Press Release  DTA Opens Bids for Organizations to Participate in the Young Parents Program

STATEWIDE — The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is seeking proposals from community organizations interested in participating as vendors in the Young Parents Program (YPP).

"DTA is committed to empowering parents and providing them with the resources, education, and support they need to achieve long-term economic mobility and break the cycle of poverty,” said DTA Assistant Commissioner of Policy and Programs Erin Quinn. “Through the Young Parents Program, we are offering a pathway to success for parents, ensuring they have the tools to advocate for themselves, build strong support networks, and create a brighter future for their children and families." 

DTA is procuring this program for the first time since 2018 and is continuing its practice begun at that time of paying for client outcomes . YPP is one of DTA’s Pathways to Work programs that serves young parents, ages 14 through 24, who are either receiving Transitional Aid for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) benefits or who are the non-custodial parent of a child receiving TAFDC.

• The procurement can be found on COMMBUYS - Bid Solicitation
• Bids opened on April 2, 2025
• Bids close on May 6, 2025

The primary goal of YPP is to:

• Empower parents to pursue a path to economic mobility through education and training pathways and job readiness;
• Actively engage parents to establish support networks that allow parents to successfully access and maintain benefits and develop the skills necessary to advocate and care for their children so that they are safe, healthy, and thriving; and
• Foster a sense of hope and agency by working with families to disrupt cycles of multigenerational poverty and exposure to trauma.

Through the program, participants will access resources to develop sustainable skills and increase engagement in their communities.

YPP is designed to serve young parents who are:

• Interested in obtaining a high school diploma or equivalency,
• High school graduates (HiSET/GED) or those interested in post-secondary education or training, or

• Current high school students seeking support for parenting, post-secondary education, or training.

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DTA serves one in six residents of Massachusetts – about 1.1 million people. They support vulnerable families in every single community across the Commonwealth, helping low-income families and individuals transition from poverty to a better life. Nearly one third of SNAP recipients are children, 28% have a disability, and about one quarter are older adults. DTA disseminates $2.7 billion in federal dollars every year. Every dollar of SNAP generates $1.54 in economic activity when spent across Massachusetts’ 5,500 retailers.

YPP is governed by 101 CMR 425.00, and providers are compensated for enrollments and outcomes, with rates established through Chapter 257. 

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