The Tennessee Family Support Program is a statewide program funded by the
Tennessee Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD).
The program provides limited financial assistance to children and adults with severe disabilities who reside in the community.
Funding is available for services and supports that are not otherwise covered by insurance or other resources. These services and supports may include:
- Respite, Personal Assistance
- Adult/child day care
- Dental Care
- Therapy
- Home and Vehicle Modifications (such as wheelchair lifts, ramps)
- Special Equipment (such as communication devices, sensory items, independent living aids)
- Health related supplies & special nutritional needs
- Minor home repairs to eliminate health/saftey risks
- Summer camps/recreational activities
All funding requests must be approved by the District 3 Family Support Council. Not all who are eligible may be selected to receive funding. Funding is limited and cannot be guaranteed beyond the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.
*For more information about services and supports covered by the program, click here
Eligibility:
The program is limited to full time State of Tennessee residents who have a severe disability that is permanent and results in significant limitations in their daily life.
The primary focus of the Family Support Program is to provide services to those who:
- Were born with a severe or developmental disability or acquired it in childhood
- Have been severely disabled by injury/trauma (brain injury, spinal cord injury, loss of limbs)
- Have a neurological/neuromuscular disorder (ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, or Multiple Sclerosis)
Please note: The Family Support Program does not cover aging related disorders or mental illness. Individuals who reside in a nursing home, state funded living facility (including state funded foster care), or are receiving services through the DIDD Waiver Program, ECF Choices Program, TennCare Choices Program, or Pace Program are not eligible to recieve Family Support Funding.
*For information on what is required to apply for the program, click here
Counties Served:
Orange Grove Center provides funding for the Tennessee Family Support Program in the following counties:
Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Polk, Rhea, and Sequatchie
For all other counties or for more information about the Family Support Program, visit https://www.tn.gov/didd/for-consumers/family-support.html
Applications:
To apply for the fiscal year 2018-2019 (July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019) please download our application here.
Open enrollment is January 1-March 30 of every year.
We continue to accept applications throughout the year and applicants will be added to our waitlist if there are no funds available.
If you have a crisis/urgent situation, please call or email us concerning availability of crisis funding in your county.
Questions?
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have questions, feel free to contact us!
For more information contact:
Kristi Tankersley, LMSW
Assistant Director, Family Support Program
615 Derby Street
Chattanooga, TN 37404
tel: 423.664.5120
fax:423.664.5122
email: ktankersley@orangegrove.org
Help us spread the word!
Tell others about the Family Support Program. Click here for a Family Support Program brochure.