AFDC recipients first participated in an assessment to identify barriers to employment success. After receiving counseling from their case managers, participants chose from a set of employment, remedial education, postsecondary education, vocational training, and supported work experience programs that best fit their needs and interests.
The employment-oriented services included pre-employment services such as workshops, job placement, and job development. The remedial education services included GED prep courses, English-as-a-second-language classes, adult basic education, or high school classes. The postsecondary education services included classes at community colleges or four-year colleges.
Each set of programs included pre-worksite counseling and employment preparation, up to nine months of employment and supportive services, and post-employment counseling. There were no time restrictions for service receipt, and the duration was between 7 to 24 months, depending on the services used and length of time in finding a job.
The target population was AFDC recipients who volunteered to participate in the program. ET was implemented in Massachusetts.