) Child Health Nurse Consultants monitor and support custodial children, and connect families to health related resources; 2) Safety Nurses provide technical assistance to CPS investigators; 3) The […]

Forest Protection Program

The Forest Protection Program works to minimize damage to forest resources and personal property while giving priority to firefighter and public safety. The program prevents and suppresses wildfires, promotes hazard reduction activities, implements beneficial prescribed fire, and supports wildland fire training for volunteer fire departments and other wildland firefighters. The program also includes presentations for […]

Future Farmers of America – Workforce Development

FFA engages middle and high school students enrolled in agricultural education courses, preparing them for careers in agriculture, natural resources, and related industries. The program emphasizes leadership development, personal growth, and career readiness through classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), and participation in FFA competitions, conferences, and community service projects. By equipping students with technical […]