Hi, my name is Amy Kershaw, Commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, or DTA.
DTA assists and empowers low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, improve their quality of life, and achieve long term economic self-sufficiency.
DTA provides residents of the Commonwealth with direct economic assistance, cash benefits, and food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, as well as workforce training opportunities.
At DTA, we are committed to full inclusion of clients of all abilities. We know that everyone’s family is different and has different goals. Through our Pathways to Work program, DTA offers many education, employment and training opportunities and we will work with you to pick the best program to meet your goals.
Through this program you can connect with career pathways and access important resources to support work, such as child care and transportation. In addition, each DTA office has at least one Client Assistant Coordinator, or CAC, that can work with you to provide accommodations that will help you maintain your DTA benefits while pursuing your employment goals.
In partnership with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, also known as MRC, we have created Empowering to Employ or ETE. ETE connects people receiving DTA benefits with additional supports provided by MRC’s vocational rehabilitation specialists in order to obtain competitive employment in a field that best matches your skills and interests. Through ETE, you can receive vocational supports, workforce development and supportive services needed to increase skills and find meaningful employment. This program is available to clients serviced by our Brockton, Quincy, Lawrence, North Shore and Fitchburg DTA offices.
We as an agency are committed to assisting the Commonwealth create a truly inclusive workforce by offering our clients with disabilities individualized services to meet their goals for creating a meaningful career path in a field YOU choose.
To learn more about Empowering to Employ and our other employment services available, visit Mass.gov/dta or call our Assistance Line. Thank you.
