The following article is shared courtesy of Tennessee Department of Human Services and originally appeared here.

Tennessee Opportunity Act planning grantees present proposals to support TANF funded programs on local level.

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) in partnership with the Families First Community Advisory Board, will host a 2-day series of pilot program presentations from 17 public-private partnerships, vying for $175 million in Implementation Grants to further the Department’s vision of fundamentally changing the way government assistance is delivered to families in Tennessee. The presentations mark a significant milestone in the state’s plans to effectively put federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to use on a local level.

This first phase included awarding Planning Grants of up to $500,000 each to public-private partnership dedicated to developing innovative strategies to move Tennesseans with economic, social, and developmental vulnerabilities beyond their current circumstances and on to self-sufficiency. Now, the public-private groups will present their specific plans for pilot programs before the Families First Community Advisory Board. Following the Implementation Grant presentations, 2 pilot programs will be selected for each grand division of the state. TDHS will also select its own pilot program.

The presentations are open to the public and will be streamed online.

WHAT: Tennessee Opportunity Initiative Implementation Grant Presentations

WHEN: Presentations will take place over 2 days – April 7-8, 2022

Thursday, April 7, 2022
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM Central Time
Tennessee Tower, Tennessee Room
312 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37243
West and Middle Region Presenters: Agape Child and Family Services, Families Matter, University of Memphis, West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, Family Affair Ministries, Family & Children’s Service, Martha O’Bryan Center, Persevere, Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency

Watch Online:
https://dgs.streamingvideo.tn.gov/Mediasite/Play/b8167a07f971483196eb51fa204e16591d

Friday, April 8, 2022
8:30 AM to 3:00 PM Central Time
Tennessee Tower, Tennessee Room
312 Rosa L. Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37243
East, Statewide and Multiple Region Presenters: City of Chattanooga, First TN Development District Foundation, First Things First, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation, United Way of Greater Knoxville, Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee, East Tennessee Human Resource Agency, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services

Watch Online: https://dgs.streamingvideo.tn.gov/Mediasite/Play/4cb6af39e4bd471298d9c9322f95b0b91d

MORE: Detail on the Tennessee Opportunity Act, the state’s plan for using TANF funds, and more information on Tennessee Opportunity Act components can be viewed on the TDHS website here.

Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Human Services.