Speaking out for the Well-Being of Children

Tennessee Voices for Children, Inc. (TVC) was formally organized in 1990 by Tipper Gore as a statewide coalition of individuals, agencies and organizations working together as a Steering Council to promote children’s health and education services. TVC has progressed to become a statewide and national source of referral, support, and advocacy for families and the systems that serve them. Through the Statewide Family Network and its other ten main programs, our organization has informed, supported, and assisted parents and providers across the state. In the past fiscal year, TVC has reached more than 150,000 parents/caregivers, family members, and professionals (providers, educators, other advocates, etc.). We have taken the lead in promoting the use of a coordinated system of care in Tennessee that includes family support and community engagement as key components. TVC works collaboratively with parents, professionals, state and federal officials, policy makers and other key stakeholders to ensure that services provided to children and families in Tennessee are family driven, community based, and culturally and linguistically competent. TVC also serves as a critical partner in multiple national efforts focused upon transforming the system to be more responsive and inclusive of the families they serve, spanning multiple programs, populations, and states. TVC is a not for profit with 501(c) 3 status and the statewide chapter of the National Federation of Families. TVC’s board consists of 51% parents of children with special needs to ensure that all services and programs are family driven and youth guided. The majority of TVC’s staff are parents or caregivers of special needs children. TVC is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health as a mental health facility.

Mission: Tennessee Voices for Children speaks out as active advocates for the emotional and behavioral well-being of children and their families. 

Goals and Objectives:

•      To encourage coalition building and collaboration among service providers and families to best meet the needs of all children
•      To continue public awareness and education efforts through the presentation of statewide conferences focusing on topics of  
        interest to families and service providers
•      To develop and empower the Statewide Family Support Network, providing emotional support, information and education to 
        families of children impacted by emotional and behavioral disorders
•      To monitor children's services in Tennessee and to promote service and systems changes that enhance the emotional and
        behavioral well-being of children
•      To offer training and technical assistance opportunities to families and service providers
•      To educate and mobilize Tennesseans to remove barriers negatively impacting services for children
•      To promote a comprehensive and integrated system of service delivery responsive to the cultural diversity of the population
•      To provide valid research and outcome evaluations of services for children

Position Statement

With the rapid and dramatic state changes that are impacting services provided to our children and families, public policy development and advocacy is taking on an even more important role. TVC, through its leadership, has established itself as a strong and non-partisan voice for the rights of children's mental health. TVC attempts to become knowledgeable about changes and policies and laws that will affect our children, to speak out forcefully on these issues, and to educate our legislators and other public officials about the impact their decisions will have on children and families.

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