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The Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) are partnering to offer $300,000 in new funding to help people with disabilities and their families during the pandemic through the Family Support program administered by DIDD.
This funding will be used on a wide range of costs and services related to disability. Examples include respite care, equipment/supplies, nursing, counseling, housing costs, personal assistance, health-related needs, equipment, and more.
The Family Support Program is managed by DIDD in partnership with 16 provider agencies. The agencies operate the program in all 95 counties across the state through 16 different service areas. A local Family Support Council in each of the 16 areas serves as the primary decision maker on the selection of families to be receive this funding, and determines the amount of funding which is to be provided to the family, based on need. A majority of each local council is made of up people with disabilities or family members who live in the area.
“We know the pandemic has had a heavy impact on people with disabilities and their families,” Council Executive Director Wanda Willis said. “We want to use our funds to help families across the state cover their most urgent needs. We are so grateful to our close partners at DIDD and the local agencies for helping us get these funds into the hands of the families who need them most.”
See below for a list of regional Family Support staff and a list of agencies in each region that run the Family Support program. Look for the agency that serves your county, and contact the person listed for that agency to apply for Family Support funding. Some agencies have online forms on their website, listed along with phone and email contact information for Family Support staff.
Regional and Statewide Family Support Program Staff
West Tennessee
Janice Williams and Tanya Hardy; West Tennessee Regional Office, Arlington, TN 38002
901-745-7215; Email janice.williams@tn.gov; tanya.hardy@tn.gov
Middle Tennessee
Tammie Browning, Middle Tennessee Regional Office, Nashville, TN 37214
615-231-5057; Email: tammie.browning@tn.gov
East Tennessee
Jill Kiehna, East Tennessee Regional Office, Greeneville, TN 37745
423-787-6953; Email: julia.kiehna@tn.gov
Statewide
Patricia Edmiston, Director of Developmental Disability Services, DIDD Central Office
901-308-3430; Email: patricia.edmiston@tn.gov
Seth Wilson, Associate Counsel, DIDD Central Office
615-741-7262; Email: seth.wilson@tn.gov