10/01/2026
Exciting news!
Progress for Tennessee families! Let’s keep it going.
The Tennessee Department of Human Services has begun inviting families on the Smart Steps child care waitlist to apply for assistance.
We welcome this step. For families who qualify, help paying for child care could mean being able to stay in a job, continue their education and give their children a strong start.
📣 On the Smart Steps waitlist?
Watch your email for an official invitation from TDHS Child Care Services. Families who receive an invitation have 14 days to respond and submit an application. Approval depends on eligibility. After the response window closes for the first 100 or so people contacted, TDHS will reach out to the next group of families.
These invitations are encouraging, and the need remains substantial. According to the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, 9,546 families, representing 13,835 children, were on the waitlist as of June 2, 2026.
Behind those numbers are parents trying to afford the child care they need to work or attend school, and children who could benefit from quality early learning.
Continued investment in Smart Steps can help more eligible families afford quality child care, keep parents working and strengthen Tennessee’s economy.
Is your family on the waitlist? We want to hear what waiting means for you. Send us a private message so our team can connect with you. Your experience can help policymakers understand why additional investment matters.
Together, we can be Loud Voices for Little Kids.
