Departments of Transitional Assistance Client Interns Graduate to Full-Time Employment

DTA to Address Need for New Caseworkers with Federal Stimulus Funding

BOSTON — The Patrick Administration today announced the graduation of 25 Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) client interns from its six-month DTA Works Program. All 25 interns, who worked in regional offices across the Commonwealth, are in the process of transitioning into full-time DTA jobs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

DTA launched DTA Works in March 2008 as part of its strategy to move recipients of public assistance toward long-term economic independence. The program recruits DTA clients to work as paid interns in regional offices where they receive training, support from mentors, and help dealing with challenges, such as finding child care. The goal of the program is to help clients permanently re-enter the workforce.

“Hiring clients as interns and staff members benefits everyone,” said DTA Commissioner Julia E. Kehoe. “Clients receive valuable on-the-job training; DTA gains a better understanding of the challenges faced by our program participants; and the Commonwealth leads by example, proving recipients of public assistance can be successful in jobs with career growth potential.”

In their new jobs, the graduates will assist DTA case managers who are coping with unprecedented caseloads and demand for services, particularly in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“The DTA Works Program is a great example of how DTA is working to transition from the traditional welfare office to an office that helps individuals achieve personal and economic well-being,” said Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, Secretary of Health and Human Services. “This program is a model for the type of positive impact government can have on people’s lives.”

Interns were encouraged to apply for the program by friends and family, DTA case managers, and by supported work organizations, such as the Corporation for Public Management and Road to Responsibility. Lanora White, of Roxbury, had trouble re-entering the workforce after the birth of her three children. She learned about DTA Works from her sister, a 2008 graduating intern.

“I learned many things that have changed my life,” White said. “I learned that an individual should not give up while pursuing their dreams and goals. I learned that it is better to know how it feels to be at the other end of the table.”

Dawn Marie Forster, of Plymouth, searched for employment for six months when she was hired as a DTA Works intern. “This opportunity has showed me who I am, and I’m a different person now,” she said. “Doing your best and working hard really does pay off. The best part of this whole thing is that I’m working toward my future now.”

For DaTaChia Swain, of Dorchester, signing up for public assistance after losing her job was the lowest point in her life. The internship at DTA provided the motivation she needed. “My children see a difference in me,” she said. “In five years, I want to be able to say I was on assistance and here’s where I am now. This is the struggle I went through.”

Alicia Thomas, also of Dorchester, is a college graduate who searched for employment for nearly two years before finding the DTA Works Program. “You can’t expect other people to do things for you,” she said. “There is help for every problem. Knock on 30 doors if you have to, and never give up.”

DTA plans to continue the DTA Works Program in Fiscal Year 2010. The program reflects Governor Deval Patrick’s strong commitment to promoting self-sufficiency and economic independence for low-income families. The Department has streamlined program requirements and significantly expanded outreach for the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The United States Department of Agriculture also awarded Massachusetts high performance bonuses totaling more than $3 million in recognition of its exceptional administration of the program. In 2008, Governor Patrick also convened the state’s first Hunger Summit to identify best practices and recommendations on how to reduce hunger in Massachusetts.

About the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)

DTA’s mission is to assist low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, increase their incomes, and improve their quality of life. Located within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Department ensures that the emergency and transitional needs of the individuals and families of the Commonwealth are met through a combination of federal- and state-funded programs. Massachusetts has a comprehensive system of programs and supports to provide to individuals and families in need in order to achieve greater economic self-sufficiency.

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