About - TN Voices

About TN Voices

MISSION

To advance lifelong wellbeing for children, adults, and families through integrated behavioral health care, support services, advocacy, and transformative community partnerships.

VISION

To be a transformational leader in behavioral health.

Without intervention, these factors create self-perpetuating cycles. A child raised in a home with untreated trauma often becomes an adult struggling to parent, compounding stress for future generations. The economic burden is staggering: mental health crises lead to ER overuse, workforce disruptions, and public system strain costing far more than preventive, community-based care.

The Mental Health Crisis in Tennessee: Why TN Voices Exists

Across Tennessee, tens of thousands of children, adults, and families are struggling with untreated mental health conditions, generational trauma, and the crushing stressors of poverty. These challenges aren’t isolated. They ripple outward into classrooms, workplaces, and communities, driving up costs for schools, healthcare systems, and taxpayers.

Nearly 4 in 10 Tennessee adults report symptoms of anxiety or depression, a rate higher than the national average.
Tennessee ranks among the top 10 states for both mental illness prevalence and limited access to care, with rural areas facing extreme shortages. Some counties have only one provider for every 6,800 residents.
Half of U.S. children experience at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), such as abuse, neglect, parental incarceration, or household addiction. These events significantly increase the risk of depression, chronic illness, academic failure, and economic instability in adulthood.

Breaking the Cycle: What Works

While the challenges are immense, they’re not insurmountable. Communities that invest in supportive relationships, consistent care, and trauma-informed programs see healthier families, stronger schools, and reduced long-term costs. Research shows that positive childhood experiences (PCEs) stable routines, caring adults, and trusted community connections can dramatically lower the risks tied to early adversity, reducing the likelihood of depression and poor health by as much as 72%. By pairing these protective factors with accessible, family-centered mental health services, Tennessee can not only help families heal but also prevent future crises before they begin.

Our model works because it’s whole-family, trauma-informed, and community-driven. By healing parents alongside their children, providing critical resources like housing and mental health support, and advocating for systemic change, TN Voices helps families thrive and communities grow stronger.

How TN Voices Responds

TN Voices is Tennessee’s collaborative leader in mental health and family wellbeing. Each year, we serve thousands of children, parents, and adults across all 95 counties with services that prevent crisis, heal trauma, and build long-term stability, including:

School-based and outpatient counseling for children and teens.
Peer and clinical support for adults, addressing trauma, depression, and substance use.
Family centered services, including caregiver therapy, parenting coaching, and early childhood home visiting.
Housing stabilization and wraparound programs to keep families intact and prevent system involvement.
Advocacy and education to reduce stigma, expand access, and change the policies that perpetuate inequity.

Why Support Matters

Every dollar invested in early and ongoing mental health care saves many more in downstream costs, from emergency room visits to social services. More importantly, it helps Tennesseans lead stable, connected, and fulfilling lives. Together, we can ensure every person, regardless of zip code or income, has the tools and support they need to build resilience and break cycles of trauma.

TN Voices is building hope for all. Your partnership helps us turn that vision into reality.

Mental Health: How TN Voices Defines It

At TN Voices, we embrace a broad and forward-thinking definition of mental health. Drawing from leaders like SAMHSA and the CDC, we recognize that mental health is more than the absence of illness or the focus on therapy: it is the emotional, psychological, spiritual, and social well-being that shapes how we think, feel, and act. Comprehensive mental well-being allows people to navigate life’s stressors, realize their abilities, build strong relationships, and contribute to their communities. We also believe mental health is nurtured early, starting in childhood, and supported through prevention, peer connection, education, and community care. By expanding this definition, we ensure that children, families, parents and adults receive care that helps them heal and thrive.

A Year of Impact

Our annual report brings together the programs, partnerships, and people behind the numbers including how funds were invested and what changed for the Tennesseans we serve.

Core Values

We Are United by One — VOICE

V

Vulnerability & Integrity

O

Openness & Connection

I

Innovation & Growth

C

Compassion & Hope

E

Experience & Insight

TN Voices Formally Organized In 1990

Tennessee Voices for Children, Inc. (also known as TN Voices) 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. TN Voices (TNV) 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, TNV has reached more than 50,000 parents/caregivers, family members, and professionals (providers, educators, other advocates, etc.).

MISSION

We are dedicated to helping adults, families, and children thrive by providing clinical and supportive care, advocacy, and collaborative partnerships that nurture healthy environments and long lasting well-being.

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. TNV 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. TNV 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. TNV is a not for profit with 501(c) 3 status and the statewide chapter of the National Federation of Families. TNV’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 TNV’s staff are parents or caregivers of special needs children. TNV is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health as a mental health facility.

TN Voices Awards

As a result of the dedication and hard work of TN Voices staff, TN Voices has been recognized with many prestigious local, state, and national awards. Some of which are:

In 1999, TN Voices was awarded the first of five federal 6 year grants from the SAMHSA to develop integrated systems of care for children with serious emotional disturbance (SED). The first was the Nashville Connection and had a 98% success rate of maintaining children with SED in their communities. Nashville Connection was followed by the MuleTown Family Network (2005), the JustCare Family Network (2008), the K-Town Youth Empowerment Network (2009), and the Early Connections Network (2010).
In 2005, TN Voices was awarded the national “Making a Difference” award from the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health for outstanding services to children with mental health problems and their families.
In 2005, TN Voices received the “Excellence in Community Education and Outreach (ECCO) Gold Award” by the Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA.
In 2006, TN Voices was awarded the Frist Foundation’s “Making a Difference Award of Achievement” by the Center for Nonprofit Management’s Salute to Excellence for unique and outstanding services.
In 2007, TN Voices was honored by the Mental Health Association at their 60th Anniversary Award Celebration.
In 2008, TN Voices was a finalist in the Salute to Excellence, “Healing Charity Award” sponsored by the Baptist Healing Trust.
In 2008, TN Voices was the recipient of the “Heroes in the Fight” award by the Mental Health Association.
In 2008, TN Voices was awarded the “Excellence in Communications and Community Outreach (ECCO) Award” by the Center for Mental Health Services for our Networker.
In 2009, TN Voices received the “International Heroes of Hope” award which launched a world wide video and recognition about the services provided by TN Voices.
In 2009, TN Voices was awarded the prestigious “Karl Dennis Unconditional Care Award” at the National Federation of Families Conference.
In 2010, TN Voices was awarded the Center for Nonprofit Management’s “First Foundation Award of Achievement” at the Salute to Excellence.
In 2010, TN Voices received a national “Excellence in Communication and Community Outreach (ECCO) Award” for the video, Voices of Change: Exploring a Youth Guided System of Care.
In 2012, the Center for Nonprofit Management awarded TN Voices the “Excellence in Volunteer Engagement Award”.
In 2013, TN Voices was awarded the “Distinguished Service to Families Award” by the Tennessee Association for Marriage and Family Therapy at their annual conference.
In 2016, TN Voices received its re-certification in the “Excellence in Volunteer Engagement Award” from the Center for Nonprofit Management.
In 2016, TVC held its inaugural Green Ribbon Gala at The Westin in Nashville, TN.
In 2017, TN Voices was recognized as a “Zero Suicide Champion” for participation in the Zero Suicide Initiative at Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network’s Awareness Day Event.
In 2017, TVC received another System of Care grant award from the state, System of Care Across TN.
In March of 2017, TVC purchased a new home at 500 Professional Park Drive in Goodlettsville, TN.
In May of 2017, TVC achieved Three-Year Accreditation from the International Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
In July 2018, TVC received its first Victims Of Crime Assistance grant Award to begin working with victims in Memphis, Knoxville, and the Northeast region of TN, an expansion of services in those areas.
In 2019, TNV added Adult Services.
In 2020, the name change of DBA TN Voices using the acronym TNV.
In 2020, the DEI Committee was developed to enhance TNV’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
In 2021, we expanded of ILS services to West TN (Jackson) funding received through TDMHSAS
In 2022, we expanded ILS services in East TN (Chattanooga) funding received through TDMHSAS.
In 2022 TNV collaboration on Dennis’ Quaid’s project.
In 2022, the SOCAT TANF Exceptional Program Outcomes Award.
In 2023, 3-year recertification for Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

TN Voices is courageous enough to challenge what is, imagine what could be, and build better solutions for the future.

Learn more about how we are doing this every day.