The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) has opened applications for the 2024 Families First Community Grant Program. This initiative will provide approximately $5 million in funding to non-profit organizations that offer direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need and promote self-sufficiency. Qualifying non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply [here](https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/tanf-opportunity-act/toa-grant-opportunities/families-first-community-grants.html) by July 10 at 5 p.m. CST.
“We understand that our state’s strength comes from its people, and we are delighted to extend this grant opportunity to those working on the ground to support our most vulnerable citizens,” commented TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. “At TDHS, we are committed to ensuring that every Tennessean has the chance to achieve economic and social wellness. It is our goal to partner with community-based organizations dedicated to creating pathways that help families build social capital that can support both resilience and upward mobility for generations to come.”
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The [Families First Community Grant](https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/tanf-opportunity-act/toa-grant-opportunities/families-first-community-grants.html) program was created to invest TANF funds in ways that provide assistance to low-income families and help them move towards sustainable economic stability. The grants will support a wide range of services in education, health and well-being, economic stability, and fostering safe, stable, and nurturing relationships. Grant recipients will be selected through a competitive application process based on their ability to provide effective services and programs that address specific community needs.
TDHS encourages all community-based, nonprofit organizations ready to design and implement programs that address the unique problems of low-income families in their communities and foster at [least one of the federal TANF goals](https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf/about) to submit an application for a [Families First Community Grant](https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/tanf-opportunity-act/toa-grant-opportunities/families-first-community-grants.html). The department focuses on partnering with organizations that can provide family-focused solutions demonstrating measurable impacts aimed at transforming Tennessee’s safety net by enhancing the capacity of vulnerable families to achieve self-sufficiency and economic prosperity.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) consists of multiple divisions with a unified mission to build strong families by connecting Tennesseans to employment, education, and supportive services. 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. Programs provided by TDHS 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, among others. TDHS is 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](https://www.tn.gov/humanservices.html).
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