Degree Completion Initiative: Helping Parents Complete School

The Degree Completion Initiative (DCI) helps parents complete the final year of instruction at a two or four-year school.

Note: When DCI is not at capacity, DCI is open to parents who require up to 24 months to complete their degree.

A parent in DCI can get Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits. They can also get other benefits such as help with child care and transportation costs. DHS will not pay for tuition, fees, books or other school-related supplies through JOBS Support Services. DCI is a component of the JOBS Program

You can apply for DCI if you are a parent who:

• Is applying for or getting Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and
• Is completing or planning to complete a two or four-year degree within 12 months or less. Note: When DCI is not at capacity, DCI is open to parents who require up to 24 months to complete their degree.
• Can show DHS as part of the DCI application that finishing your education will improve your ability to support your family without TANF.

A DCI participant must go to a school that is:

• Approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) for those schools located in the accrediting region of the NWCCU or by the regional equivalent of the NWCCU for any school outside NWCCU's accrediting region and is
• A four-year university or a community college

A DCI participant must make satisfactory progress in school, as defined by the school, towards a degree.

Parents who are participating in DCI must report attendance to DHS attendance every other week.

Applying for the program

Download a DCI application and more information about DCI requirements and how to apply ( PDF format, Word format) or talk to your DHS Self-Sufficiency worker.

Also see: Student Child Care Program

The Department of Human Services (DHS) will not discriminate against anyone. This means DHS will help all who qualify. DHS will not deny help to anyone based on age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs or disability. You can file a complaint if you think DHS discriminated against you because of any of these reasons. Equal Opportunity is the Law.