Relative Caregiver Program Tennessee: What It Covers and How to Apply

If you are raising a relative's child in Tennessee and trying to figure out what the state offers, the Relative Caregiver Program is probably the first name that comes up. Run by the Department of Children's Services through local agencies in all 95 counties, the RCP gives kinship families a mix of practical support and, for some, a monthly cash stipend.

The catch that trips people up is that the program has two tiers with very different eligibility rules.

What the Relative Caregiver Program Actually Provides

The RCP's core services are available to any relative caregiver — grandparent, aunt, uncle or adult sibling — who has primary physical care of a child through an informal arrangement, a Power of Attorney under T.C.A. § 34-6-301, or a court custody order.

These core services include:

• A family advocate assigned to your case
• Short-term case management to connect you with local resources
• Caregiver support groups (in-person and virtual)
• Respite care so you can handle appointments or just breathe
• Youth enrichment activities for the child
• Emergency one-time financial help for essentials — beds, clothing, school supplies

The biological parent cannot live in the household, and your household income generally cannot exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline.

The Monthly Stipend Requires a Court Order

This is where most confusion starts. To receive the RCP monthly cash stipend, you must have a formal court order awarding you legal custody or guardianship of the child. A Power of Attorney alone does not qualify.

You also need to be at least 21 years old, meet the same 200% FPG income limit, and agree to cooperate with the state in establishing and enforcing child support against the biological parents.

If you are caring for a child under a POA or informal arrangement and need monthly financial support, you have two paths: apply for a Families First Child-Only grant through the ONE DHS portal (which does not require a court order and uses a child-only income test), or petition a court for formal custody and then apply for the RCP stipend.

How to Apply for the RCP

Contact your regional RCP provider through the DCS website at tn.gov/dcs or call the DCS Kinship Helpline at 1-833-984-1498. A family advocate will walk you through intake, verify your relationship to the child, and connect you with available services.

You do not need a lawyer to access the core supportive services. Bring proof of your relationship to the child (birth certificates showing family connection), proof of your address, and whatever legal paperwork you have — a POA, a DCS safety plan, or a court order.

Other Benefits You Can Stack With the RCP

RCP services do not replace other programs the child may qualify for:

• TennCare or CoverKids for health, dental, vision and mental health coverage — apply at tenncareconnect.tn.gov using a child-only income test
• Families First Child-Only Grant for monthly cash assistance — apply at onedhs.tn.gov
• SNAP (food stamps) — also through ONE DHS
• Free school meals through direct certification if the household receives SNAP or TANF

The TennCare and Families First applications evaluate eligibility based on the child's income alone. Your household income does not count against the child.

When to Move Beyond the RCP to Court

If you need full legal authority — to make major medical decisions, access the monthly stipend, or prevent a parent from disrupting the child's placement — the RCP cannot get you there alone. The Tennessee Guardianship and Custody Guide walks through the court process, or contact Help4TN at 1-844-435-7472 for free legal help.

For the school and medical consent paperwork that gets the child enrolled and seen by a doctor right now, the Tennessee School and Medical Consent Guide covers every form and step.

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