Tennessee Department of Human Services Launches Grant Opportunity Investing Funds to Expand Employer Partnerships for Child Care in Tennessee

NASHVILLE– The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) announced today the opening of applications for the Non-Profit and Employer Workforce Care Partnership Grants, (also known as NEW Care Partnership Grants).  This opportunity is made available through the Child Care Improvement Fund, a 3-year pilot, which allocates $15 million a year in state dollars to support child care provided through non-profit organizations. Following the success of the department’s collaboration with Tennessee businesses such as Tyson Foods to enhance employer-sponsored child care, this new initiative will use some of the Child Care Improvement Fund to aid in the creation of child care access for employers and their workforce.

The grant program invites non-profit organizations in Tennessee to propose strategies and innovative models of partnership with private employers, aiming to expand child care availability for the employer’s workforce. With a rolling deadline, all qualifying non-profit organizations are encouraged to learn more and apply based on information in the grant application guide, found here.

“Access to child care is vital to family stability, community well-being, and economic opportunity,” commented TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “The private sector plays a critical role in making quality child care accessible and sustainable. We have already supported some exciting models of innovation, and we are eager to grow those models through this grant opportunity.”

The initiative requires partnership models to address the specific needs of employee families and enhance the financial sustainability of child care providers. Potential strategies could include new construction/renovation for onsite employer child care, access to existing employer facilities to create new licensed child care capacity, employer support for operating expenses, or the employer agrees to pay for an allotted number of new child care slots. Non-profits are encouraged to submit other innovative partnership strategies that are appropriate to their community and situation.

For all awarded grants, state funds will match the level of monetary support invested by the employer throughout the grant term. The NEW Care Partnership Grants reflect TDHS's commitment to fostering collaborative efforts that contribute to the well-being of families and communities across Tennessee.

For more information on this new grant opportunity, please visit the TDHS website.

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (TDHS)

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) consists of multiple divisions with a unified mission to strengthen Tennessee by strengthening Tennesseans. Led by governor-appointed Commissioner Clarence H. Carter, TDHS serves nearly two million Tennesseans to ensure that all state residents have an opportunity to reach their full potential as contributing members of their community. Among the many services and programs provided by TDHS, some of the leading programs include the Child Support Program, Child and Adult Day Services and Licensing, Families First (the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Rehabilitation Services for people with disabilities, and Adult Protective Services, along with many others. TDHS is an organization committed to connecting people to resources that help individuals, families and communities thrive towards long-term economic freedom and prosperity. For more information, please visit: Tennessee Department of Human Services.

#  #  #