Department of Human Services
Gina Lodge, Commissioner

The Department of Human Services provides financial help for child care costs for families with low incomes through various assistance programs. To apply for the service, contact your nearest child care certificate office. Some assistance requires a co-payment.

If a parent is eligible for one of the programs, any type of child care can be used by the parents (both regulated and unregulated). However, the chosen provider must be enrolled in the certificate payment program. Payment rates are established by the Department and agreed to by the provider.

Recovery Child Care Scholarship Program. The Tennessee Department of Human Services has received funding for the Child Care Development Fund through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These federal dollars will be used for a child care scholarship program for low-income working families who are not eligible for existing child care assistance categories, such as Families First (Tennessee’s Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF program). The funding for this program is limited. Eligible children will be served with scholarship dollars until September 30, 2010, or until the funding is exhausted, whichever is sooner. Please visit the Recovery Child Care Section of our website for more information

Families First Child Care Assistance. Parents participating in the Families First program who need child care to complete the work activities in their personal responsibility plan can receive financial assistance with the cost of child care. Families First parents do not pay a parent co-pay in this program. Eligibility is based on Families First income guidelines.

Transitional Child Care Assistance. Working parents on the Families First program whose case is closed are provided with 18 months of transitional child care assistance to help them transition off the program. There is a work activity requirement for each parent in order to be eligible for this program. Parents must pay a co-pay fee based on a sliding income scale.

At Risk Child Care. Parents whose time is ending on the Transitional Child Care Assistance program may be eligible for this child care assistance. Parents must pay a co-pay fee based on a sliding income scale.

At Risk Child Only. Children who are receiving Families First and are being cared for by someone other than their parent(s) may be eligible for this child care assistance. Caretakers must pay a co-pay fee based on a sliding income scale.

Teen Child Care Assistance. This program is for eligible high school or middle school mothers. These young mothers must stay in school in order to receive child care assistance. Parents must pay a co-pay fee based on a sliding income scale. For information, call 1-866-827-3372