Program population: Families

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.

Statewide Drug Teams

Statewide Drug Teams provide specialized case management to families with drug-exposed newborns (0-12 months). Cases arise through investigations involving drug exposure. Teams consist of licensed clinicians and peer advocates who provide families with tailored support in finding treatment and recovery options and support networks.

Specialized Treatment Foster Homes

Specialized Treatment Foster Homes are an alternative to residential settings, serving youth who need specialized care due to trauma, behavioral needs, and/or medical needs. These foster homes are led by parents with specific therapeutic and medical skills who are part of the clinical treatment team for youth who may otherwise need residential treatment facilities.

IMPROVE Transit Investment Grant

The IMPROVE Transit Investment Grant is a competitive grant program designed to support communities in reducing congestion, increasing ridership, promoting economic development, and benefits to safety by providing state funding to transit-related projects. Eligible projects include those related to capital enhancements, infrastructure, facilities, and technology.

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Problem Gambling Treatment Services Program

The Problem Gambling Treatment Services Program is a multi-purpose program designed to increase knowledge about problem and/or pathological gambling for those persons at risk, their families, and the general community; to identify and assess those with problem and/or pathological gambling conditions and provide outpatient treatment services if needed; and to continually assess regional needs and […]

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, […]

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 […]

Smart Steps Child Care Payment Assistance

Smart Steps Child Care Payment Assistance is financial assistance available to income-eligible families who are working or enrolled in postsecondary education programs and have children from age six weeks through the start of kindergarten.

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.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is a federally funded grant program that aims to combat poverty within communities by removing the barriers to self-sufficiency clients may encounter.

Families First Community Grants

The Families First Community Grant program was created as an additional method to invest TANF funds in ways to provide long-term benefits to low-income families and help them move towards economic stability.

TANF Opportunity Pilots

The overarching goal of the TOA Pilot program is to help individuals (and their families) with low incomes become self-sufficient. Pilots are using a variety of care coordination models to increase families’ capacity for self-sufficiency across multiple domains and are being evaluated to determine their impact within the community.

Child & Adult Care Licensing Pre-Licensure Unit

The Child & Adult Care Licensing Pre-Licensure Unit provides technical assistance and support to customers who are seeking to become licensed child or adult care providers. Staff coordinate orientations, conduct site visits, provide coaching on the licensing process, and connect applicants with resources, such as small business academies and establishment grants.

Families First: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Families First, the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, is a workforce development and employment program. The Families First program emphasizes work, training, and personal responsibility. Benefits are temporary and have a primary focus on gaining self-sufficiency through employment. The Families First program helps participants reach this goal by providing temporary cash assistance, […]

GEAR UP TN

GEAR UP Tennessee provides direct services to middle and high school students encouraging their postsecondary enrollment by impacting academic performance, high school graduation, and families’ awareness of postsecondary options, process, and financial aid.

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 […]

Evidence-Based Home Visiting

Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV) programs can be an effective early-intervention strategy to improve the health and well-being of children and parents. EBHV provides support and resources to improve family functioning and parenting skills, link families with appropriate social service agencies, promote early learning, and ultimately help new parents provide safe, nurturing environments with greater self-sufficiency. […]

Patient Care Advocacy

Patient Care Advocacy supports Tennesseans with their concerns around health care access and/or accessing state services or benefits. It also supports healthy aging, which includes palliative care, advanced care planning, elder abuse prevention and dementia diagnosis and prevention.

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

Get Food Smart TN

The Get Food Smart TN program is the state of Tennessee’s primary food waste reduction, recovery, and diversion program. The program provides education and outreach to Tennesseans to help them reduce food waste in their homes. It also assists restaurants, schools, government entities, organizations, grocery stores, agriculture, and other businesses in starting and enhancing food […]

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 […]

Tennessee Radon Program

The Tennessee Radon Program provides education and outreach to citizens to raise awareness of the dangers of radon and how to mitigate those dangers. It also offers services and assistance such as free test kits for homeowners as well as specific training and resource materials for targeted audiences such as real estate professionals, home builders, […]

Unwanted Household Pharmaceuticals Takeback Program

The Unwanted Household Pharmaceuticals Takeback Program places permanent prescription drug takeback boxes in secure locations where unused prescription drugs can be safely disposed. These boxes prevent prescription and over-the-counter medications from getting into the hands of children or into the waterways, and ensure the safe, environmentally friendly disposal of pharmaceuticals. The program is a partnership […]

Early Childhood Quality and Supports Office

The Early Childhood Quality and Supports Office works to understand the current birth to 5-year-old landscape in Tennessee, build a comprehensive strategic plan identifying and capitalizing on areas of opportunity to ensure these children are in safe, healthy, and high-quality school-administered child care programs in public, private, and community-based programs in alignment with State Board […]

Broadband Accessibility Program

Tennessee’s broadband infrastructure program facilitates broadband access to all Tennesseans while promoting practices that increase deployment and encourage adoption. It includes the Broadband Accessibility Grant Program that aims to close broadband gaps by offsetting the capital expenses in the deployment of broadband in unserved areas. In FY22, the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group (FSAG) designated […]

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

The federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, administered in Tennessee by ECD, provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

Main Street

The National Main Street Four-Point Approach supports communities that want to revitalize their downtown commercial districts through training and assistance to those communities and an annual accreditation process for Main Street communities, coordinated or provided by ECD.

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.

Storybook Trails

In partnership with Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, city parks and outdoor areas, this program creates enriching outdoor reading experiences for children and families to connect literacy with a fun, physical activity. It achieves this by presenting a children’s storybook on child-height panels along a short trail to promote adult-child interaction around books and nature.

Imagination Library/Birth-5-Book Delivery

The program is a partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide every Tennessee child from birth to age five with a book each month at no cost to families, delivered right to their mailbox. It is a gift of up to 60 high-quality, age-appropriate books to build a child’s home library before kindergarten with […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Insurance Education and Outreach

The Insurance Education and Outreach programs provide materials to the public that cover an array of insurance and insurance related issues, disaster assistance, and referrals to special programs. These materials include printed brochures, informational calendars, and internet resources like web articles, newsletters, and presentations, and also in-person visits to meet with Tennessee citizens.

Securities Education and Outreach

The Tennessee Securities Education and Outreach programs promote financial literacy and fraud education by providing Tennesseans with practical, adaptable, and current financial education to help investors not only evaluate investment opportunities, but also avoid becoming victims of fraud.

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 […]

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.

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 […]

Pick Tennessee Products (PickTN)

Pick Tennessee Products (PickTN) is a program to market products from Tennessee’s farms and food businesses. Eligible producers and manufacturers can participate in the program to utilize the PickTN brand and be included in TDA marketing efforts. The PickTN mobile app, online directory, and social media presence serve to help consumers easily find the farms, […]