What has waiting for child care assistance meant for you?
Has waiting affected your work, your family, or your child care program? Share your story to help Tennessee policymakers understand why affordable child care matters.
“Sometimes I have to choose paying child care over rent or other bills.”
-Hannah Hemphill, parent | Hamilton County
On the Smart Steps waitlist?
Good news. There’s movement. As of September 30, 2026, TDHS has started inviting families on the waitlist to apply.
If that’s you, here’s what you need to know!
We want to hear what the Smart Steps waitlist means for you.
Parents and families, early educators, and child care centers: your stories and experiences show what waiting really looks like in Tennessee. Your experience can help policymakers understand why additional investment matters.
- Parents and families waiting for help paying for child care
- Early educators caring for children and families affected by the waitlist
- Child care centers feeling the impact on enrollment, staffing and finances
What to expect
- About 10 minutes. You can save your answers and finish later.
- Tell it your way. Write your answers, record your voice, or upload a short video from your phone.
- You choose how you’re credited. Full name, first name only, anonymous, or ask us to check with you first.
- Private by default. Nothing is shared publicly unless you say so.
What you need to know
Here’s how the invitations from TDHS Child Care Services work.
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Watch your email
Look for an official invitation from TDHS Child Care Services.
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Respond within 14 days
Families who receive an invitation have 14 days to respond and submit an application. Approval depends on eligibility.
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The next group is contacted
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.
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.
Waitlist figures: Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, as of June 2, 2026. Smart Steps invitations are sent by the Tennessee Department of Human Services; TQEE does not process applications.
