Social Work Office of Research & Public Service

Tennessee Child Support
Employment & Parenting Program (TCSEPP)

Who does TCSEPP help?

If you have been ordered to pay child support in a county covered by TCSEPP, and you are ready to get help to overcome barriers and find a job, then you are eligible for TCSEPP support.

How does TCSEPP help? 

  • Employment preparation, job search assistance, and job readiness assistance
  • Intensive personal advocacy
  • Parenting support
  • Resource linkage
  • Transportation assistance and supportive services

What happens when TCSEPP helps?

TCSEPP participants…

  • Set and achieve goals for economic mobility, self-sufficiency, and parenting.
  • Enjoy enhanced physical and emotional health.
  • Develop a stronger parent/child bond and more effective interpersonal coping strategies.
  • Enjoy increased positive social support and community connections.
  • Contribute to the economic stability and well-being of their children by meeting their child support obligations.
  • Are more likely to pay more of their child support and meet a greater portion of their child support obligations in the 12 months after program participation when compared to the 12 months prior to program participation.

Parents express a sense of well-being when they have opportunities to thrive financially, they experience physical and mental health, and their children demonstrate educational success and are secure and happy.  Navigating the child support system while looking for a job and establishing a healthy and strong relationship with their children is difficult for some parents. In partnership with the communities we serve, TCSEPP provides a wide array of comprehensive, trauma-informed, evidence-based services to parents involved with the child support system to enhance their sense of well-being and help them and their children thrive.    

Honesty, Transparency, and Trust

We are authentic and truthful in every interaction we have with parents, families, partners, communities, and one another; we show respect and regard for each person’s unique lived experience, strengths, and beliefs; and we are transparent about our decision making and our outcomes.

Fairness and Equity

We maintain awareness of institutional and personal bias, and we respect and hold in high regard people of all ethnicities, cultures, gender identities, sexual identities, and socioeconomic backgrounds and perspectives.

Safety

We create an environment where power is shared and work in partnership with parents, families and the community toward change that will result in safe, stable, nurturing relationships for children.

Accountability and Results

We employ evidence-informed services and interventions and track and analyze data to improve all our practices and policies.

Empowerment

We affirm the unique strengths and needs of each parent and respect their voice and choice in decisions about their lives.

The Power of Family

We work continuously with parents to develop and support safe, stable, nurturing family relationships and multiple paths to parent success and self-sufficiency.

Community and Collaboration

We build community partnerships to provide a wide array of services to meet the needs of the parents we serve.

Healing

We are trauma-responsive in our work with parents.

TCSEPP serves the following judicial districts:

  • Judicial District 4: Cocke, Grainger, Jefferson, and Sevier counties
  • Judicial District 5: Blount County
  • Judicial District 6: Knox County
  • Judicial District 7: Anderson County
  • Judicial District 8: Campbell, Claiborne, Fentress, Scott, and Union counties
  • Judicial District 9: Loudon, Meigs, Morgan and Roane counties
  • Judicial District 10:  Bradley, McMinn, Monroe, and Polk counties
  • Judicial District 13: Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and White counties
  • Judicial District 16: Cannon and Rutherford counties
  • Judicial District 21: Williamson County
  • Judicial District 26: Chester, Henderson, and Madison counties
  • Judicial District 28: Crockett, Gibson, and Haywood counties
  • Judicial District 32: Hickman, Lewis, and Perry counties

Team Members

Debbie Abrams-Cohen

State Director
Statewide

Tia Alderson

Coordinator II
21st & 32nd JD

David Bolton

Administrative Specialist
East TN

Melanie Bonner

Coordinator II
4th JD

Pam Borovy

East Regional Director
East TN

Jessica Brown

Coordinator II
26th JD

Melissa Carter

Program Manager
16th, 21st & 32nd JD

Hailey Cates

Administrative Specialist
East TN

Darren Darnell

Coordinator II
16th JD

Blaki Davidson

Coordinator II
8th JD

Nicole Duncan

Coordinator II
4th JD

Mykaila Dye

Coordinator II
28th JD

Anita Fox

Accounting Specialist
Middle & West TN

Ashley Franklin

Program Manager
10th JD

Angela George

Coordinator II
8th JD

Shaylah Henning

Coordinator II
29th JD

Darla Hilliard

Program Manager
5th, 7th & 9th JD

Tim Hyde

Coordinator II
10th JD

Kaela James

Administrative Specialist
Middle & West TN

Christy Jones

Administrative Supervisor
Statewide

Matt Keller

Lead Program Manager
Statewide

Jan King

Program Manager
6th JD

April Laferriere

Coordinator II
13th JD

Laura Manville

Coordinator II
5th & 9th JD

Sam Morey

Coordinator II
10th JD

Shane Morgan

Coordinator II
13th JD

Chris Moulden

Coordinator II
9th JD

Anna-Leah Mullins

Program Manager
29th JD

Tony Mullins

Coordinator II
8th JD

Maggie Murmann

Administrative Specialist
Middle & West TN

Jessica Olney

Program Manager
13th & 31st JD

Dana Paramore

Coordinator II
5th JD

Shakeeta Perry

Coordinator II
28th JD

Stephanie Pyle

West Regional Director
West TN

Petra Reini

Coordinator II
26th JD

Ty’China Rhooms

Coordinator II
6th JD

Gabby Rimmer

Coordinator II
6th JD

Rosemary Rogers

Program Manager
4th & 8th JD

Danielle Smith

Coordinator II
6th JD

Cera Smith

Accounting Specialist
East TN

Heather Story

Coordinator II
16th JD

Olianada Vazquez

Coordinator II
31st JD

Elizabeth Vickers

Coordinator II
7th JD

Mallory West

Program Manager
26th & 28th JD

Glenda West

Coordinator II
13th JD

Morgan White

Coordinator II
13th JD

Allison Yonker

Mid Regional Director
Middle TN

To contact TCSEPP directly, call (865) 946-2020, or email us at: TCSEPP@utk.edu

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