Tennessee Faces Waitlists for Relative Caregiver Stipends
Families in Tennessee looking for support through the Relative Caregiver Program currently face waitlists for stipend slots.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Child Care
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Tennessee families caring for relatives are experiencing delays in receiving financial assistance, with over 1,000 people currently on a waitlist for the Relative Caregiver Program. The program provides monthly stipends to eligible caregivers to help offset the financial costs of raising children.
Why it matters
Raising children involves significant financial strain, and the Relative Caregiver Program is designed to alleviate some of these burdens for families. Waitlists have formed as the state manages a finite number of stipend slots.
Official state program capacity data shows 1,000 individuals are on a waitlist for the Relative Caregiver Program, which operates with 3,100 funded slots statewide. In the 14-county region containing Rutherford County, there are 64 children waiting for support among 826 funded slots.
The players
Department of Children's Services
The Tennessee state agency responsible for child welfare and the administration of the Relative Caregiver Program.
Margie Quin
The Commissioner of the Department of Children's Services who is working with lawmakers to secure future program funding.
University of Tennessee
A public research university partnering with the state on federally funded family support initiatives.
The details
The Department of Children's Services operates the program on a first-come, first-served basis, allocating stipends as spots open or new funding is secured. The agency is currently evaluating the program's effectiveness and developing a kinship navigator tool to better assist families. These efforts aim to streamline how caregivers access available resources while the department works to expand the number of funded slots.
Timeline
2026: LendingTree report published regarding costs of raising children.
June 2026: Shanna Schofield moved to Tennessee.
2027: Proposed timeline for securing additional program funding.
Health Landscape
The 2026 LendingTree report highlights that the cost to raise a child to age 18 reaches $300,000, underscoring the significant financial challenges families face. This program's waitlist situation mirrors the broader trend of rising economic pressures that exceed current support capacity.
Families facing financial strain while raising relatives should contact the Department of Children's Services to understand their current status on the waitlist. It is worth discussing available community-based support tools or navigator programs with a social worker or caseworker.
The takeaway
Financial stressors significantly impact household stability, making external support programs critical for caregivers. Families should track the status of state funding requests and explore kinship navigator tools to ensure they are connected to all available resources.
What happens next
Commissioner Margie Quin is working with lawmakers to secure additional funding for the program in 2027.
Further reading
For more information on family support resources, visit the Child Care section.
More information
Access additional family support resources through the University of Tennessee research and resource tools.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News Channel 5 Nashville (WTVF).
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