The grant funding will continue the operation of the Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program for the next five years.
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Center on Developmental Disabilities has received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services to support the continued operation of the Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program for the next five years. The $5.1 million in grant funding will work to continue the program that was first established in 2001 and has supported more than 9,500 children during that time.
According to the webpage for the Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program, the program is an option that helps “relatives to care for non-custodial children who require out-of-home care. Children and relative caregivers receive supportive services geared toward self-sufficiency and stability to ensure the child is able to stay within the family instead of entering foster care. The Department of Children's Services (DCS) is not involved.” The services it provides are family advocacy, short-term case management, youth and teen activity groups, emergency one-time financial or start-up assistance, educational workshops, information and referral, caregiver respite and enrichment, caregiver support groups, and material assistance.
Since the program was established in 2001, more than 95% of the 9,500 children it has served have been able to avoid entering into the foster care system.
According to an article on the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s website, Bruce Keisling, PhD, who is a Shainberg Professor and the executive director of the Center on Developmental Disabilities, was quoted as saying of the program and the funding, “Every day, we see grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives make extraordinary sacrifices to keep children safe and connected to their families. This award reflects the state of Tennessee’s continued commitment to supporting relatives who provide stable, loving homes for children.”
In June 2025, the program held its inaugural Caregiving Conference, titled “Together, We Are Better.” The event hosted 75 caregivers, social service professionals, and community partners who were able to participate in networking, workshops, and educational sessions. The program is committed to providing resources to relative caregivers and their families.
J. Carolyn Graff, PhD, RN, FAAIDD, who serves as the director of the College of Nursing’s PhD program and the co-principal investigator for the Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program, said, “For more than 25 years, I’ve had the privilege of watching this program grow alongside the families it serves. This continued investment allows us to build on decades of partnerships and provide relatives raising children with the resources and support they need to create safe, stable homes.”
Michael Hocker, MD, the executive dean of the College of Medicine, added, “This award is a testament to the extraordinary work of our Relative Caregiver Program team and the trust this program has earned across Shelby County for more than two decades. It reflects our college’s deep commitment to serving those who need it most.”
For more information about the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, visit the school’s website.