About

​                                                                  Program Closed February 28, 2019
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​​Get Help FInding a Job and Starting a Career​​​​
What is EPIC?

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EPIC stands for: 

  • Employment Opportunities

  • Personalized Services

  • Individualized Training

  • Career Planning

Individuals selected to participate (only open to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients) will benefit from personal career development and accelerated training plans to meet each participant's needs; job skill trainings and credentials in high-demand fields; work-based learning opportunities with local employers; and ongoing team counseling that can lead to jobs.​

This Employment and Training Program will assist underemployed and unemployed SNAP recipients in five regions across the state of Illinois. This pilot program is part of a national study that includes an evaluation process to create strategies to implement with the existing SNAP education and training program.

The program was designed for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD). If you have a family you can volunteer for the program, but your household may not be receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits. 

The goal is to provide basic and technical skill training and work experience to help participants get good jobs, increase earnings and reduce reliance on public assistance.


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Are you Eligible?

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If you are a SNAP recipient, you may be eligible for this program. Not everyone interested in the program will be enrolled in it. Participation in the program will be based, in part, on a random selection process (much like drawing from a hat). But before the random assignment, there​ are a couple of steps to complete:

  1. ​ Attend a group orientation.
  2.  Participate in a Career Cluster Inventory Assessment.
  3.  Review job/training program information. 
  4.  Complete an online application. 
  5.  Meet with a case worker/manager to be randomly assigned.
Participants will be chosen at random, without consideration of any personal characteristics, such as race or gender - everyone who goes through this random selection has an equal chance of getting invited to the program. Even if you don't get selected for the program, you make a difference in the study. The results will impact how SNAP and employment services are provided in the future.

After you are assigned to participate in the program, you will work with a local organization to:

  • Select a demand occupation,

  • Complete training, and

  • Move forward with job search activities.

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Overview​​
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Click the full screen icon () for a larger view of the video below and the captions icon () to view the words spoken in the video.​


Targeted Industries

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Below are the in-demand career cluster industries in Illinois that will be the focus of the EPIC program. The career cluster availability will vary by region. Check your region on the Step 3 - Training Programs page for specific career information in your area.

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SNAP recipients can apply at these locations

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Speak to an EPIC case worker at your local office to find out more about EPIC!​​

​Region 1 Illinois Department of Human Services offices:
  • Mid-South FCRC - 1642 W. 59th St., 1st Floor, Chicago, IL 60636
  • Englewood - 5323 S. Western Ave., Chicago IL 60609
  • Western - 3910 W. Ogden, Chicago, IL 60623
  • West Suburban - 2701 W. Lake St., Melrose Park, IL 60160
  • Humbolt Park - 2753 W. North Ave., Chicago IL 60622
  • Lower North - 2650 W. Fulton, Chicago IL 60612
  • Northern - 8020 Saint Louis Ave., Skokie, IL 60076
  • Uptown - 5050 N. Broadway St., Chicago IL 60640
  • Northwest - 4105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60651
  • South Loop - 1112 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago IL 60605
  • Calumet Park - 831 W. 119th St., Chicago, IL 60643
  • Roseland - 11203 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, IL 60628
  • South Suburban - 3301 Wireton Rd., Blue Island, IL 60406
  • Southeast - 8001 S. Cottage Grove, Chicago, IL 60619
  • Woodlawn - 915 E. 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60637

 Region 3 Illinois Department of Human Services offices:
  • Peoria - 211 Fulton St., Ste. 300, Peoria, IL 61602
  • Bloomington - 501 W. Washington St., Bloomington, IL 61701

 
Region 4 Illinois Department of Human Services offices:
  • Springfield - 5020 C Industrial Drive, Springfield, IL 62703
  • Decatur - 707 E. Wood St., Decatur, IL 62523
  • Quincy - 300 Maine St., 2nd Floor, Quincy, IL 62301
  • Beardstown - 300 E. 2nd St., Beardstown, IL 62618
  • Lincoln - 1550 4th St., Lincoln, IL 62656

 
Region 5 Illinois Department of Human Services offices:
  • Benton - 1602 N. Main St., Benton, IL 62812
  • Murphysboro - 342 North St., Murphysboro, IL 62966
  • Mt. Vernon - 333 Potomac Blvd., Ste. F, Box 1607, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864
  • Marion - 1107 W. DeYoung St., Ste. 20, Marion, IL 62959
  • Chester - 870 Lehmen Dr., Chester, IL 62233
  • East St. Louis - 225 N. 9th St., E. St. Louis, IL 62201

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​Speak to an EPIC training provider to find out more about EPIC!​​

Region 1

  • A Safe Haven Foundation - 2750 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60608
  • Albany Park Community Center - 1945 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL 60640
  • Asian Human Services - 4820 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
  • Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago - 6202 S. Halstead, Chicago, IL 60654
  • CARA Chicago - 237 S. Desplaines, Chicago, IL 60661
  • Central States SER - 3948 W. 26th St., Chciacgo IL 60523
  • Community Assistance Programs (CAPs) 11715 South Halsted St. OR 8455 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago, IL 60628
  • Inspiration Corporation - 3504 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60640
  • Instituto for Latino Progress - 2520 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60640
  • Jane Addams Resource Corporation - 4432 Ravenswood Ave., Chicago IL 60640
  • National Able Network, Inc. - 567 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60661
  • North Lawndale Employment Network - 3725 W. Flournoy St., Chicago, IL 60624
  • OAI, Inc. - 208 Forest Blvd., Park Forest, IL  60466
  • Phalanx Family Services - 837 W. 119th St., Chicago, IL 60643
  • Southland Healthcare Forum - 30 E. 15th St., Ste. 405, Chicago, IL 60411

Region 3

  • Tri County Urban League - 317 S. MacArthur Highway, Peoria, IL 61505

Region 4

  • Homework Hangout - 249 S. Webster, Decatur, IL 62521
  • The Two Rivers Council Foundation - 1125 Hampshire St., Quincy, IL 62301

Region 5

  • Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House - 1200 N. 13th St., E. St. Louis, IL 62205
  • Management, Training, and Consulting Corporation (ManTraCon) - 3000 W. DeYoung St., Marion, IL 62959

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The Job Training and Economic Development SNAP E&T program builds on a small scale program for disadvantaged workers to offer comprehensive assessments and case management. The research for this pilot project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The JTED-SNAP pilot program is in seven workforce investment areas in the northern, central and southwestern parts of Illinois. Partners in this pilot project include:

  • Illinois Workforce Investment Board
  • Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
  • Illinois Community College board
  • Illinois Department of Human Services
  • Illinois workNet
  • Local Community Based Organizations

 

​Funding for research provided by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.​