Massachusetts Welfare Agency Plans To Lay Off 220 Social Workers

OPEN MINDS, The Behavioral Health & Social Service Industry Analyst Industry News Faced with budget cuts, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance announced in January 2002 that it will lay off 220 social workers. The 220 positions are to be cut immediately and represent about 17 percent of the caseworkers statewide. This comes at a time when the agency's caseload is increasing because of a worsening economy. The number of families receiving Temporary Aid to Families With Dependent Children has jumped by nearly 4,000 in the last five months, according to the agency. With the shortage of social . . .