§ 9A-9 — Program Activities

The Department shall establish education, training and placement activities by rule. Not all of the same activities need be provided in each county in the State. Such activities may include the following: (a) Education (Below post secondary). In the Education (below post secondary) activity, the individual receives information, referral, counseling services and support services to increase the individual's employment potential. Participants may be referred to testing, counseling and education resources. Educational activities will include basic and remedial education; English proficiency classes; high school or its equivalency or alternative education at the secondary level; and with any educational program, structured study time to enhance successful participation. An individual's participation in an education program such as literacy, basic adult education, high school equivalency, or a remedial program shall be limited to 2 years unless the individual also is working or participating in a work activity approved by the Illinois Department as defined by rule; this requirement does not apply, however, to students enrolled in high school. (b) Job Skills Training (Vocational). Job Skills Training is designed to increase the individual's ability to obtain and maintain employment. Job Skills Training activities will include vocational skill classes designed to increase a participant's ability to obtain and maintain employment. Job Skills Training may include certificate programs. (c) Job Readiness. The job readiness activity is designed to enhance the quality of the individual's level of participation in the world of work while learning the necessary essentials to obtain and maintain employment. This activity helps individuals gain the necessary job finding skills to help them find and retain employment that will lead to economic independence. (d) Job Search. Job Search may be conducted individually or in groups. Job Search includes the provision of counseling, job seeking skills training and information dissemination. Group job search may include training in a group session. Assignment exclusively to job search cannot be in excess of 8 consecutive weeks (or its equivalent) in any period of 12 consecutive months. (e) Work Experience. Work Experience assignments may be with private employers or not-for-profit or public agencies in the State. The Illinois Department shall provide workers' compensation coverage. Participants who are not members of a 2-parent assistance unit may not be assigned more hours than their cash grant amount plus food stamps divided by the minimum wage. Private employers and not-for-profit and public agencies shall not use Work Experience participants to displace regular employees. Participants in Work Experience may perform work in the public interest (which otherwise meets the requirements of this Section) for a federal office or agency with its consent, and notwithstanding the provisions of 31 U.S.C. 1342, or any other provision of law, such agency may accept such services, but participants shall not be considered federal employees for any purpose. A participant shall be reassessed at the end of assignment to Work Experience. The participant may be reassigned to Work Experience or assigned to another activity, based on the reassessment. (f) On the Job Training. In On the Job Training, a participant is hired by a private or public employer and while engaged in productive work receives training that provides knowledge or skills essential to full and adequate performance of the job. (g) Work Supplementation. In work supplementation, the Department pays a wage subsidy to an employer who hires a participant. The cash grant which a participant would receive if not employed is diverted and the diverted cash grant is used to pay the wage subsidy. (h) Post Secondary Education. Post secondary education must be administered by an educational institution accredited under requirements of State law. (i) Self Initiated Education. Participants who are attending an institution of higher education or a vocational or technical program of their own choosing and who are in good standing, may continue to attend and receive supportive services only if the educational program is approved by the Department, and is in conformity with the participant's personal plan for achieving employment and self-sufficiency and the participant is employed part-time, as defined by the Illinois Department by rule. (j) Job Development and Placement. Department staff shall develop through contacts with public and private employers unsubsidized job openings for participants. Job interviews will be secured for clients by the marketing of participants for specific job openings. Job ready individuals may be assigned to Job Development and Placement. (k) Job Retention. The job retention component is designed to assist participants in retaining employment. Initial employment expenses and job retention services are provided. The individual's support service needs are assessed and the individual receives counseling regarding job retention skills. (l) (Blank). (l-5) Transitional Jobs. These programs provide temporary wage-paying work combined with case management and other social services designed to address employment barriers. The wage-paying work is treated as regular employment for all purposes under this Code, and the additional activities, as determined by the Transitional Jobs provider, shall be countable work activities. The program must comply with the anti-displacement provisions of this Code governing the Work Experience program. (m) Pay-after-performance Program. A parent may be required to participate in a pay-after-performance program in which the parent must work a specified number of hours to earn the grant. The program shall comply with provisions of this Code governing work experience programs. (n) Community Service. Community service includes unpaid work that the client performs in his or her community, such as for a school, church, government agency, or nonprofit organization.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15 .)