Tennessee Nonprofit Resource Guide

24/7 helpline (1-800-272-3900), care consultations, support groups across Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Jackson, Tri-Cities, and rural communities statewide, early-stage programming, caregiver education, Walk to End Alzheimer's events statewide, and research advocacy. Tennessee's significant rural Appalachian population (East TN) and its large African American urban communities (Memphis) both face elevated Alzheimer's and dementia risk. Memphis has one of the highest proportions of African American residents of any major US city — a population with substantially elevated Alzheimer's risk due to higher rates of vascular risk factors. The Alzheimer's Association TN chapters coordinate health equity outreach across the state.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Memory and Alzheimer's Center is one of the South's premier academic Alzheimer's research and clinical programs. Vanderbilt's neurology faculty conduct NIH-funded research on Alzheimer's genetics, early detection biomarkers, tau and amyloid pathology, and novel treatment strategies. Vanderbilt's memory clinic provides comprehensive cognitive evaluations, dementia diagnosis, and care coordination for Middle TN patients. Vanderbilt's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) — funded by the National Institute on Aging — has been a major contributor to understanding genetic risk factors and disease progression. Telehealth memory consultations extend Vanderbilt's reach to TN's rural Appalachian and West TN communities.

TCAD coordinates the Tennessee Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Registry, caregiver education grants, the TN Silver Alert missing person notification system for individuals with dementia, and dementia service connections through the 9 AAA development districts. TCAD's SHIP program provides Medicare counseling statewide. TCAD's Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for TN nursing home and assisted living residents.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis operates the primary academic neurology and aging research programs in West Tennessee. UTHSC's neurology faculty provide memory evaluations, dementia care, and geriatric medicine for Memphis and West TN patients at Regional One Health and Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. UTHSC's Center on Aging conducts research on aging and cognitive decline in Memphis's large and predominantly African American older adult population.

24/7 helpline, care navigator program, support groups in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Tri-Cities metro areas, exercise programs (Rock Steady Boxing at multiple TN locations, PWR!Moves), and caregiver resources. TN's Parkinson's care is primarily anchored by Vanderbilt's movement disorders program in Nashville, UT Medical Center's neurology in Knoxville, and UTHSC in Memphis.

Vanderbilt's Movement Disorders Program is one of the South's most recognized academic Parkinson's programs — providing comprehensive evaluations, medication management, deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, botulinum toxin injections for dystonia, and clinical trials. Vanderbilt's movement disorder neurologists have particular expertise in atypical parkinsonian syndromes (PSP, MSA, CBS) and in genetic forms of Parkinson's disease. Vanderbilt's DBS program is one of the highest-volume programs in the Southeast. Telehealth movement disorder consultations extend Vanderbilt's specialist expertise to TN's rural Appalachian and West TN communities.

APDA provides patient and caregiver support, educational programming, social worker consultations, exercise resources, and research funding. APDA Southeast connects TN Parkinson's patients to Vanderbilt, UT Medical Center, and other TN neurology programs.

Equipment loans (wheelchairs, communication devices, hospital beds, ramps), care coordination, support groups in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville metro areas, caregiver support, clinic liaison, and research advocacy. TN ALS patients are primarily served through Vanderbilt's neuromuscular disease clinic in Nashville and UT Medical Center in Knoxville.

Vanderbilt's Neuromuscular Disease Clinic provides multidisciplinary ALS care — neurology, pulmonology, physical/occupational/speech therapy, nutrition, social work, and assistive technology. Vanderbilt's ALS clinic participates in national ALS research networks and clinical trials. Vanderbilt's telehealth ALS program extends multidisciplinary care to ALS patients in TN's rural Appalachian East TN and West TN communities who cannot travel to Nashville.

Financial assistance grants to ALS patients and families for medical expenses, home modifications, equipment, and caregiving costs.

The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) is one of the nation's most distinguished NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers — earning the highest designation level. VICC has been a world leader in precision oncology and cancer genomics: Vanderbilt researcher Dr. William Stead helped pioneer EHR-linked genomic research (BioVU biobank — one of the largest DNA biobanks linked to electronic health records in the world). VICC's My Cancer Genome precision oncology resource (mycancergenome.org) — created by Vanderbilt — has become a globally used reference for oncologists worldwide for matching cancer mutations to targeted therapies. VICC is a national leader in lung, breast, colorectal, hematologic, and thyroid cancers. VICC's community outreach programs specifically target TN's rural Appalachian communities (highest tobacco use and lung cancer rates in the nation) and Tennessee's urban African American communities with elevated cancer disparities. VICC's Phase I clinical trials program is one of the nation's most active.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is one of the most extraordinary medical institutions in the world — founded in 1962 by entertainer Danny Thomas as a research hospital dedicated to finding cures for catastrophic childhood diseases, primarily childhood cancers and blood disorders. St. Jude's founding principle is that no family should ever receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food — and St. Jude has upheld this promise for 60+ years. St. Jude has dramatically increased the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% at its founding to over 80% today — its research has transformed pediatric oncology globally. St. Jude is the only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center focused solely on children. St. Jude's research programs have produced landmark discoveries in leukemia, brain tumors, sickle cell disease, retinoblastoma, and solid tumors. The Global St. Jude network — ALSAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities, St. Jude's fundraising arm) — raises over $1 billion annually. St. Jude accepts children from across TN for any pediatric cancer or catastrophic illness, and accepts referrals from any physician anywhere in the world.

UT Medical Center's Cancer Institute is the primary cancer resource for East Tennessee — the most rural, tobacco-impacted, and Appalachian region of the state. UT Medical Center participates in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) — bringing clinical trial access to East TN communities with historically high rates of tobacco-related cancers. East Tennessee has among the nation's highest rates of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and HPV-related cancers. UT Medical Center serves the Cherokee National Forest communities, rural Appalachian counties, and the Knoxville metro area.

Patient navigation, Road to Recovery transportation, Hope Lodge free lodging near VICC Nashville for cancer patients receiving treatment, 24/7 helpline, support groups statewide, Relay for Life events across TN communities, and survivorship programming. The ACS Hope Lodge in Nashville is a critical resource for TN cancer patients traveling from Appalachian East TN and rural West TN for treatment at VICC.

Financial assistance, co-pay support, patient education, clinical trial matching, and peer support for blood cancer patients. LLS Mid-South connects TN blood cancer patients to VICC's hematology and bone marrow transplant programs — one of the Southeast's most active blood cancer transplant programs.

Free directory of mesothelioma and asbestos-cancer treatment centers, specialists, and clinical trials in Tennessee; patient advocate support, VA claims assistance for veterans exposed to asbestos, and free informational guides for patients and families.

CPR and first aid training, Go Red for Women events statewide, heart disease and stroke prevention programs, and cardiovascular research funding. Tennessee has elevated cardiovascular disease rates — particularly in the Stroke Belt corridor running through West Tennessee and the rural plateau communities. Memphis has among the nation's highest rates of hypertension and heart failure, driven by poverty, food deserts, and high rates of obesity and diabetes in urban communities.

Vanderbilt's Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the Southeast's most distinguished academic cardiac programs — providing interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, structural heart disease (TAVR, MitraClip, Watchman), electrophysiology (ablation, ICD, CRT), advanced heart failure management (heart transplant, LVADs), and cardiovascular rehabilitation. Vanderbilt performs heart and lung transplants, placing it among a small number of TN centers offering these highest-acuity procedures. Vanderbilt's cardiovascular genetics program addresses inherited cardiomyopathies and channelopathies — benefiting TN's extended-family rural communities where genetic cardiac conditions sometimes run in family lines. Vanderbilt's PREDICT program (Pharmacogenomics research) has been a landmark initiative linking genetic testing to medication prescribing — including cardiovascular drugs.

Mended Hearts provides peer-to-peer hospital visits and community support for heart surgery and heart disease patients at TN's major cardiac hospitals.

MS Navigator helpline, educational programs, peer support, assistance programs (financial, equipment, transportation), wellness programming, and advocacy. TN MS patients are primarily served through Vanderbilt's MS program in Nashville, UT Medical Center in Knoxville, Erlanger/UT College of Medicine in Chattanooga, and UTHSC in Memphis.

Vanderbilt's MS Program provides comprehensive MS evaluations, infusion therapy (natalizumab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, and other DMTs), disease-modifying treatment management, and clinical trial referrals. Vanderbilt's MS neurologists have particular expertise in MS mimics, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD). Vanderbilt's telehealth MS program is one of the most developed in the Southeast for routine MS monitoring.

Diabetes education, peer support, advocacy, nutrition resources, research funding, and community health events. Tennessee has one of the nation's higher diabetes prevalence rates — concentrated in West TN's rural communities and in Memphis's urban neighborhoods. Memphis and surrounding Shelby County have among the nation's highest rates of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity — reflecting deep poverty, food deserts, and health disparities that disproportionately affect Memphis's large African American community. TN's Appalachian communities also face elevated diabetes risk associated with rural poverty and limited preventive care access.

Vanderbilt's Eskind Diabetes Clinic — named for the Eskind family's philanthropic support — is one of the Southeast's most recognized academic diabetes programs, providing comprehensive T1D and T2D management, advanced insulin pump and CGM technology, gestational diabetes care, and diabetes complications care. Vanderbilt researchers have been at the forefront of diabetes technology — including closed-loop insulin delivery systems (artificial pancreas) and diabetes mobile health interventions. Vanderbilt's pharmacogenomics research (PREDICT program) has informed personalized medication dosing for diabetes drugs. The Eskind Diabetes Clinic sees patients referred from across TN and the broader Southeast.

Type 1 diabetes advocacy, One Walk events in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, peer support, and T1D research funding. JDRF TN connects T1D families to Vanderbilt's Eskind Diabetes Clinic and to UTHSC's diabetes programs.

TN's CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention and Control program coordinates evidence-based lifestyle change programs (DPP), surveillance, and public health diabetes interventions. TN HEALTH specifically addresses diabetes disparities in Memphis and in TN's Appalachian and rural communities through FQHC partnerships and community health worker programs.

Vanderbilt's rare disease programs — including participation in the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network — provide comprehensive rare disease evaluation, genomic sequencing, genetic counseling, and access to experimental treatments for TN patients with undiagnosed or ultra-rare conditions. Vanderbilt's Institute for Genome Sciences and Society and its clinical genetics faculty have been contributors to the Undiagnosed Diseases Network's landmark work on identifying novel genetic conditions. Vanderbilt's BioVU biobank (250,000+ DNA samples linked to EHR) enables rare disease genetic research at a scale unique among academic medical centers.

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt is Tennessee's most comprehensive children's hospital — consistently ranked among the nation's top pediatric hospitals by US News & World Report. Named for Monroe Carell Jr. (Nashville businessman whose $20 million naming gift was one of the largest in Tennessee philanthropic history at that time), the hospital provides the full spectrum of pediatric specialty and subspecialty care — including pediatric oncology, rare disease, cardiac surgery, neurology, and organ transplantation. Monroe Carell's pediatric heart program performs more congenital heart surgeries than any other TN institution. Monroe Carell participates in the Children's Oncology Group (COG) — providing TN's children access to national pediatric cancer trials. Le Bonheur Children's Hospital (Memphis) serves as the pediatric specialty anchor for West TN.

CF Foundation accredited care for TN patients. Vanderbilt's adult CF program and Monroe Carell's pediatric CF program are TN's primary CF Care Centers. UT Medical Center in Knoxville and Regional One Health in Memphis also coordinate CF care.

MDA Care Center coordination, equipment loans, summer camp, and advocacy for TN individuals with muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular diseases.

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center is Tennessee's federally funded University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) — one of the nation's most distinguished I/DD research and service centers. The Kennedy Center conducts landmark research on autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, early intervention, and family support. Kennedy Center researchers have made nationally recognized contributions to autism behavioral interventions, I/DD employment, and family quality of life. The Kennedy Center's Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) is one of the Southeast's most active autism research and treatment programs. The Kennedy Center also operates TN's LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) training program — preparing TN health professionals to serve people with developmental disabilities.

NAMI Helpline, NAMI Family Support Group, NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group, Family-to-Family and Peer-to-Peer education, and advocacy. NAMI TN has been a persistent advocate for improved TN mental health funding — Tennessee has historically had one of the lowest per-capita mental health spending rates among states, leading to high rates of jailing of people with mental illness and delayed crisis care.

TDMHSAS funds community mental health centers, crisis stabilization units, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for TN, and four state Regional Mental Health Institutes (Middle TN Mental Health Institute Nashville; Western Mental Health Institute Bolivar; Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute Chattanooga; Woodridge Hospital Johnson City). TDMHSAS coordinates TN's Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for law enforcement — a program that has been nationally recognized for reducing arrests of people with mental illness in TN's large rural and small-town communities.

Vanderbilt's behavioral health programs — including inpatient psychiatric care, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs — are affiliated with Vanderbilt's academic psychiatry research programs. Vanderbilt's psychiatry faculty have conducted nationally recognized research on depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, and perinatal mental health. Vanderbilt's Perinatal Mental Health Program — serving TN mothers with postpartum depression and perinatal anxiety — has been a nationally recognized model. Nashville's rapidly growing population and its large entertainment and music industry workforce create distinctive mental health needs that Vanderbilt's academic programs address.

Centerstone is Tennessee's largest community mental health and substance use treatment organization — and one of the largest in the nation — providing outpatient therapy, psychiatry, crisis stabilization, residential treatment, peer support, and MAT at 100+ locations across all regions of TN. Founded in Nashville, Centerstone serves over 70,000 TN individuals annually. Centerstone's rural outreach programs extend behavioral health services to TN's Appalachian communities, where mental health stigma and provider shortages have historically been severe. Centerstone's military programs — serving Fort Campbell (Montgomery County) soldiers and veterans — are nationally recognized as a model for community-based military behavioral health.

TDMHSAS funds substance use treatment, opioid treatment programs (OTPs), MAT expansion, harm reduction, and recovery support statewide. Tennessee has been severely impacted by the opioid crisis — particularly in East TN's Appalachian communities (Sullivan, Hawkins, Hancock, and Scott counties have had among TN's and the nation's highest rates of opioid prescribing and overdose). TN's rural Appalachian counties have faced generational opioid addiction — starting with prescription painkiller overprescribing in the 1990s-2000s and transitioning to heroin and fentanyl. TDMHSAS coordinates TN's Alliance for Prescription Drug Safety and the TN Overdose Response Network.

Vanderbilt's Center for Addiction Science is one of the Southeast's most recognized academic addiction research and treatment programs — conducting nationally recognized research on the neurobiology of addiction, pharmacological treatments for alcohol, opioid, stimulant, and cannabis use disorders, and the genetics of addiction vulnerability. Vanderbilt researchers have made significant contributions to understanding how genetic variation influences addiction risk and treatment response — research that informs personalized addiction medicine. Vanderbilt's addiction psychiatry and addiction medicine clinical programs serve Nashville and refer complex cases statewide.

Frontier Health is one of the most important community behavioral health organizations in Northeast Tennessee's Appalachian communities — providing substance use treatment, MAT (buprenorphine/methadone), mental health therapy, crisis services, and peer recovery support. Frontier Health's service area encompasses some of TN's most opioid-devastated communities — Sullivan County (Kingsport/Bristol) and Washington County (Johnson City) have long been epicenters of Appalachian opioid crisis. Frontier Health's programs include the Bristol Crisis Center and multiple residential and intensive outpatient programs.

AA TN intergroups coordinate meetings across all 95 TN counties — from Nashville's urban neighborhoods and Memphis's historic Black community to East TN's Appalachian hollows, rural West TN farming communities, and Chattanooga's scenic Tennessee River valley. TN's deep recovery community — shaped by its evangelical Christian faith culture and the state's opioid and alcohol challenges — makes AA and faith-based recovery programs particularly robust.

TN's National Family Caregiver Support Program provides caregiver counseling, training, support groups, temporary respite, and supplemental services through the Development District AAA network statewide. Contact your regional AAA or dial TCAD (615-741-2056) to access caregiver support in any TN county.

AARP Tennessee provides caregiver resources, AARP Family Caregiving app, legal advocacy, and volunteer programs. AARP TN has been active in long-term care policy — advocating for improved nursing home staffing standards, Medicaid home care funding expansion, and older adult economic security across TN's diverse communities from rural Appalachian hollows to Nashville's rapidly gentrifying urban neighborhoods.

Alive Hospice is one of Tennessee's most respected and longest-established hospice organizations — founded in 1975 as one of the first hospice programs in the American South. Alive Hospice pioneered hospice care in Tennessee and has been a model for compassionate end-of-life care in the region. Alive provides home-based hospice, inpatient hospice care (Nashville residential facility), palliative care consultation, and grief support for families across Middle TN. Alive Hospice's volunteer program — thousands of volunteers over its history — reflects Nashville's strong tradition of community service.

TN's Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocates for residents of nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and personal care homes. Ombudsmen investigate complaints, educate residents and families about rights, and work to improve care quality. TN's growing older adult population — particularly in the rapidly aging Nashville metro and in rural Appalachian communities — makes ombudsman advocacy increasingly important.

TDVS provides free VA claims assistance through county VSOs statewide, TN state veterans benefits and hiring preference programs, and oversight of the TN Veterans Homes network (four homes in Murfreesboro, Humboldt, Clarksville, and Knoxville). Tennessee has a large and proud military heritage — Fort Campbell (Clarksville/Montgomery County) is home to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), one of the most decorated combat divisions in US military history. Tennessee is among the top states in per-capita military enlistment — its Volunteer State identity is reflected in its historically high enlistment rates. Arnold Air Force Base (Coffee County) is the nation's primary aerospace ground testing complex.

The Tennessee Valley Healthcare System serves TN's Middle and parts of West Tennessee — providing comprehensive primary care, mental health, surgery, and specialty services across two campuses. Nashville VA is affiliated with Vanderbilt University Medical Center — one of the most distinguished VA-academic partnerships in the nation, giving TN veterans access to Vanderbilt's research programs, specialist expertise, and clinical trials. Nashville VA's mental health program is particularly strong — serving the enormous veteran population from Fort Campbell (home to 40,000+ active duty soldiers). Nashville VA has been a national leader in veteran suicide prevention, PTSD treatment, and military sexual trauma (MST) programs.

The Memphis VA Medical Center serves TN's West Tennessee veterans and veterans from neighboring Arkansas and Mississippi border communities — providing comprehensive primary care, mental health, surgery, and specialty services. Memphis VA is affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). Memphis VA serves a high proportion of African American veterans — reflecting Memphis's demographics — and has programs addressing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and PTSD that are culturally tailored to Memphis's veteran population.

Fort Campbell is one of the most famous military installations in the United States — home to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), the 5th Special Forces Group, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers). Fort Campbell straddles the TN-KY border; Clarksville, TN (Montgomery County) is its primary Tennessee gateway community. Fort Campbell's Transition Assistance Program (TAP) supports separating soldiers. The MCHRA AAA (Nashville metro) specifically includes Montgomery County, recognizing the large Fort Campbell veteran population settling in Clarksville. Clarksville is TN's fifth-largest city, with a large and growing active-duty and veteran community.

DAV provides free VA claims assistance, transportation to VA appointments (DAV Voluntary Service Driver program), advocacy, and peer support for disabled TN veterans statewide.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville coordinates Jewish community services, Israel humanitarian aid, Jewish education, Holocaust education, and community events across TN. Nashville's Jewish community — estimated at 15,000-17,000 — is concentrated in West Nashville (Belle Meade, Green Hills, Brentwood) and has grown rapidly with Nashville's overall population boom. The Federation coordinates Jewish Family Service of Nashville — providing counseling, emergency assistance, and support for aging Jewish seniors, including Holocaust survivors in the Nashville area.

Jewish Community Partners operates Jewish Family Service of Nashville — providing mental health counseling, elder care assistance, emergency financial support, Holocaust survivor support, refugee assistance, and disability programs for the Nashville Jewish community and all RI residents regardless of faith. JFS Nashville's Holocaust survivor support program — providing home care coordination and financial assistance to aging TN Holocaust survivors — is a critical service as this community continues to age.

The Memphis Jewish Federation and Memphis Jewish Community Center serve Memphis's Jewish community — historically one of the larger Jewish communities in the mid-South, concentrated in East Memphis and Germantown. Memphis Jewish history is intertwined with the city's civil rights history — Memphis Jews were among the most visible supporters of the Civil Rights Movement, and several Memphis Jewish community leaders were active in civil rights advocacy alongside the African American community.

Catholic Charities of Tennessee — operating through the Diocese of Nashville and Diocese of Knoxville — is one of Tennessee's most important social service agencies. Catholic Charities TN provides refugee resettlement (one of TN's primary resettlement agencies — Nashville has received large numbers of refugees from Iraq, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bhutan, and Burma/Myanmar, making Nashville one of the nation's most significant refugee resettlement cities), immigration legal services, emergency assistance, mental health counseling, housing assistance, and senior services. Nashville's rapid population growth has brought a growing Catholic immigrant population — particularly from Latin America, Vietnam, and sub-Saharan Africa — which Catholic Charities serves. Open to all regardless of faith.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Memphis provides refugee resettlement, emergency assistance, food pantry, housing support, and immigration services for West TN communities. Memphis's Catholic community — historically concentrated in East Memphis neighborhoods and growing with Hispanic and Vietnamese immigrant arrivals — is served by the Diocese of Memphis's social service network. Open to all regardless of faith.

Lutheran Social Services of the South is one of the Southeast's largest Lutheran social service organizations — providing refugee resettlement (Nashville and Memphis are major LSSS resettlement cities), foster care, adoption, community programs, and disaster relief across TN and the broader South. LSSS is one of Nashville's primary refugee resettlement agencies — serving the Bhutanese, Somali, Burmese, Iraqi, Congolese, and other refugee communities that have made Nashville one of the most diverse immigrant cities in America. LSSS's refugee services include employment placement, English language classes, community health navigation, and cultural adjustment support. Open to all regardless of religion.

ELCA TN Synod congregations coordinate food pantry, emergency assistance, refugee welcome programs, and community social ministry across TN. Tennessee's Appalachian region has historic German and Scandinavian Lutheran heritage in some communities. ELCA TN coordinates disaster response — TN has experienced catastrophic natural disasters including the 2010 Nashville floods (one of the costliest disasters in TN history, $2 billion+ damage), 2009 Southeast TN wildfires, the 2020 Nashville Christmas Day bombing, and devastating tornadoes including the March 2020 Nashville tornado.

Emergency food, clothing, and utility assistance; disaster relief; homeless shelter; substance use rehabilitation (ARC); after-school and youth programs; and holiday programs. Salvation Army TN provides critical emergency social services in Nashville (rapidly growing homeless population), Memphis (one of the nation's most impoverished major cities), and in rural TN communities. Salvation Army TN coordinates disaster relief for TN's frequent tornadoes, flooding (2010 Nashville floods — one of the costliest non-coastal disasters in US history), and other natural disasters.

The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board operates one of TN's largest faith-based disaster relief programs — deploying disaster relief teams with mobile kitchens, chainsaw crews, and mud-out units following tornadoes, floods, and other disasters. TN Baptist Disaster Relief has responded to the 2010 Nashville floods, 2020 Nashville tornadoes, the 2021 Waverly flooding disaster (Humphreys County — one of TN's deadliest flash floods, killing 20+ people), and 2023 Madison County tornadoes. Tennessee has the nation's highest tornado frequency per square mile among states east of the Mississippi River. TN Baptist churches operate food pantries and community programs in virtually every TN county.

Tennessee's Muslim community has grown significantly — Nashville's large refugee resettlement community includes Somali, Iraqi, Sudanese, and Bosnian Muslim families. The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro became a focus of national controversy in 2010-2012 when its construction was opposed by some community members — the dispute went to federal court and established important First Amendment protections for mosque construction. TN's Muslim community organizations provide food distribution, refugee support, emergency assistance, and community integration services. The Islamic Center of Nashville coordinates social services for Nashville's diverse Muslim community from dozens of countries.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is one of the nation's most active regional food banks — distributing over 30 million pounds of food annually through 450+ partner agencies across 46 Middle TN counties. Part of the Feeding America national network. Second Harvest's mobile pantry program reaches rural Middle TN communities in Perry, Wayne, Humphreys, and other rural counties. Second Harvest responded heroically to the 2010 Nashville floods, the 2020 Nashville tornado, and the 2020 Nashville Christmas Day bombing.

The Mid-South Food Bank distributes food to hunger-relief agencies across West TN, northern Mississippi, and eastern Arkansas. Memphis and Shelby County have among the nation's highest rates of food insecurity — driven by poverty, unemployment, and the economic challenges facing one of the nation's most impoverished major cities. The Mid-South Food Bank's programs reach the rural West TN Delta communities — Haywood, Lauderdale, and Tipton counties — with some of TN's highest poverty rates.

TN 211 (dial 2-1-1) provides free 24/7 referrals to food, housing, health care, elder services, mental health, substance use, and emergency assistance across all 95 TN counties. United Way of Tennessee funds education, health, and financial stability programs statewide.

DRT is Tennessee's federally mandated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) organization — providing free legal advocacy, investigations, and systems change for Tennesseans with disabilities. DRT has been active in TN mental health facility oversight (monitoring conditions at TDMHSAS facilities), special education advocacy, Medicaid disability rights, and accessible transportation advocacy. DRT's work is particularly critical in TN's rural Appalachian communities where people with disabilities have very limited access to legal representation.

The Tennessee Disability Coalition is a statewide network of disability organizations — coordinating advocacy, policy work, and community support for Tennesseans with all types of disabilities. The Coalition has been active in TN Medicaid (TennCare) advocacy — TN has one of the nation's most managed Medicaid systems (TennCare), and ensuring adequate home- and community-based services for people with disabilities has been a persistent challenge.

TN's Centers for Independent Living provide peer support, independent living skills training, benefits counseling, personal assistant (PA) services, assistive technology, and housing advocacy. Key TN CILs: Center for Independent Living Middle Tennessee (Nashville, 615-292-5803); Independent Living Center Memphis (901-726-6404); Center for Independent Living East Tennessee (Knoxville, 865-971-8165); Progressive Independence Chattanooga (423-267-6888).

Nashville's identity as Music City creates unique health and social service dynamics. Meharry Medical College — one of the nation's four historically Black medical schools, founded in 1876 in Nashville — has been a cornerstone of African American healthcare and medical education for nearly 150 years. Meharry trains a disproportionate share of Black and underrepresented minority physicians, dentists, and public health professionals in the United States — addressing TN's physician workforce diversity. Meharry's community health programs serve Nashville's African American communities in North Nashville, historically one of the most medically underserved urban neighborhoods in the South. Meharry's research programs address health disparities in cancer, cardiovascular disease, and HIV/AIDS. Nashville's rapid growth has brought severe gentrification — displacing low-income residents, including many elderly and disabled Tennesseans, from North Nashville and East Nashville neighborhoods.

Tennessee experiences more tornado deaths than any other state east of the Mississippi River — averaging 30 tornadoes per year with catastrophic outbreaks in 2020 (March Nashville-Putnam tornado, 25 killed), 2023 (Madison County), 2024, and others. The 2021 Humphreys County flash floods killed 20 people in Waverly. The 2010 Nashville floods caused $2 billion+ in damage. Key TN disaster resources: TN Emergency Management Agency (TEMA): (615) 741-0001 | www.tn.gov/tema; TN Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD): tnvoad.org; TN Baptist Disaster Relief: (615) 373-2255; American Red Cross TN: 1-800-733-2767; Salvation Army TN Disaster Relief. TN's faith community — thousands of evangelical Protestant churches — provides the bulk of post-disaster recovery volunteering in TN's rural communities.