DCFCA Enrichment Fund Guidelines
The Davidson County Enrichment Fund has been established for the purpose of supporting foster parents and children/youth in foster care. Requests for financial assistance are made by submitting an application, which can be obtained on the DFCFAssociation.org website.
Requests may be made by DCS Foster Parents, Kinship families of children/youth in custodial care and Private Provider Foster Parents. The child/youth must be assigned to the Davidson region. Mid Cumberland applicants will not be considered.
* Contract agency foster home/parents and case managers must have the contract agency consider the request first, as it is part of their responsibility to assist children/youth in extracurricular activities. A letter/email of denial from the contract agency must accompany the Enrichment Fund Application if the contract agency is unable to assist with the request.
Funds may only be accessed when all other resources have been exhausted (e.g. flex funding, DHS, Tenncare or appeal process if medical need, scholarships, Chafee funds, community organizations, civic groups, churches, CAB’s, school system, corporations, Swell Forever grant, IL/EFC). Provide written proof of denied assistance with the application. The officers reserve the right to ask for further information, or deny the request if such proof is not provided
*The Department of Children Services will help with government-available funding sources (Flex Funding, DHS, Chafee Funds, Independent Living, Extension of Foster Care). Ask the child’s FSW for assistance.
*Should the funds requested be for a sport or extracurricular activity (community or school sanctioned), written proof that the school or community organization will not waive the fees for the child should accompany the application.
*When applying for sports participation, please do not apply for Enrichment funds until the child is officially a member of the sports team.
*Should the request be for a church camp, written proof that the church will not waive the fee should be attached to the application.
Applications for assistance will be reviewed by DCFCA officers. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the individual needs of the child or youth and subject to the availability of funds.
Requests may be made by DCS Foster Parents, Kinship families of children/youth in custodial care and Private Provider Foster Parents. The child/youth must be assigned to the Davidson region. Mid Cumberland applicants will not be considered.
* Contract agency foster home/parents and case managers must have the contract agency consider the request first, as it is part of their responsibility to assist children/youth in extracurricular activities. A letter/email of denial from the contract agency must accompany the Enrichment Fund Application if the contract agency is unable to assist with the request.
Funds may only be accessed when all other resources have been exhausted (e.g. flex funding, DHS, Tenncare or appeal process if medical need, scholarships, Chafee funds, community organizations, civic groups, churches, CAB’s, school system, corporations, Swell Forever grant, IL/EFC). Provide written proof of denied assistance with the application. The officers reserve the right to ask for further information, or deny the request if such proof is not provided
*The Department of Children Services will help with government-available funding sources (Flex Funding, DHS, Chafee Funds, Independent Living, Extension of Foster Care). Ask the child’s FSW for assistance.
*Should the funds requested be for a sport or extracurricular activity (community or school sanctioned), written proof that the school or community organization will not waive the fees for the child should accompany the application.
*When applying for sports participation, please do not apply for Enrichment funds until the child is officially a member of the sports team.
*Should the request be for a church camp, written proof that the church will not waive the fee should be attached to the application.
Applications for assistance will be reviewed by DCFCA officers. Determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the individual needs of the child or youth and subject to the availability of funds.