Tennessee Kinship Navigator Program: What It Offers Relative Caregivers

What the Kinship Navigator Does

Tennessee's Kinship Navigator function operates through the Department of Children's Services (DCS) and its network of contracted community agencies across all 95 counties. The purpose is straightforward: connect grandparents and other relatives raising children to the services and supports they are eligible for but may not know about.

Kinship navigators do not file court petitions, draft legal documents, or represent families in court. They are social-service workers, not legal advocates. Their role is to assess what a family needs and route them to the right programs.

Services Available Through the Navigator Network

The navigator network, which overlaps heavily with the Relative Caregiver Program (RCP), offers:

• Needs assessments to identify gaps in housing, food, childcare, legal referrals, and financial support
• Referrals to legal aid organizations like HELP4TN, the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee, and Legal Aid of East Tennessee
• Support groups connecting kinship caregivers with others in similar situations
• Respite care coordination so caregivers can attend appointments or take a break
• Emergency financial assistance for immediate needs like utility bills or school supplies
• Help applying for benefits including Families First child-only TANF grants, TennCare, CoverKids, and SNAP

How It Connects to the Relative Caregiver Program

The Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) is the primary delivery vehicle for kinship navigator services in Tennessee. RCP is provided through DCS-contracted community agencies across Tennessee. The current DCS provider list includes The Center for Family Development, Childhelp USA, Family and Children's Services, Thompson Child and Family Focus, Upper Cumberland Development District, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center's Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program, and the Women's Resource/Rape Assistance Program (WRAP). The Center for Family Development serves 14 South Central counties, including Bedford, Marshall, Maury, and Giles.

RCP enrollment is available to relatives caring for a child regardless of legal status — you do not need a court order to access support services. However, the RCP stipend (a separate monthly payment) does require a custody or guardianship order, cooperation with child support, the caregiver being 21 or older, and the biological parents not living in the household. Since Public Chapter 574 took effect July 1, 2024, there is no household income cap for the stipend.

What the Navigator Cannot Do

Navigators will not:

• Tell you whether to file for guardianship or custody
• Prepare court documents or petitions
• Represent you in juvenile, chancery, or probate court
• Make decisions about your legal strategy
• Guarantee eligibility for any specific benefit

They are a referral and support service, not a legal service. For court filings, they refer families to legal aid or private attorneys.

How to Connect

Contact your county's DCS-contracted Relative Caregiver Program agency. The statewide starting point is the DCS Relative Caregiver page. You can also call the HELP4TN hotline at 1-844-435-7486 for a legal aid referral, or the Harmony Family Center ASAP|GSAP Helpline at 1-888-848-2727 to ask about services. Harmony says no-cost GSAP services are available to families whose guardianship is finalized through Tennessee DCS.

Navigating the Court Process Yourself

The navigator network helps with referrals and support, but many kinship caregivers still file on their own. The Guardianship and Custody for Grandparents and Relatives in Tennessee guide picks up where the navigator leaves off — the court filing steps, forms, notice requirements, fee waivers, and hearing preparation for relatives pursuing legal authority.

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