Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 118 § 1
The following words and phrases as used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:--
"Dependent child", a needy child who has been deprived of parental support or care by reason of the death, continued absence from the home, physical or mental incapacity or the unemployment of a parent, and who is living with his father, mother or other parent in a place of residence maintained by one or more of such relatives as his or their own home and who is under the age of eighteen or who is eighteen and a full-time student in a secondary school or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training and who may reasonably be expected to complete such program before reaching age nineteen.
"Parent", shall include, in addition to the father and mother of the dependent child, the following:-- stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister; any blood relative, including those of the half blood, except cousins who are more distantly related than first cousins; adoptive relative of equal propinquity to the foregoing; and spouses of any such persons.
"Aid to families with dependent children", money payments with respect to families with a dependent child or children.
"Department", the department of transitional assistance.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 118, § 1