Tennessee Justice Center
Programs
Budget
$959,203.47
Description
TJC helps hundreds of families each year navigate the complexities of public insurance programs like Medicaid ("TennCare") and CoverKids to obtain and maintain health coverage. TJC's current priority is leading a statewide network of public and private agencies to assist TennCare families, especially those with disabilities or limited English proficiency, navigate TennCare's post-pandemic redetermination of eligibility for the program's 1.75 million enrollees.
Program Successes
According to state data, systemic reforms won by TJC has resulted in the provision of over $2 billion in TennCare services for families that would not have otherwise received it. By helping patients and providers obtain coverage for the cost of medical services, TJC also helps families avoid the burdens of medical debt.
Long-term Success
Over decades, TJC has become known as the "go to" resource for dealing with these notoriously complex programs, providing training and technical assistance for community service agencies, educators, health care providers and legal professionals who serve low-income Tennesseans. TJC uses the lessons learned from clients' experiences and partner agencies to identify systemic problems that affect other families statewide, and then advocates for correction of those problems.
Program Areas Served
TN
$959,203.47
Description
TJC helps hundreds of families each year navigate the complexities of public insurance programs like Medicaid ("TennCare") and CoverKids to obtain and maintain health coverage. TJC's current priority is leading a statewide network of public and private agencies to assist TennCare families, especially those with disabilities or limited English proficiency, navigate TennCare's post-pandemic redetermination of eligibility for the program's 1.75 million enrollees.
Program Successes
According to state data, systemic reforms won by TJC has resulted in the provision of over $2 billion in TennCare services for families that would not have otherwise received it. By helping patients and providers obtain coverage for the cost of medical services, TJC also helps families avoid the burdens of medical debt.
Long-term Success
Over decades, TJC has become known as the "go to" resource for dealing with these notoriously complex programs, providing training and technical assistance for community service agencies, educators, health care providers and legal professionals who serve low-income Tennesseans. TJC uses the lessons learned from clients' experiences and partner agencies to identify systemic problems that affect other families statewide, and then advocates for correction of those problems.
Program Areas Served
TN
Budget
$662,855.67
Description
TennCare covers over half of all Tennessee's children and an even larger percentage of children with special health or behavioral health care needs. For 25 years, TJC has been an advocate for TennCare children who encounter bureaucratic barriers to accessing the care their doctors prescribe. TJC-led advocacy efforts that have achieved systemic reforms, including the establishment of Tennessee's Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CoverKids, and the use of federal matching funds to broaden access to children's behavioral health services.
Program Areas Served
TN
$662,855.67
Description
TennCare covers over half of all Tennessee's children and an even larger percentage of children with special health or behavioral health care needs. For 25 years, TJC has been an advocate for TennCare children who encounter bureaucratic barriers to accessing the care their doctors prescribe. TJC-led advocacy efforts that have achieved systemic reforms, including the establishment of Tennessee's Children's Health Insurance Program, known as CoverKids, and the use of federal matching funds to broaden access to children's behavioral health services.
Program Areas Served
TN
Budget
$243,989.53
Description
Hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans are involved every year in lawsuits in General Sessions Courts, far more than in any other court in our state. Most have very limited incomes and do not have lawyers. They face the difficult challenge of representing themselves in cases, like evictions or collection of medical debt, where the stakes are high. That challenge is greater than it need be, because of archaic forms and lack of information. General Sessions GPS is a project to help unrepresented litigants navigate the legal process by reforming the court forms and providing self-help resources. Established with funding from the Tennessee Bar Foundation and administered by the Tennessee Justice Center, the project engages public officials, attorneys and citizen volunteers.
Program Areas Served
TN
$243,989.53
Description
Hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans are involved every year in lawsuits in General Sessions Courts, far more than in any other court in our state. Most have very limited incomes and do not have lawyers. They face the difficult challenge of representing themselves in cases, like evictions or collection of medical debt, where the stakes are high. That challenge is greater than it need be, because of archaic forms and lack of information. General Sessions GPS is a project to help unrepresented litigants navigate the legal process by reforming the court forms and providing self-help resources. Established with funding from the Tennessee Bar Foundation and administered by the Tennessee Justice Center, the project engages public officials, attorneys and citizen volunteers.
Program Areas Served
TN
Budget
$487,979.06
Description
TJC's Independence project advocates on behalf of older adults, people with disabilities and their families. The project enables hundreds of people each year access the long-term services and supports, nutrition assistance and health care that are vital to preserving their independence and quality of life.
Program Successes
TJC's advocacy on behalf of families has won systemic reforms with statewide impact, including establishment of a program to provide in-home care for children with special needs who would otherwise be at risk of institutionalization. A TJC legal victory led to the rebalancing of TennCare services from nursing homes to home and community-based services.
Program Areas Served
TN
$487,979.06
Description
TJC's Independence project advocates on behalf of older adults, people with disabilities and their families. The project enables hundreds of people each year access the long-term services and supports, nutrition assistance and health care that are vital to preserving their independence and quality of life.
Program Successes
TJC's advocacy on behalf of families has won systemic reforms with statewide impact, including establishment of a program to provide in-home care for children with special needs who would otherwise be at risk of institutionalization. A TJC legal victory led to the rebalancing of TennCare services from nursing homes to home and community-based services.
Program Areas Served
TN
Budget
$575,940.95
Description
TJC's nutrition advocacy program assists hundreds of families each year access nutrition assistance programs, like SNAP (formerly food stamps) and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, that are vital for their food security. Insights gained from working with those families enables TJC to identify and correct systemic barriers in those programs, resulting in $400 million of increased SNAP benefits reaching Tennesseans who are food insecure. TJC leads a network of food banks, educators and community agencies that won expansion of school breakfast programs.
Program Successes
During the pandemic, a TJC campaign resulted in the state's distribution of $100 million in federal nutrition aid to children unable to access school meals. Current priorities include ensuring that WIC reaches all eligible children and mothers, and that SNAP more effectively helps Tennessee seniors maintain the good nutrition so essential for maintaining their health and independence.
Program Areas Served
TN
$575,940.95
Description
TJC's nutrition advocacy program assists hundreds of families each year access nutrition assistance programs, like SNAP (formerly food stamps) and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, that are vital for their food security. Insights gained from working with those families enables TJC to identify and correct systemic barriers in those programs, resulting in $400 million of increased SNAP benefits reaching Tennesseans who are food insecure. TJC leads a network of food banks, educators and community agencies that won expansion of school breakfast programs.
Program Successes
During the pandemic, a TJC campaign resulted in the state's distribution of $100 million in federal nutrition aid to children unable to access school meals. Current priorities include ensuring that WIC reaches all eligible children and mothers, and that SNAP more effectively helps Tennessee seniors maintain the good nutrition so essential for maintaining their health and independence.
Program Areas Served
TN
