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Massachusetts TANF State Plan

assistance under the program attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government. It is DTA’s policy and practice that all client data and information be kept strictly confidential and protected in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including but not limited to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66A: Fair Information Practices and Chapter 93H: Security Breaches. Chapter 64 of the Acts of 2017 established the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security (EOTSS); EOTSS’ mission is ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Commonwealth of Massachusetts IT data, applications and infrastructure. DTA communicates and enforces all security guidelines, standards and policies among all of its employees and contractors. (a)(1)(A)(v) Establish goals and take action to prevent and reduce the incidence of out- of-wedlock pregnancies, with special emphasis on teenage pregnancies, and establish numerical goals for reducing the illegitimacy ratio of the State (as defined in section 403(a)(2)(C)(iii)) for calendar years 1996 through 2005. Massachusetts historically has had one of the lowest teen birth rates in the country. In 1996, there were 5,758 births in Massachusetts to women between the ages of 15 through 19, representing 28.5 per 1,000 females in that age range. In 2021 the birth rate for women between the ages of 15 and 19 was 5.7 births per 1,000 women. This represents the second lowest teen birth rate in the country for 2021. In order to reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock births, DTA works with the state Department of Public Health (DPH). DPH coordinates family planning and teen pregnancy prevention efforts throughout the Commonwealth. In addition, DPH works with local schools (K-12) to develop sex and health education curricula that incorporate pregnancy prevention efforts. The Massachusetts Pregnant and Parenting Teen Initiative, administered by DPH, aims to increase life opportunities and enhance family stability among young families. Participating families receive services tailored to their individual needs, including health and social service assessments, case management, counseling, health education, referrals and infant/child services. Outcomes for this program include an increase in continuous contraceptive use, a decrease in unintended pregnancies and a reduction in reliance on public assistance. (a)(1)(A)(vi) Conduct a program designed to reach State and local law enforcement officials, the education system, and relevant counseling services, that provides education and training on the problem of statutory rape so that teenage pregnancy prevention programs may be expanded to include men. The Governor’s Council to Address Sexual and Domestic Violence (the Council) is an interdisciplinary council of approximately 30 members representing advocates, health care, the Attorney General’s Office, law enforcement, the courts and higher education as well as various state agencies. The Council works to enact best practices to combat issues