Tennessee Department of Human Services Commissioner Dr. Raquel Hatter announced Tuesday a new effort to help break the cycles of poverty in Tennessee focused on a two-generational approach to creating success. DHS will establish a consortium reflective of the department's commitment to a strength-based perspective towards growing capacity and reducing dependency. A two-generational approach has a special focus on the success of both the parents and the children at the same time.
“DHS is just one of the many key players involved in positively impacting families living in poverty, a very critical socioeconomic issue and human condition,” said Dr.
Raquel Hatter, DHS commissioner. “The establishment of the consortium is one of the many ways that DHS is working to be understood not only as a service delivery organization, but also as a strategic thought partner and resource focused on continuous learning and the utilization of promising practices for moving families forward. The consortium is an excellent avenue for the department to serve as a convener, an idea generator, and a partner to the human and social service sectors, both public and private.”
“DHS is moving beyond providing services to those in need to strategizing on how to move families toward self-sufficiency,” said Governor Haslam. “This new approach will help DHS bring key stakeholders to the table to collaborate on best practices and ideas to assist families in Tennessee with breaking the cycle of poverty.”
The consortium will be charged with constantly searching, identifying, and highlighting promising practices focused on addressing poverty in Tennessee, nationally, and internationally. A special focus will be on practices that adhere to a multigenerational approach, strength-based practices, brain science, informed practices and results. The consortium will consist of representatives from state agencies that provide health and human services, those currently or previously impacted by poverty, community organizations, businesses, faith-based organizations, and others.
The consortium will bring members who are committed to adding to the body of knowledge relative to transformational pathways towards self-sufficiency together on a regular basis. The consortium will issue reports sharing successes, lessons learned, and recommendations to serve as a resource to those committed to this very important issue. The consortium will also enlist various national thought partners such as Ascend at the Aspen Institute, the American Public Human Service Association, the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and others.
"Tennessee is on the front edge of innovation to build a durable path to economic opportunity for all children and families in the state. Commissioner Dr. Raquel Hatter is at the center of a new generation of leaders that are aggressively accelerating what works and calling our sectors of society to be part of the solution,” said Anne Mosle, Aspen Institute vice president.
Susan Dreyfus, president and CEO of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities said, “We are honored to be partnering with Commissioner Hatter and her team to make sure we stop the cycle of poverty in Tennessee by creating policies and practices that strengthen families and help parents and their children live their lives to their fullest potential. When the social sector and the public sector truly partner together and share responsibility, we can achieve amazing results.”
“The incredible science of brain development coupled with ongoing research on the impact of adversity and toxic stress reveals an important opportunity to improve child and adult outcomes by attending to the needs and capacity of both of them -- together to the greatest extent possible. The consortium will help Tennessee more fully understand how best to leverage this research for the success of parents and children,” said Tracy Wareing Evans, APHSA executive director.
Consortium members will be appointed by DHS Commissioner Dr. Raquel Hatter. If you are interested or want to nominate an organization to serve, send a letter of interest to 2GenConsortium.DHS@tn.gov or to 400 Deaderick St., Nashville TN, 37243 by Dec.11.