Established in 1965, DCEA, Inc. is a Community Action Agency serving 30 counties in Tennessee and 2 counties in Kentucky. The purpose of the Agency is to help families living in poverty improve their lives by providing them with assistance and services that they are not able to provide for themselves. The focus of the Agency is to help people help themselves.
At Douglas-Cherokee, we envision a future without poverty in which individuals and families from all walks of life prosper in thriving, safe, and healthy communities. Our mission is to provide resources, tools, and opportunities that help low-income families and individuals of all ages achieve personal, economic and social stability.
Douglas-Cherokee delivers social services to residents across 24 counties in Tennessee and 2 in Kentucky. We provide services and programs which include a wide range of individual contracts funded through federal, state, and local resources. Our experienced and dedicated employees work in cooperation with local, state, and national resources to provide services in a timely manner and cost-effective basis to those in need.
DCEA helps provide support and early childhood care through Head Start and Early Head Start, elderly assistance through Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels, and Affordable Housing. Educational support and advisement provided to school-age students through 21st Century Learning Centers, Lottery for Education Programs, SRAE, and Trio programs including, Educational Opportunity Centers, Talent Search, and Upward Bound. Families and individuals are also assisted with energy assistance, nutritional services, and other social services.
2024 Services Directory 2022/2023 Annual Report Community Needs Assessment
*Notice of Intent to Submit Grant Applications
*DCEA would like to publicly announce our intent to apply for FY25 21st CCLC grant.
Please contact Tonya Purkey with any questions at (423) 581-5420
