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and minor child aged 16 or 17 who is not in school participate in approved activities as part of their plan for self-sufficiency. Refer to Section VI. A. General Provisions, 9. Work and Self-sufficiency, for further discussion. Move Recipients into Jobs For most recipients, the way to self-sufficiency and economic independence is through employment. Pennsylvania’s approach provides the client with a range of services to build necessary skills and a work history. Pennsylvania will educate, train, and support TANF recipients in their family needs to help TANF recipients move from public assistance to work. Provide Work Incentives and Supports If we are to encourage employment, families must be better off if they work than if they depend on cash assistance. By allowing eligible families to receive supplemental cash assistance in addition to a paycheck, Pennsylvania’s TANF program rewards work and helps families establish a financial base that will support self-sufficiency. The TANF program also supports family efforts to work by providing allowances for work expenses, such as child care and transportation. Break the Cycle of Dependence Through Education A high school diploma is critical to both short-term and long-term prospects for independence through employment. It opens the door to meaningful, productive employment. Training in a skill or trade, on-the-job training, job-search and job- readiness preparation classes and workshops, among other activities, provide a menu of opportunity for long-term self-sufficiency. Pennsylvania’s Road to Economic Self- sufficiency through Employment and Training (RESET) program encourages people to pursue education and training that is career specific as a means of, and in addition to, meeting work requirements. Additionally, it is important to educate parents regarding the role of high-quality early learning experiences to help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Parents who work need to understand that the choices they make when placing their children in early care and education programs can influence their child’s readiness for school and later success in life. Strengthen Families and Support Children Both parents play a role in achieving self-sufficiency. The TANF program requires parents to fulfill their fundamental responsibilities to their children through a strengthened child support enforcement system. Simplify Program Administration Pennsylvania must be able to use resources productively -- to assist the client in developing and successfully implementing their own plan for self-sufficiency. As