305 ILCS 5/9A-9
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 305 - PUBLIC AID|305 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Public Aid Code.|Article IXA - Education, Training And Employment Program For Recipients Under Article IV

 (from Ch. 23, par. 9A-9)Sec. 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.   (Source: P.A. 98-718, eff. 1-1-15.)