Oct 6, 2025
KNOXVILLE - During his weekly update, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs focuses on the Health Department’s statewide recognition for several key programs it runs and Lumen Flats, a first-of-its-kind residential home for young people who have aged out of the foster care system.
In addition, Mayor Jacobs notes that he continues to tour the county’s high schools - this week talking with seniors at Gibbs and Central about their future.
The state recently recognized the Knox County Health Department with two prestigious Gold Bright Spot Awards, one for its work with the American Heart Association of Greater Knoxville, encouraging local food pantries to adopt nutrition policies and stocking guidelines, and the other for working with AARP on the organization’s Age-Friendly Initiatives.
These awards reflect Knox County’s ongoing commitment to building a healthier community, not only to improve individual lives but also to strengthen the area for generations to come.
Mayor Jacobs also details his tour of Lumen Flats, talking about how it helps children who are too old to stay in the foster care system.
“Tragically, once they reach the age of majority, many foster children lose much of the support the system offers,” he says. “Statistics show sobering outcomes. Up to 80 percent of these young adults will end up incarcerated or suffer from serious substance misuse issues. Lumen Flats seeks to make an impact by not only providing housing for these young people but also wrap-around services.”
Mayor Jacobs also mentions the Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability, or OHS, which recently formed a new Continuum of Care Board of Directors and released a 3-year strategic plan to strengthen the community’s homelessness response system. To learn more about these efforts, please visit knoxtnhousing.org.
