Tennessee Department Of Human Services

Tennessee Department Of Human Services, a state government entity headquartered in Nashville, serves as the prime recipient of federal grant funding for human services, nutrition assistance, child care, vocational rehabilitation, and child support enforcement programs across multiple federal agencies. TDHS operates entirely as a grant recipient rather than a federal contractor; it holds no federal procurement contracts and does not compete for contract vehicles. The organization is not subject to SBA set-aside classifications.

TDHS's federal footprint centers on formula and block grants from four dominant funding agencies that collectively account for the vast majority of its award volume and dollar value. The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service leads with 86 awards spanning Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) administration (CFDA 10.561), child nutrition programs including the National School Lunch Program (CFDA 10.555), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CFDA 10.558), and Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer administration. Representative USDA grants include a $121.36 million SNAP State Administrative Costs award (October 2025 through September 2026) with sub-awards to food banks and regional development districts for outreach; a $22.85 million SNAP State Administrative Matching Grants award (October 2025 through September 2026) supporting E&T and benefit processing; and a $541,924 Child Nutrition-Technology Innovation Grant (October 2025 through September 2028) for automated systems development across school lunch and breakfast programs.

The Department of Education Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services funds 85 awards supporting vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and independent living services. A $101.39 million Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation Grants award (CFDA 84.126, October 2025 through September 2026) anchors this portfolio, with sub-awards to 47 local school districts and community organizations including Lake County School District, Morgan County Schools, and Tennessee Disability Coalition. Additional Education awards include a $639,281 Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind grant (CFDA 84.177, October 2025 through September 2026) and a $177,430.50 Supported Employment Services award (CFDA 84.187, October 2025 through September 2026).

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awards 71 grants across child care, family assistance, and child support enforcement. TDHS recipients include a $286.23 million Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant (CFDA 93.558, October 2025 through September 2026); a $362.6 million Child Care and Development Block Grant discretionary award (CFDA 93.489, October 2025 through September 2028) with sub-recipients including Signal Centers Inc.; a $71.6 million Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds grant (CFDA 93.596, October 2025 through September 2028); a $48.1 million Social Services Block Grant (CFDA 93.667, October 2025 through September 2027) distributed to 16 sub-awardees including Partnership For Families, Children And Adults and East Tennessee Human Resource Agency; and a $152.58 million Child Support Services block grant (CFDA 93.563, October 2025 through September 2026) funding Title IV-D child support enforcement operations.

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living and related offices fund 28 awards for independent living, assistive technology, and community services. Representative awards include a $21.7 million Community Services Block Grant (CFDA 93.569, October 2025 through September 2027) with 23 community action agency sub-awardees; a $516,117 ACL Independent Living State Grants award (CFDA 93.369, October 2025 through September 2027) distributed to six Centers for Independent Living; a $715,897 Assistive Technology grant (CFDA 93.464, October 2025 through September 2027) supporting Signal Centers Inc. and Star Center Inc. as sub-recipients; and a $7.25 million Child Care Disaster Relief block grant (CFDA 93.489, October 2025 through September 2030) for facility recovery in disaster-affected areas.

TDHS also holds grants from the Administration on Aging for Adult Protective Services (CFDA 93.698) and the Center for Integrated Programs for Assistive Technology initiatives (CFDA 93.464). The Administration on Aging awarded a $267,585 Adult Protective Services Formula Grant (April 2026 through March 2028) supporting elder abuse case review, multidisciplinary teams, and victim support services.

Award activity remains flat at 32 awards annually in 2022–2025, with 39 awards reaching ultimate completion within the next 24 months and therefore facing grant renewal cycles. TDHS acts as prime recipient on 99 percent of awards and as sub-recipient on 3 grant awards from the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration for Victims of Crime (VOCA) programs. The organization distributes federal funding through sub-awards to regional and local nonprofits, school districts, community action agencies, and development districts across Tennessee's urban and rural communities, functioning as the state pass-through agency for federal human services, nutrition, education, and child welfare funding streams.