Tennessee Family Resource Centers

Since 1993, Family Resource Centers (FRCs) in Tennessee have served as vital hubs of support for students, families, and communities. Administered through Local Education Agencies (LEAs), the Tennessee Department of Education supports the FRC program to address a range of challenges affecting student well-being and academic success. FRCs are designed to provide a welcoming, inclusive space that coordinates services aimed at strengthening the social, emotional, and physical health of children and families. Rooted in the state’s investment in whole-child supports, the program’s foundational mission is to unlock the potential of each child by addressing barriers that hinder development and learning. The centers operate based on a strategic three-pillar framework: Families, Readiness, and Communities. Under the Families pillar, FRCs promote mental health, stability, and sustainability within households. Services include basic needs support such as food assistance, hygiene products, case management, parenting classes, and empowerment resources including employment services. The Readiness pillar ensures academic and career preparedness through programs like literacy promotion, early learning partnerships, family-focused attendance strategies, and transitional services across Pre-K to 12th grade. Through the Communities pillar, FRCs strengthen student and family engagement, promote safe and nurturing environments, and form cross-sector partnerships with local agencies, healthcare providers, and civic groups to amplify impact. These pillars align directly with LEA needs and are embedded into the FRC action planning and implementation cycle. To support their operation, Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-2-115 permits LEAs to utilize Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funds for both planning and implementation. FRCs may be established and operated directly by an LEA or through contracted partnerships with nonprofit agencies. Centers must be located in or near schools and led by a full-time qualified director. Program personnel are required to have relevant experience in social services, mental health, or education and must complete ongoing professional development. FRCs must also form advisory councils, with parents making up a majority, to guide implementation and ensure stakeholder voice in all phases of operation. The program encourages the blending of funding sources, including federal and local contributions, to ensure sustainability. The grant program requires LEAs to submit a detailed application or continuation plan annually to the Tennessee Department of Education. This includes a written action plan outlining measurable objectives tied to the FRC framework. Required components also include a bi-annual needs assessment, an internal referral process, ongoing reporting, stakeholder engagement plans, and evaluation strategies. Mid-year and end-of-year progress reports are submitted to the department, along with an annual performance report. Each LEA is expected to present FRC impact data to district leadership, advisory councils, and boards of education, reinforcing transparency and accountability. There are no cost-sharing or matching fund requirements explicitly outlined in the FRC guidelines. However, maintaining adequate funding is mandatory, and LEAs are encouraged to build funding strategies that combine multiple sources. The FRCs serve all school-aged students and their families within the LEA and focus especially on those facing chronic absenteeism, poverty, behavioral health issues, or other barriers to success. While the program does not limit participation by geographic sub-unit, the map in the guidelines shows that only certain districts have currently established FRCs. Thus, geographic eligibility is defined by the LEA’s jurisdiction and participation. The FRC program is ongoing and recurring, with LEAs submitting implementation plans and reports on a yearly cycle. Each year, the implementation timeline follows a structured calendar: summer months are used for planning and resource allocation; school year months focus on execution, stakeholder engagement, and reporting; and spring months are designated for reassessment and future planning. Technical assistance, professional learning opportunities, and a centralized toolkit are provided by the state to ensure fidelity across participating districts. Through its three-pronged approach and integrated infrastructure, the Family Resource Center initiative remains a key strategy in Tennessee’s statewide education and wellness mission.

Align goals with FRC framework pillars; ensure stakeholder input and advisory compliance; maintain detailed reporting cadence