(NASHVILLE) The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is announcing new child care assistance to support families that are serving the state in essential workforce positions. Through payment assistance and a network of temporary care locations, parents who work as essential employees can access child care at no cost during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency until June 15, 2020.
Tennessee Department of Human Services Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes said . . .
The COVID-19 Essential Employee Child Care Payment Assistance program is designed to help support essential workers, so they can stay on the job during the COVID-19 emergency.
Applications for payment assistance will be accepted online throughout the state of emergency here. After an essential employee is approved for the program, the Department of Human Services will make arrangements to pay for child care at an approved location where the child is currently served.
The state is working with the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Clubs in Tennessee to establish free child care for school aged children of essential workers.
Funding for the COVID-19 Essential Employee Child Care Payment Assistance and other child care programs is provided through the federal Child Care Development Fund that provides funding to state programs that offer assistance to low-income families through subsidized child care, activities and services to improve the quality and availability of child care, and the regulation of child care agencies throughout the state. Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Human Services at www.tn.gov/humanservices.