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| | Friday, November 15, 2019
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Tennessee pushing for more child care in distressed counties
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing new investments in child care that improve options for parents, incentivize employment in early childhood education, and ensure a continued bright future for individuals who want to open a licensed childcare agency. Beginning this month educators at TDHS licensed child care agencies will be eligible to apply for Tennessee’s Child Care WAGE$ program that provides an annual salary supplement based on specific qualifications. Tennessee is one of the first states in the country to implement the program with the long-term goal of promoting continued professional development and retention of staff at childcare provider agencies. The agency is also announcing investments to help improve existing childcare. They include: -Mini-grants of up to $5,000 in distressed counties to help agencies improve quality, meet licensing requirements and obtain assistance in growing capacity. -Free online tools to help with business management, human resources, and administration. -Access to bulk purchasing of supplies at discounted pricing as well as other shared services. “We know that there is a real need for quality childcare all across our state. These investments will give our childcare providers the resources they need to thrive and will support them in delivering care that’s not only safe and healthy but also educationally rich for our children,” says Tennessee Department of Human Services Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes. TDHS is also announcing specific training and technical assistance supports to help providers meet expectations for licensing. Small business academy training and CPR/First Aid training/Certification are being offered at no cost to providers. The Child Care Certificate Program provides assistance to parents with a variety of economic needs. The Smart Steps Program provides child care payment assistance to families who are working or pursuing post-secondary education and who meet certain income eligibility requirements. The Child Care Certificate Program also serves teen parents enrolled in high school through the Teen Parent Assistance for Child Care Program and families taking part in the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program known as Families First, parents transitioning off Families First, and children in foster care.
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