Section 114.85  Downstate General Assistance – Food Stamps Employment and Training Pilot Project

a)         The Department shall establish an employment and training pilot project in East St. Louis Township in St. Clair County for General Assistance recipients who receive Food Stamps.

b)         The project shall maintain a maximum of 500 non-exempt and voluntary individuals at any period during the duration of the project. Individuals determined by Project Chance staff who will most benefit from the project shall be selected based on the individual's employability assessment of skills proficiencies and deficiencies, education level, work history, employment goals, interests, aptitudes, and employment preferences as well as factors affecting employability or ability to meet participation requirements (e.g., health, physical or mental limitations).

c)         Individuals participating in this project are subject to Sections 114.121 and 114.124 through 114.130 (City of Chicago General Assistance – Food Stamps Project Chance Program) with the following exceptions:

1)         Section 114.123 (Work Rehabilitative Services (WRS)) referenced in Section 114.121(e) is not applicable. The following applies:

A)        Individuals who are participating and cooperating in a rehabilitative program to assist them in overcoming drug and alcohol related barriers to employment shall be referred to existing Drug or Alcohol Abuse programs in the community when the Department determines that drug and alcohol abuse is raising a substantial barrier to the client's ability to participate in employment and training programs. (A substantial barrier in this case shall include but is not limited to skills deficiencies, education level, work history, and employment goals). However, the client may also voluntarily participate and cooperate in employment or training programs to the extent such participation does not interfere with treatment under the rehabilitation program.

B)        Individuals who are mentally incapacitated shall be referred to existing public and private social service agencies, such as the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, when the Department determines that such mental incapacity raises a substantial barrier to the client's ability to participate in employment and training programs. (A substantial barrier in the case shall include but is not limited to skills deficiencies, education level, work history, and employment goals). However, the client may also voluntarily participate and cooperate in employment and training programs to the extent such participation does not interfere with treatment under the rehabilitation program.

2)         Section 114.122 (SSI Advocacy Program) and 114.123 (Work Rehabilitative Services) referenced in Section 114.124(c)(2)(E)(v) are not applicable. Good faith effort exists when the client's job search performance indicates that he be placed into a different Project Chance component, apply for SSI, or is in need of rehabilitation services due to a mental or substance abuse disorder.

3)         The Work Rehabilitative Services (WRS) program referenced in Section 114.129(a)(11) is not applicable. Good cause for not complying with employment and training participation requirements exists when the individual fails to cooperate due to symptoms of conditions for which the client has been referred to existing rehabilitation services in the community.

4)         The Work Rehabilitative Service (WRS) component and SSI Advocacy referenced in Section 114.129(a)(15) are not applicable. Good cause exists when the individual fails to cooperate because it is determined that the client should be in a different Project Chance component, be in an existing rehabilitation program in the community, or apply for SSI.

(Source:  Added at 14 Ill. Reg. 13215, effective August 6, 1990)