The Center for Family Development

08/28/2026

Pink for Dolly.

A simple way to honor a Tennessee legend whose kindness, generosity and love for people have reached far beyond the stage.

At TCFD, we know a little kindness can travel a long way too. So today, we wore pink together in honor of Dolly Parton and the beautiful reminder to leave the world a little brighter than we found it.

From Clarksville to Hendersonville… TCFD is pretty in pink today.

08/21/2026

Sometimes walking alongside a family means getting to stand in the crowd when something worth celebrating happens.

Elizabeth, with our Relative Caregiver Program, recently had the honor of attending a JROTC promotion ceremony for a young person whose family she walks alongside.

Destiny , who is being raised by her grandmother, Rachela, was promoted to Corporal in JROTC and invited Elizabeth to be there for the moment.

And she showed up.

Because this work is about more than programs and resources. It’s about relationships. It’s navigating life alongside families and having the privilege of witnessing the milestones, growth and victories along the way.

Destiny, congratulations on this achievement. We are proud to celebrate you and grateful to Rachela for allowing TCFD to be a small part of your family’s journey.

Walking alongside families. Celebrating every step forward.

08/17/2026

Earlier this year, families connected with our Clarksville office spent time together at the Custom House Museum exploring, learning, laughing and making memories.

These moments matter.

Because strengthening families isn’t only about responding when something is wrong. It’s also about creating opportunities for parents and children to experience something new together, build connections and make memories that belong to them.

For more than 30 years, that has remained at the heart of The Center for Family Development: meeting families where they are and walking alongside them through every kind of season.

Sometimes support looks like a resource.
Sometimes it looks like encouragement.
And sometimes it looks like the smile of a child discovering something for the very first time.

That’s family development, too.

08/11/2026

From dial-up internet… to flip phones… to smartphones and social media… a lot has changed since this photo was taken.

The technology changed. The way we communicate changed. And the needs of families have changed, too.

But for more than 30 years, one thing has remained:

The Center for Family Development’s heart for families.

This newspaper clipping captures something still at the center of our work today, families, children, community partners, and relationships gathered around the same table.

Over the decades, TCFD has grown, expanded its reach, developed new programs, and adapted to meet families where they are. But growth has never meant leaving our roots behind. It has meant finding new ways to carry them forward.

Different decades.
Different challenges.
New generations.

Same heart. Same commitment. Still showing up for families across Middle Tennessee.

And after more than 30 years, we’re still imagining what the next 30 can become.
Thank you to all the families that have entrusted us to be along your journey. Please continue to share our services with others and let families know we are here for them.

08/06/2026

We’d be honored to have your support!

If The Center for Family Development has ever encouraged you, connected someone you know to resources, or inspired you through the work we do with families across Tennessee, we’d be grateful for your vote.

Every vote helps shine a light on the importance of strengthening families and building healthier communities.

Please take a moment to vote for TCFD and, if you’re willing, share this post so others can support our mission too.

Thank you for believing in the work, the families we serve, and the communities we’re privileged to walk alongside each day.

Know a company that deserves an award? Nominate and vote for your favorite local businesses in the Clarksville's Best contest here.

08/04/2026

Every community has people carrying questions they don’t know who to ask.

Where do I find food?
Who can help with housing?
Is there support for my child?
What resources are available for my family?

And sometimes, the answer isn’t having all the solutions.
It’s simply knowing where to point someone.

Imagine if every neighbor, coworker, teacher, coach, church member and friend became a community navigator, someone equipped to connect others with hope when they need it most.

That’s why we have a page dedicated to Resource Guides for communities across our region. They’re designed to be saved, shared, and used whenever someone needs a hand finding their next step.

You may not need these resources today.
But someone in your phone, on your street, or sitting beside you just might.

Visit our Resource Guides, bookmark them, and share them with others: link in comments below

Because sometimes hope begins with knowing where to look.

08/03/2026

Every statistic starts with a story.

A newborn held for the first time.
A grandparent unexpectedly raising grandchildren.
A parent searching for answers.
A family wondering where to turn next.

For more than 30 years, The Center for Family Development has had the privilege of stepping into those stories, not to take them over, but to walk alongside the people living them.

What began with a single mission to strengthen families has grown because the needs of families have grown. Every new program, every new partnership, and every new county served has been shaped by listening first and responding with compassion.

Today, TCFD proudly serves families through programs including Healthy Families, Parents as Teachers, Relative Caregivers, Rural Health Resiliency, and other community-based initiatives designed to help families thrive through every season of life. Together, these programs now serve families across multiple Tennessee communities, connecting thousands of individuals with education, resources, encouragement, and hope.

The numbers matter, but they are never the reason we do this work.

Behind every enrollment is a child.
Behind every home visit is a relationship.
Behind every referral is a family.
Behind every partnership is a community choosing to care for one another.

That has been our heartbeat for more than three decades, and it continues to guide where we’re going next.

If you’ve never been introduced to The Center for Family Development, we’d love to welcome you.

Visit www.mytcfd.org to explore our programs, discover resources, or learn how you can partner with us in strengthening families and nurturing communities across Tennessee.

Because every story deserves someone willing to walk alongside it.

07/29/2026

You never know who might need a little extra support.

Sometimes it’s an expecting parent looking for encouragement. Sometimes it’s a grandparent unexpectedly raising grandchildren. Sometimes it’s a family searching for resources, answers, or simply someone who will listen.

At The Center for Family Development, we’re here to walk alongside families through every season of life. From Healthy Families, Parents as Teachers, Relative Caregivers, and EMPOWER, our team is committed to helping children, parents, and caregivers thrive through education, connection, and compassionate support.

If you know a family who could benefit from these services, don’t keep us a secret.

Visit our website to learn more about our programs, explore available resources, and make a referral. One conversation could make a lasting difference in someone’s life.

Together, we can help build stronger families and stronger communities,one referral, one relationship, and one family at a time. Link in Comments below..👇

07/28/2026

Sometimes the people who have every reason to give up become the very ones who give others hope.

At just 11 years old, Kortez has experienced more loss than many people face in a lifetime. Within a matter of months, he lost his father, his mother, who was eight months pregnant, and the baby brother he would never get to meet. Today, he and his three-year-old sister, Karmella, are being lovingly raised by their grandmother, Sernobia McGee

Grief could have become the loudest voice in his story.

Instead, Kortez chose compassion.

He decided that if he knew what it felt like to carry heavy things, maybe he could help another child carry them a little easier.

So he created the Vaugh Foundation, a dream born from love and loss. With the support of local businesses in Tullahoma, he designed a logo, created backpacks, and filled them with school supplies for children who have experienced similar heartbreak or who, like him, are being raised by their grandparents.

Ten backpacks have already found new homes.

Ten reminders that kindness can be passed from one hurting heart to another.

Sometimes the brightest lights are not the ones that have never known darkness, they’re the ones that decide darkness won’t have the final word.

Kortez, thank you for reminding us that even the smallest hands can carry extraordinary hope. May your story continue to inspire others to turn pain into purpose and love into action. 💙

07/27/2026

This past week, our leadership team gathered to reflect on the progress happening across our programs, celebrate milestones, discuss opportunities, and continue planning for the future.

Every conversation centered around one question: How can we better serve families and strengthen the communities we call home?

We left encouraged by the impact being made, grateful for the dedicated staff leading this work, and excited for what’s ahead. The seeds being planted today will continue growing into stronger families, stronger leaders, and healthier communities across the 22 counties we serve.

Here’s to continuing the work, one family, one relationship, and one community at a time. If you or know of any families that would benefit from our services please visit our website in the comment 👇