Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program
The University of Tennessee Relative Caregiver Program (RCP) is an option available for relatives to care for non-custodial children who require out-of-home care. Children and relative caregivers receive supportive services geared toward self-sufficiency and stability to ensure the child is able to stay within the family instead of entering foster care. The Department of Children's Services (DCS) is not involved. The family does not receive a monthly stipend through the program, but rather has access to several other opportunities to support them. The program first launched in the Shelby, Davidson and Upper Cumberland regions, and was implemented statewide in 2006. More information is available at the Tennessee Department of Children's Services website.
The Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program is located at 239 South Dudley Street, Memphis, TN 38104. For more information about our services, please contact us at (901) 448-3133 or scrcp@uthsc.edu.
- Family Advocacy/Short-term Case Management
- Youth and Teen Activity Groups
- GEMS (Girls ages 6-18)
- HEROES (Boys ages 6-18)
- YEP!
- Emergency One-time Financial or Start-up Assistance
- Educational Workshops
- Information and Referral
- Caregiver Respite and Enrichment
- Caregiver Support Groups
- Material Assistance
Relative Caregiver Supports are currently held 3 times each month:
The 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month are held by conference call or in-person from 11:00am-1:00pm
The 2nd Thursday of each month is held by conference call only from 11am-1:00pm
In-person groups are located at the Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program, 239
South Dudley Street, Memphis, TN 38104
*To join by conference call, dial 1-530-881-111 and enter 360645#.
For assistance, please dial (901) 448-3133 and request assistance from Amira Randolph.
This component of the Shelby County Relative Caregiver Program is designed to facilitate the social development of adolescents participating in the program. Volunteers are encouraged to assist youth with long-term and short-term goal setting, as well as participate in structured and unstructured recreation activities. Volunteers must complete and pass a background check.
Volunteers must demonstrate the following as qualifications:
- Interest and concern for young people
- Desire and ability to work with at-risk youth
- Basic sensitivity to challenges youth in RCP face
- Patience and perseverance
- Reliability and dependability
- Must be at least 18 years of age
Volunteers are needed in the following areas:
- Children and Teens Groups which occur on the 3rd Saturday of each month
- Summer Recreational Activities such as skating, movies, and field days
- During events such as our Holiday Celebration, Hearts of Gold, and Mega Support Group
- During "whole family events" which occur during spring months
For more information, please visit the program websites for GEMS, HEROS, and YEP!
Local Resources/Partners
- City of Memphis
- Tennessee Regional Intervention Program (RIP)
- Tennessee Department of Children’s Services
- Shelby County Schools
- Neighborhood Christian Center - Memphis
- Tennessee Disability Pathfinder
- Memphis Public Library/LINC 2-1-1
Other State RCP programs
- Davidson County Relative Caregiver Program 615.320.0591 (Family and Children's Service)
- East Tennessee Region 865.376.3464 (Foothills Care, Inc.)
- Mid-Cumberland Region 615.473.3006 (New Visions, Inc.)
- Northwest & Southwest Region. 731.772.8378 (Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center)
- South Central Region 931.684.4676 (The Center for Family Development)
- Southeast Region 423.424.4202 (South East Development District)
- Upper Cumberland Region. 931.432.4111 (The Horizon Initiative)