Page 3

Massachusetts TANF State Plan

partnership with the case manager, the FEW is responsible for connecting families to opportunities and supportive services. They serve as a resource to case managers, a liaison for employment and training program providers and a point of both contact and support to families. They work on both initial engagement with education and training options and re- engagement for families who have stopped participating in an approved activity. FEWs maintain a presence in the MassHire Career Centers and work with other community partners such as shelters to reach and engage families regardless of their circumstances.

Orientation and Assessment

All families receiving TAFDC are offered the opportunity to participate in an orientation and assessment. Case managers refer families who are either interested in participating or are required to participate to a FEW. The FEW conducts an orientation with families to introduce them to all available resources and provides an assessment that helps parents or caretakers decide on family, education or employment goals on which they are motivated to work. The FEW then connects the parent or caretaker with a program that can help them achieve that goal. The FEW will also facilitate the enrollment process with the program provider and follow up with both the family and the program in the next few weeks to make sure the program is the right fit for the family.

Pathways Plan

Every parent or caretaker who is required to participate in the work program must have a Pathways Plan. The Pathways Plan contains the parent or caretaker’s employment goal, the schedule of Employment Service Program activities they must engage in, necessary support services and the requirements they must meet to avoid sanctions.

Supportive Services

Families receiving TAFDC are offered supportive services to help them meet their goals. All families are eligible to receive domestic violence supports. Families who are participating in employment, education and training are eligible to receive fully subsidized child care and a transportation stipend. Relative caregivers are eligible to receive fully subsidized child care. In addition to these supportive services, parents and caregivers participating in the DTA Works Internship program receive mentoring.

Child Care

DTA provides referrals to families that are eligible for a child care subsidy based on their TAFDC program participation and to all relative caregivers. A child care referral is provided to all clients with an approved EDP who need child care to accept or maintain employment or to participate in an employment, education or training program. Case managers are required to inform families about the availability of child care at application and review. FEWs are required to inform families about the availability of child care whenever they are engaging with a family that does not already have subsidized child care. A child care fact sheet, CCFS-English 2016.pub (mass.gov), is provided to all families at least once a year. This fact sheet explains who is eligible for child care, how to get a child care referral, how to