Tennessee Child Care Payment Assistance

Apply here: https://onedhs.tn.gov/csp

Or print out a form here (scroll to the bottom of the page) https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/child-care-services/child-care-payment-assistance/child-care-certificate-program.html

**Make sure you submit all required verification documents with your application. The required documents are listed on the first page of the application above**

Local TN County Offices can be found here: https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/office-locator-family-assistance.html

Child Care Payment Assistance is provided through the Child Care Certificate Program, a state program that assists Families First participants, parents transitioning off Families First, parents working or enrolled in post-secondary education programs, teen parents, and children in foster care. It’s also called the subsidized child care program. To participate in the program, families must be declared eligible by the Department of Human Services (TDHS) staff or by the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) staff for children in foster care. TDHS provides financial assistance with child care costs for families meeting income guideline criteria through several child care assistance programs.

Who is eligible?

Parents applying for the Smart Steps program whose income is below the 85th percentile of State Median Income  (which can be found on the Income Eligibility and Parent Co-Pay Fee Table using the 85.0% line that coincides with your household size) who have children six (6) weeks until kindergarten  and who work, are enrolled in a post-secondary education program, or a combination of both for an average of 30 hours or more a week.

High school or middle school mothers who stay in school who participate in the Teen Parent program.

Parents in the Families First program who need child care to complete the work activities in their personal responsibility plan.

Parents whose Families First case has closed can receive transitional child care assistance for 18 months after their Families First case closes IF each parent works an average of 30 hours or more a week.

Non-parental guardians in the Families First program who need child care for a related child IF the guardian does average 30 or more hours of work, training, or education a week.

Eligibility Requirements

Families First participants are eligible to receive child care to assist in completing their approved activity on their Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP). Families must be determined eligible by Tennessee Department of Human Services  (TDHS) Family Assistance staff before they can participate in the program

Transitional Child Care or TCC (also referred to as Transitional Families First, or TFF) is available for qualifying families for 18 months following the closure of Families First cash assistance.  Thirty hours of paid work per week, including self-employment and/or education and training hours must be met to receive TCC. Eligibility is redetermined every twelve (12) months.

The At-Risk Child Care program serves guardians in Families First child-only cases that are working and/or in school. Child-only guardians are typically grandparents, aunts, or uncles that have care and control of a relative child. Thirty hours of paid work including self-employment and/or education and training hours must be met to receive ARCO.

Smart Steps Child Care Payment Assistance is available to income eligible families who are working or enrolled in post-secondary education programs.  Smart Steps was established to provide child care financial assistance to eligible families with children ages six (6) weeks until kindergarten. The family is not required to receive other benefits through TDHS to qualify. Click here for a Smart Steps Flyer.

The Teen Parent Child Care Program serves teen parents who are enrolled in and attending high school and who meet income guidelines. Assistance may be available for eligible teens living at home with their parent(s) or those who are emancipated and living independently from their parent(s). Written or verbal communication from school staff that the school’s requirements are met is adequate verification for school enrollment.

The SNAP Employment and Training Child Care Program serves parents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Program (SNAP E&T). Assistance may be available to parents who enroll and participate in the Employment Training Program through the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Families must be determined eligible by the Department of Workforce and Development SNAP E&T staff.

The TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Child Care Payment Assistance Program serves parents enrolled in designated treatment and recovery programs through the TN Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). TDMHSAS staff determines eligibility for the program.

The Re-Employment Child Care Payment Assistance Program serves parents enrolled in the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment Program (RESEA) through the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development program. Referrals for the program are submitted by TDLWD staff. Eligible parents’ household income must be below the eighty-fifth 85th percentile of State Median Income for the current Federal Fiscal year.

TDHS provides the child care certificate and provider payment processes as a service for the Department of Children’s Services (DCS). The DCS state office provides the funding amounts and the fund utilization management for these funding sources. County and regional DCS program staff provides the child care referrals and provide the local management of regional DCS funds.