TANF Employment & Training Program - Job Placement with Retention Program Grant

Funder: Illinois Department of Human Services: Division of Family & Community Services

The TANF Employment & Training Program - Job Placement with Retention Program provides essential support for TANF clients seeking employment. Operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services, it ensures clients engage in structured work and training activities aligned with federal guidelines. The program aims to enhance participants' skills and facilitate their transition into competitive employment through various countable activities, including work experience, vocational training, and job readiness activities.

NOTE: A NOFO for this program will not be posted again until 2029.
Program Summary
TANF Job Placement with Retention providers primarily target current TANF clients. While clients are searching for unsubsidized employment. The Provider is responsible for assuring that they are engaged in work and training activities and hours that are consistent with Federal guidelines.
Program Goals, and Objectives
The TANF Job Placement with Retention Program (TANF JP) is operated by the Illinois Department of Human Services under the Office of Workforce Development, Bureau of Bureau of Employment and Training for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. Customers participate in a variety of activities that are countable in the federal work participation rate for TANF while seeking or preparing for competitive employment. Time spent in activities must be documented appropriately via IDHS system software along with case notes to assure compliance with federal regulations. Activities are highly structured, must be monitored and assist the participant in building skills to find and maintain employment. Recipients of services provided by the grantee must be engaged in the following activities as a means to develop knowledge, skills, or experience that leads to a livable wage.
These countable activities include:

• Work Experience
• Community Service aka Unpaid Internship
• Unsubsidized Employment
• Subsidized Employment
• Vocational Training
• Supervised Job Search and Job Readiness Activities
• Education Directly Related to Employment
• High School Equivalency/GED (effective 01/01/2017)

The customer will continue to participate in these activities until independent employment is obtained, or until it is determined by the Local Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) that participation is no longer an appropriate activity for the client. Communication with the Provider Manager and the FCRC is critical to ongoing case management.