How Will Funding Changes Impact Families That Seek to Apply for Smart Steps After August 26, 2025?
A waitlist has been activated:
Budget adjustments will impact the capacity of the Smart Steps program, and a waitlist was implemented on August 26, 2025. Families interested in applying for child care payment assistance should visit the One DHS Customer Portal and follow instructions based on their family’s situation.
Families and children may be eligible for Child Care Payment Assistance based on participation in certain programs administered by Tennessee’s state agencies:
Families and/or Children will continue to be eligible to enroll in child care payment assistance if:
They are participating in Families First or SNAP E&T
They are eligible through Transitional Child Care and At-Risk Child Only
They qualify according to Teen Parent Child Care Payment Assistance standards
The child is authorized through referrals received from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for Foster Care (SSC), Adoption Assistance (SAS) or Non-State Custody (SNC) child care payment assistance.