Employment Ready
Employment Ready - is an intensive service that helps "job ready" clients find work and includes but is not limited to the following activities: Job Search Skills Development, Job Matching and Job Development, Job Placement and Job Placement Follow-up. Employment services providers deliver or contract for these services throughout the commonwealth.
Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants (ORI)
Through an Interagency Service Agreement (ISA) with the Massachusetts Office of Refugees and Immigrants (ORI), comprehensive Employment Ready services are provided to eligible Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) clients:
The ORI Employment Ready Program provides assessment, employment ready and job placement services to non-English and non-Spanish speaking former refugees and/or immigrants currently receiving TAFDC. Services are provided in the client's primary language. This ESP program makes it possible for DTA to serve populations who have a wide range of cultural and linguistic barriers to employment. This program also offers support services.
The ORI Employment Ready Program helps TAFDC clients with job search and job readiness activities. Activities include:
- Comprehensive Assessment: including work history, life experience, interests, avocations and skills.
- Job Search: includes finding and developing job leads, telephone skills, interview techniques and preparedness, resume writing, employer expectations and job retention.
- Workshops and job fairs: available through Career Centers, providing clients with the Division of Career Services (DCS) jobs database to locate employers. ORI will also provide Job Placement follow-up by providing support services once a client has found employment.
Career Centers
Career Centers are designed to help job seekers through a self-directed program find a job, or get information about training opportunities. Each Career Center has free resources to help job seekers apply for jobs (via telephones, faxes, computers and copiers), and can help with job search. In addition, Career Center staff will provide job seekers with information about training opportunities, including financial assistance for the cost of vocational education or training programs for those who qualify, and assist job seekers with the application process. Career Centers are located in most major cities in Massachusetts. To locate the closest Career Center, please contact the Division of Career Services (DCS) at 617-626-5300.
Employment Training and Education
Community College/Skills Training Program
The Community College Program, is a certificate and non-certificate short term program (4-16 weeks in duration) offered through an Interdepartmental Service Agreement (ISA) between DTA and the Massachusetts Community Colleges Executive Office. The program serves eligible TAFDC clients integrating academic and occupational learning including employment training and education, job search and job placement activities. Support services are also offered in this program.
Workforce Investment Areas (WIA) Employment Training and Education Program
The WIAs either provide direct services or subcontract with a variety of community-based agencies, schools, and other non-profit organizations to provide employment training and education services and job placement services to DTA clients. Employment training and education services are predominantly short-term with a job placement outcome. Some programs also integrate basic education services. WIA services include English for Employment (EFE) and support services.
General Educational Development (GED) Testing
ESP provides GED examinations through agreements with testing centers certified by the Department of Education. The GED Diploma is critical for ESP clients who have dropped out of school but wish to secure a level of academic certification to enhance their employability. This service is available to all eligible TAFDC clients.
Employment Supports
The Employment Supports Program is specifically designed to serve TAFDC clients with considerable barriers to employment. Clients are placed in highly supportive work sites where they earn wages and receive a reduced TAFDC grant. At the end of the program, they are placed in unsubsidized jobs. The program components included Employment Supports Services; Employment Supports Work; job placement, Employment Retention Services and follow-up services.
Enhanced Employment Supports Program
This activity gives clients the opportunity to meet with a qualified Enhanced Employment Supports provider who offers a program of employment services, which will enhance clients' self-sufficiency by identifying significant barriers to employment and planning and offering appropriate solutions to those barriers. As part of the program, clients receive an individualized direct service delivery approach to help them become self sufficient. These services are provided through assessment, training and education, job placement, initial employment services and/or Benefits Planning Assistance Outreach (BPAO).
Young Parents Program (YPP)
The Young Parents Program is designed to serve pregnant and/or parenting TAFDC clients between the ages of 14 and 21 who do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Services include assessment, Adult Basic Education, high school/GED education, life and parenting skills, counseling, prevocational activities, job development, job placement, and follow-up services. The primary goals of the program are to increase the educational attainment level of participants to help them obtain a high school diploma or GED; and to assist young parents in securing employment through vocational education and training.
Community Service
Community Service organizations provide on-site work experience to clients with a work requirement who are not meeting their work program requirement in an approved ESP activity, or working. Participation is based on the person's work program requirement hours per week, is subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and may supplement an approved ESP activity or employment (e.g. 10 hours community service and 10 hours work).This information is provided by the Department of Transitional Assistance.