Bill > S676

This bill establishes a "TAFDC Career Pathways Trust Fund" to help recipients of Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) pursue community college certificates or associate's degrees, aiming to break generational poverty cycles. The fund, administered by Middlesex Community College through the Massachusetts Community College Executive Office, will provide financial support for students enrolled full-time in these programs, with a portion of the funds allocated for program administration and for creating "education opportunity coordinators" within the Department of Transitional Assistance. These coordinators will assist TAFDC recipients with career planning, program selection, financial aid, and accessing other necessary supports like childcare and transportation. The bill also mandates that the Department of Transitional Assistance report annually on the program's effectiveness, including data on enrollment, graduation, and employment rates of participants, and clarifies that funds received from this program will not affect a recipient's TAFDC eligibility.