History, Mission and Action

TCSW was founded by a group of forward looking religious leaders, philanthropists, academicians, and concerned citizens as part of the social reform movement in the early twentieth century. The group organized as early as 1895, but in 1913 formalized as the Tennessee Conference on Charities and Corrections, part of the national reform movement by that same name with chapters in most states.

Early TN initiatives called for an end to lynching, child labor exploitation, and convict lease-for-hire practices. The first Children's Code in Tennessee, laws aimed at protecting children, was a direct result of TCSW work in the first part of the 20th century.

We are looking forward to our 100th Anniversary in just five years, and hope you'll be a part of that!

The Tennessee Conference on Social Welfare (TCSW) is a multi-issue statewide organization with six regional volunteer networks dedicated to the mission of “improving the social and economic well-being of Tennesseans.” With over 1500 individual members and 160 organizational members, TCSW works as a powerful system steward and weaver to implement best programs, policies, proficiencies and public awareness of short and long term opportunities for advancement. TCSW program services include state-level issue education with decision-makers, community connections for service learning, and regional networks to strengthen families and communities.

After 95 years, TCSW reflects an enduring, unique and effective model to improve social wellness. TCSW brings together a powerful mix of public and private nonprofit agencies, advocates, private citizens, consumers, academia, grassroots groups, policy-makers, students and individuals dedicated to people in need.

Today, TCSW is active in working with partner groups bringing together citizens and government together to address root causes of social problems in the state. Activity in 2007 and 2008 moved forward aging and disability home-based care, early intervention for at-risk children and families, systems of care for children in need of mental health services, successful passage of the first cigarette tax and reduction of state sales tax, building programs for life-skills and leadership development for our youth, advocacy around Pre-K initiatives, and much more.

In 2008 and beyond, as we build towards our 100th anniversary, TCSW is unfolding new initiatives for broad lateral and vertical statewide discussion, analysis and planning for systemic change: Together Tennessee. A key focus is to identify and implement solutions to rural and urban poverty - and to address the problems keeping Tennessee consistently at the bottom of state rankings in many measures of well-being. Your involvement in TCSW connects you to a tradition of positive change, and to a greater Tennessee future.

This initiative is is a bold one, will take time, and demands involvement from citizens, constituents, philanthropists, professionals and leaders in health and human services, education, economic development, housing, transportation, child care, businesses, law enforcement, the faith community, and so many, many more - basically a communion of Tennesseans to ensure positive change. Successful intervention, innovation and implementation are our goals.

TCSW is engaged in program development to implement more effective ways to educate and empower local citizens and members to understand the broader picture of social problems, to develop ongoing abilities and activities to analyze policy data, to target local strategies for solutions, and to build a combined bottoms-up and bottoms-down process for dialogue, recommendations, collaboration and action.

The 2008-2009 TCSW Public Policy Council is working to bring Tennesseans Together on all levels for positive plans to implement core solutions. Leaders of statewide organizations, front-line service providers, and concerned citizens are currently engaged in policy research, analysis and recommendations to be reported out in 2008.

TCSW works with a vast array of STRATEGIC PARTNERS like the TN Commission on Children and Youth, local Community Action agencies, and many other pro-active groups to coordinate advocacy for positive consituent outcomes. The TCSW Executive Director represents broad constituency concerns as an active member of groups such as The Advisory Board of Tennessee Voices for Children, the Aging and Disability Resource Centers Advisory Council of the Tennessee Department of Aging and Disability, the board of the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, the Tennessee Coalition for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Advocate Advisory Group for the Department of Human Services and many other groups working towards, and achieving, concrete solutions and removing barriers to services.