Bill > H83

This bill establishes a policy for the Commonwealth to encourage low-income, disadvantaged families to achieve long-term economic success by creating a high-impact program. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will collaborate with Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD), a non-profit organization, to launch an initiative called the ABCD FamilySTEPS Program. This program, building on ABCD's existing community-based support system in Boston, will offer comprehensive services to help families gain self-sufficiency and economic independence. These services include education and skills training from early childhood through career development, employment assistance, help with basic necessities, and financial education. The DHCD will support ABCD by facilitating the use of shared technology and databases among service centers to better coordinate assistance, by promoting high-impact interventions to create significant opportunities and lasting positive behavioral changes for families, and by monitoring program standards and services to ensure client progress and facilitate the program's expansion. Eligibility for the program requires families to have young children to promote a multigenerational approach and maximize access to ABCD's educational programs like Head Start, to have used at least one ABCD service in the past year, to be at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Level (a measure of poverty used to determine eligibility for certain federal programs), and for the head of household to be willing and able to pursue educational, financial, or workforce gains and to voluntarily participate in comprehensive assessments, case management, referrals, and key ABCD programs.