Families First Community Grant Program (2026-27)

Lifespan Respite Grant is a grant from Tennessee Department of Human Services that funds respite care services for family caregivers through state voucher programs. Funded under the federal Lifespan Respite Care Program, these state-level programs provide stipends, reimbursements, or vouchers enabling family caregivers to select, hire, and train their own respite providers. Individual state programs set their own eligibility criteria, and funding amounts vary by service type. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations providing respite care in states with active Lifespan Respite programs. Caregivers must be state residents.

The Families First Community Grant Program is a competitive grant initiative from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) offering approximately $27 million in funding to support nonprofit organizations serving low-income Tennessee families. Grants fund programs across four priority areas: education, health, economic stability, and family well-being, aligned with TANF goals of promoting self-sufficiency. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits based in Tennessee that provide direct services to economically disadvantaged families. The 2025 application cycle closed July 10, 2025. This program reflects Tennessee's broader commitment to strengthening communities through strategic investment in local organizations that address the root causes of poverty.

Families First Community Grant Program (Tennessee) is sponsored by Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). The Tennessee Department of Human Services has opened applications for the 2026-27 Families First Community Grant Program, which will make approximately $4 million in funding available to non-profit organizations providing direct services to strengthen Tennessee families in need…