"When you're a caregiver, you need to realize that you've got to take care of yourself, because, not only are you going to have to rise to the occasion and help someone else, but you have to model for the next generation."
- Naomi Judd

Strengthening and empowering relative caregiver families.

Raising a family of your own is difficult enough. Now imagine raising your nephew, niece or grandchild because their parents aren't able to. In Tennessee, there are 101,510 children living in grandparent headed households (7.3% of all the children in our state). There are another 24,774 children living in households headed by other relatives (2.1% of all children under 18). The Davidson County Relative Caregiver Program is there to help the thousands of extended families who take on this responsibility every day.

The Davidson County Relative Caregiver Program is comprehensive public/private collaboration between the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and Family & Children’s Service. We strengthen a family's ability to maintain a supportive and stable environment by respecting what is unique and special within each family. Our goal is to promote kinship family stability for children whose birth parents are unable to care for them. Creating a separate support network for children and their relative caregivers outside of the formal system of foster care is the preferred outcome.
We provide:
   • Short-term case management
   • Caregiver support groups
   • Group and individual counseling
   • Children's Therapeutic Activity Groups
   • Information, education, & resource referrals
   • Material Assistance
   • Legal Assistance
   • Educational Workshops
   • Caregiver and youth enrichment activities
   • Whole family enrichment activities
   • One-time emergency financial assistance.

Community Impact
666 children did not have to enter state foster care during 2008-2009 because of the assistance the Davidson County Relative Caregiver program provided for their 316 caregivers.

The Davidson County Relative Caregiver Program depends on the generosity and support of many in our community to be able to provide the material assistance relative caregiver families need. We also depend on community volunteers to help provide a variety of services and enrichment activities that strengthen and empower relative caregiver families.

Contact Information
For information about the Davidson Relative Caregiver Program or to donate or volunteer,
contact: Aimee Brake, Program Director @ 615-340-9092 x 222.