Tennessee

Southeast TN Area Agency on Aging and Disability

Program Contact: Staci Graham, Assistant Director
Phone: 1-866-735-8752 (Main) or (423) 424-4255 (Staci Graham)
Address: 1000 Riverfront Pkwy., Chattanooga, TN, 37402
Website: https://setaaad.org/
Serves: Tennessee Valley Region and East Region (Bledsoe, Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie Counties)
Eligibility: Caregivers with court documentation and within 3 degrees of relation (by blood or marriage) to the biological parent of child.

Goal: Keep children in a safe and healthy family home and out of foster care.

Services:

  • Family Advocate who can assist with
    • Attending Court Hearings
    • Assisting with school/educational matters and attending school meetings
    • Budgeting assistance
    • Supports to help the child become stable
    • Supports to help the child stay safe and healthy in the caregiver’s home
    • Linkage to community resources
    • Support with helping caregiver and parent work towards reunification, if possible

 

In partnership with State of Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services

 

Family and Children’s Services
Phone Number for Relative Caregiver Program Inquiries: 615-340-9725
General Inquires: (615) 320.0591
Website: https://www.fcsnashville.org/

Services Area: 13 Counties in Middle Tennessee

University of Tennessee SWORPS Relative Caregiver Program

UT Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS)
Address: 600 Henley Street, Suite 224, Knoxville, TN, 37996
Program Contact: Dusty Cantrell
Phone: (865) 469-5748
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://sworps.org/index.php/field-based-services/relative-caregiver-program/
University of Tennessee SWORPS Relative Caregiver Program Brochure: 782913 UT SWORPS Brochure_Print.pdf
State Brochure: RelativeCaregiverFlyer ALL STATE LOCATIONS AND NAMES.pdf

Serves the Northeast Region: Carter, Hancock, Hawkins, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties.

Eligibility and Services described in Statewide Brochure.

UTHSC Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program

Program Contact: Laura English
Phone Number and/or Program Contact’s Phone Number -901-448-3133
Email: Laura English [email protected] [email protected]
Website:  Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program | Programs | Center on Developmental Disabilities | UTHSC

Program Coverage Area: Memphis, Tennessee & Shelby County

Eligibility includes:

  • The relative caregiver must be related to the child by blood, marriage, or adoption.
  • The relative caregiver must have primary care and control of the child through informal family arrangements or through legal custody or guardianship.
  • The birth parent(s) must not reside in the caregiver’s home.
  • In addition to the standard RCP eligibility criteria, additional criteria applies to qualify for a monthly stipend:
    • A custody order signed by the court
    • Caregiver is 21 years of age or older
    • The relative caregiver agrees to seek the establishment and enforcement of child support.

Services Offered:

  • Family Advocacy/Short-term Case Management
  • Youth and Teen Activity Groups
  • GEMS (Girls ages 6-18)
  • HEROES (Boys ages 6-18)
  • YEP!
  • Emergency One-time Financial or Start-up Assistance
  • Educational Workshops
  • Information and Referral
  • Caregiver Respite and Enrichment
  • Caregiver Support Groups
  • Material Assistance

Relative Caregiver Program
Website: https://www.kidcentraltn.com/support/full-family-support/relative-caregiver-program.html
Flyer: Relative Caregiver brochure 
Serves: Statewide
Referral to local kinship programs in TN

 

WRAP’s Relative Caregiver Program

WRAP’s Relative Caregiver Program
State of Tennessee Program
Department of Children’s Services Overseer

Program Contact: Valerie Conley, Program Director
Program Referral or Question Number: 731-203-1339
Program Email: [email protected]
Agency Website: WRAP TN | Healthy Relationships

Program Coverage Area: Serving 20 counties in West Tennessee: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Tipton, and Weakley.

Requirements for Caregivers to receive Services:

To Enter the Program:

    • The child(ren) must reside in the home of the relative caregiver either through court order, power of attorney, or an informal agreement with the parents.
    • The relative caregiver must be willing to take part in a needs assessment via the Relative Caregiver Family Needs Scale (Form CS-0616), the Home Safety Checklist (Form CS-0676), or any other needs assessment required by the addition to any safety and needs scales utilized by the provider.
    • The relative caregiver must agree to accept needed support services through the Relative Caregiver Program.
    • The relative caregiver must be able to provide a safe home for related children and be committed to providing that home as long as is necessary and appropriate.
    • The relative caregiver must be within the first, second, or third degree of relationship of the parent or stepparent of the child. The relative caregiver must be related to the child through blood, marriage or adoption.
    • A parent of the child does not reside in the relative caregiver’s home.
    • Eligibility for the Relative Caregiver Program does not necessarily guarantee eligibility for the Relative Caregiver Stipend.
    • The Department may waive these requirements for the non-stipend relative caregiver program for good cause shown after determining in writing that doing so would be in the best interest of the child.

To Receive a Monthly Stipend:

    • The child(ren) is not in state custody.
    • The relative caregiver is twenty-one years of age or older.
    • The relative caregiver has been awarded custody of the child by an order of a court.
    • The relative caregiver agrees to cooperate with any child support proceedings initiated by the department of human services, including providing information relative to the establishment of paternity, if known.

Program Services:

    • Information & Referral: Assists families in connecting with local and statewide community resources.
    • Financial Assistance: Includes Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA) for families not receiving stipends and a monthly stipend for eligible caregivers.
    • Support Groups and Enrichments: Monthly meetings for children, caregivers, and families to foster community and shared experiences, including activities for children.
    • Educational Workshops: Quarterly sessions offering relevant training and guidance for caregivers
    • Respite: Quarterly activities for children.
    • Family Advocacy & Case Management: Advocacy-centered support with case management services tailored to family needs.