WE BELIEVE

We believe that all humans have dignity, and that our laws and public policy should reflect this shared value. This means that those with disability or illness should have access to care and services they need to live a full life and that those facing hard times or unimaginable obstacles can access necessary support to rebuild their lives.

WHAT WE DO

We help Tennesseans one-by-one and then take what we learn from their stories to advocate for large-scale changes that help others in the same boat. In addition to helping individuals, we use the law and advocacy to ensure that Tennesseans can meet their most basic needs and have a pathway to opportunity. Specific focus of our work includes:

HELPING KIDS GROW UP HEALTHY

Healthcare is crucial to give children a healthy start in life and a chance to reach their full potential. We work to protect and promote programs that are vital to children’s health by educating the community and mobilizing support for policies and practices that ensure that all of Tennessee’s children can thrive.

CHAMPION CHILDREN’S HEALTH

EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE

Everyone should have access to affordable medical care. Here in Tennessee, there are 280,000 people who have no access to health insurance. They live in the “coverage gap,” which means they do not fit into a category for TennCare (our Medicaid program), and they do not make enough money to get financial help to buy insurance on the Marketplace through the ACA.

EXPAND ACCESS TO CARE
Katreda Norman

INCREASING INDEPENDENCE

With the right supports, seniors and people with disabilities can live life on their own terms. That’s why we have worked for 22 years to make the possibility of independence real.

SUPPORT INDEPENDENCE

HUNGER SOLUTIONS

Ensuring all Tennesseans have access to nutritious food. Every Tennessean should have the food they need to lead a healthy, productive life. We work to keep nutrition programs, like SNAP and school meals, strong.

SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY

OUR IMPACT: 2017 AT A GLANCE

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DOLLARS SECURED IN NUTRITION ASSISTANCE
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DOLLARS OF HEALTH BENEFITS SECURED
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VOLUNTEER HOURS LEVERAGED
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ADDITIONAL TENNESSEANS WITH HEALTHCARE

HOW WE DO IT

We focus relentlessly on protecting and improving the laws, policies, and programs which provide dignity and opportunity, including access to health care and food. We help individuals struggling to access these services, and we train health care providers, social service providers, and community leaders to ensure that those in their communities can get what they need.

INDIVIDUAL CASES

We help Tennesseans master the maze of health and nutrition resources. Our caseworkers help individuals navigate complicated systems to get health care and food. We are red tape warriors, experts at cutting through the maze of bureaucracy to get access to necessary assistance.

TRAINING

We train health care providers, social workers, and local community groups to better understand the complex healthcare system and the laws that govern it. We also work directly with TennCare and other public programs to make sure that services are available and work as they are supposed to.

SYSTEM CHANGE

When we see systemic issues that affect lots of people, we try and find a way to change the laws, practices, and policies that create those issues. We use every tool we can find to ensure that public policy reflects the reality of Tennesseans’ real experience.  We address these issues in the courts, work with partners to educate and inform lawmakers, and equip Tennesseans with the tools they need to understand legislation and public policy and make their voices heard on issues that affect them. 

OUR PARTNERS

Our brave clients, their families, doctors, and other caregivers are some of our most committed partners in working for justice. Their stories of difficulty accessing health care and nutrition for themselves or their loved ones show the need for change. With our clients’ help, TJC works to put faces on Tennesseans who cannot access the basic necessities they need to thrive. Their stories help policymakers and the general public understand the impact of inadequate health care and nutrition policy on real people, including our loved ones, friends, and neighbors.  

Our work is supported by and made better by the work of many other individuals and groups throughout the state and the country.  Partners include