Some Tennessee families will qualify for back-t0-school cash benefits from the state government, according to a Thursday release from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS).
“The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) will provide extra support to more than 13,000 families who receive monthly cash assistance through the state’s Families First program,” according to the release. “The payment will provide extra support to Families First participants as they begin to prepare for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Households with an active case in the Families First Program as of July 1, 2023, will receive a one-time payment on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. This one-time payment will be available around July 15, 2023.”
“We understand the importance of investing in the education of our children, and we recognize the financial challenges families face when preparing for the upcoming school year,” said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter in the release. “By providing this additional one-time payment intended to help with back-to-school expenses, we aim to alleviate some of the burdens families endure and ensure that every child has the resources they need to thrive academically.”
Families First is a federally-funded program in Tennessee that provides benefits as part of the Tennessee Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
It assists families with children and who are “experiencing financial difficulties.” The program can be used for up to 60 months.
Eligibility requirements, referred to as Personal Responsibility Plans (PRPs), mandate that parents:
- Make sure their children receive immunization shots and health checks.
- Make sure their children attend school, including kindergarten regularly.
- Cooperate with child support requirements.
- Agree to work or attend work preparation activity, if not exempt.
“The Families First program emphasizes work, training, and personal responsibility. It is temporary and has a primary focus on gaining self-sufficiency through employment,” according to the program’s website. “The Families First program helps participants reach this goal by providing temporary cash assistance, transportation, child care assistance, educational supports, job training, employment activities, and other support services.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
