When Shanna Schofield relocated from California to Rutherford County four years ago, she took on the responsibility of raising her three grandchildren. “There have been days I’m not sure how I’m going to get by until payday, but by the grace of God, it worked,” she said, describing the daily financial strain of caring for young children.
A recent LendingTree report estimates that raising a child from birth to age 18 now costs more than $300,000, even after tax credits. “I have to pay this bill, then wait until next month to pay that bill. And what if something happens and comes up? Then what do you do?” Schofield asked.
Seeking relief, Schofield applied to Tennessee’s Relative Caregiver Program, which offers monthly stipends to eligible families who care for relatives. Instead of a quick answer, she learned that the program’s demand far exceeds its capacity. “This is a program that’s supposed to help and they say there are over a thousand people on the waitlist,” she said.
Program capacity and waitlist numbers
The Department of Children’s Services (DCS) confirmed that the program currently funds just over 3,100 stipend slots statewide. In the 14‑county region that includes Rutherford County, there are 826 funded slots and 64 children on the waiting list. DCS says families are enrolled on a first‑come, first‑served basis as spots open or additional funding becomes available.
Schofield worries that families may feel forced to consider foster care rather than keeping children with kin. “It’s heartbreaking families would have to choose foster care over having to help raise their family members in their own home,” she said.
State efforts to strengthen support
Despite the shortfall, DCS is taking steps to improve support for kinship caregivers. The agency recently partnered with the University of Tennessee’s Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) on two federally funded initiatives. One project will help DCS better understand what is working well and where improvements are needed; the other will develop a kinship navigator tool to guide caregivers through available resources.
Families with unmet needs can also contact DCS’s dedicated Resource Linkage Team, which works to connect households with services and assistance tailored to their circumstances.
Legislative push for more funding
DCS Commissioner Margie Quin is actively working with state lawmakers to secure additional funding for the Relative Caregiver Program next year. The goal is to expand the number of funded slots so more grandparents and other relatives can receive the financial support they need to keep children safely at home.
Schofield remains hopeful that other caregivers facing similar challenges will find solidarity. “People have the same stories and together we can overcome a lot,” she said.
For families seeking help, DCS encourages reaching out to the Resource Linkage Team or visiting the department’s website for information on eligibility and application procedures.
Original reporting: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
