ChildcareTennessee.com

ChildcareTennessee.com is a one-stop location for early childhood education policies, forms, regulations, guidance, discounts, and more to save child care directors time, reduce costs, and improve quality. ChildcareTennessee.com features more than 2,500 resources for programs of all sizes – from Family Home Programs to Child Care Centers. Funded by the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, ChildcareTennessee.com is powered by CCA for Social Good.

In The Classroom

Books, Guides, Tips and More

The Classroom section contains resources to help you manage inside the classroom. The focus is on learning activities and resources. It includes suggested books by age group, companion learning activities, recommended classroom materials and curriculum ideas.

Successful Program Management

Administrative Tools


Program Administration is your resource for a variety of programs, policies and forms to help you administer your child care program safely and smoothly. The first stop is making sure all Tennessee Regulation requirements are met. Find everything you need!

Engaging Families

Building Strong Relationships

Communication is a great start to establishing and maintaining a strong relationship between child care providers and the families they serve. The resources and tools in this section provide guidance and knowledge to educate staff and families about child development, general health concerns, nutrition and fitness, and much more.


ChildcareTennessee Shared Services

ChildcareTennessee Shared Services seeks to partner child care agency owners and directors with local, regional and national businesses offering products and services to support high quality care and development of children in Tennessee.

Shared Services focuses on finding meaningful cost-savings for products and services regularly used by child care agencies.

Pat Lawson Shared Services Video

Getting Started

Connect with your Shop Local shared services team to discover which savings programs will make an immediate impact on your bottom line.

Shop Local

Shop Local and save with special discount programs from within your state. We have taken the work out of finding the best deals on goods and services that support your business.

Limited Time Savings

Take advantage of special, limited time offers available from our partners.

Calculate Your Savings

See how much you can save by taking advantage of the savings programs. Just plug in your current monthly spending in a few categories and find out your estimated monthly and annual savings


Grants

In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Human Services, ChildcareTennessee administers a variety of grants to support licensed child care programs and early childhood education in Tennessee.

Programs can apply for items in three separate categories:

  • Equipment
  • Program enhancements and supplies
  • Coaches and consultants

Support and Enhancement Grants

Support and Enhancement Grants allow any child care provider licensed with the Tennessee Department of Human Services to apply for up to $4,000 to enhance equipment, programs, including supplies, and consultants and coaches.

Programs participating in the Child Care Certificate Program (CCCP) are eligible to apply for an additional $1,000.

Child care agencies in economically distressed counties identified in by the Governor’s office may apply for an additional $1,000. These counties are Lake, Hardeman, Perry, Clay, Bledsoe, Scott, Hancock and Cocke.

Grant applications can be accessed on ChildcareTennessee.com.

Safety Supplemental Grants

Licensed child care programs with the Tennessee Department of Human Services seeking to enhance safety and security in their programs can apply for up to $4,000.

Providers must have already applied and have been approved for the current Support and Enhancement Grant cycle.

Supplemental Grants

Licensed child care agencies with TDHS may be eligible to apply for one-time $1,000 Supplemental Enhancement Grants. Providers must have applied and have been approved for the 2022-2023 Support and Enhancement Grant cycle, as well as meet other eligibility requirements. 

Supplemental Enhancement Grants are available in five categories:

  • Accreditation
  • Infant/Toddler Specialization
  • Preschool/Pre-K Specialization
  • Remediation
  • Tennessee Early Childhood Education Administrator Credential (TECPAC)

Applications will be by referral-only through the appropriate partner organization for each Supplemental Enhancement Grant.

Establishment Grant

New child care programs in good standing within the pre-licensing program with TDHS may apply for an Establishment Grant in any amount up to $1,000 per licensed slot, up to maximum of $100,000.

These applications are invitation-only after providers have completed all of the required steps with pre-licensing.

Expansion Grant

Existing TDHS-licensed child care agencies who participate in the Child Care Certificate Program (CCCP) may apply for an Expansion Grant in any amount up to $1,000 per licensed slot, up to maximum of $100,000.

For a complete list of eligibility requirements, licensed child care providers should visit ChildcareTennessee.com.