Opportunities for service providers to obtain funds to serve low-income women

Both the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) have recently announced that they are soliciting proposals from nonprofit organizations to provide employment-related services for welfare recipients and other low-income persons. In addition, $3 billion in federal funds for welfare-to-work grants is in the pipeline to the states, with $48 million coming to Illinois this fiscal year. See below for details on these three funding sources.

These are opportunities for providers of services for women on welfare and other low-income women, whether domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health, adult education, or vocational training service providers, to collaborate among themselves and with employers to design programs to allow for a more holistic, long-term approach to address better the needs of women with barriers to employment or employment advancement. Although each program has its limitations, particularly how success is measured, WomanView strongly urges service providers to submit proposals that address employment barriers and makes them an intricate part of the program, and to not simply treat them as an issue for which a referral must be made. Wendy Pollack is willing to talk with service providers about ideas for proposals that offer long-term solutions to welfare receipt and poverty.

Illinois Employment and Training Demonstration Project
A $32 million job preparation and training program to help people move from welfare to work has been launched by IDHS. The first wave of funds ($8.4 million) will target 12 inner-city Chicago neighborhoods where employment rates for welfare recipients are lowest. The remaining $24 million will be distributed statewide and to other Chicago neighborhoods.

The 12 targeted Chicago neighborhoods are those served by these IDHS local offices: Ashland, Auburn Park, Cabrini, Englewood, Kenwood, Michigan, Oakland, Park Manor, Pershing, Roseland, Western, and Woodlawn.

Project proposals must focus on preparing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients for work and must result in placement of the recipient into employment as a final outcome. Services provided must include employment and training services, support services, and case management. The services may be managed by a single service provider or a consortium of providers in specific geographic areas. Providers offering job preparation services only must link with job placement provider(s) and be able to demonstrate how the proposed job preparation activities will lead to actual job placement and retention.

The actual cost per placement will be negotiated, but IDHS expects to receive proposals with costs in the range of $750 for the most job ready individuals and $3,500 for individuals who are less than job ready.

Project proposals must be submitted to IDHS by Friday, October 17, 1997. For a copy of the Request For Proposal contact Bill Ryan at IDHS, 217-785-0480.

Job Training and Economic Development Demonstration Grant Program
DCCA has launched the Job Training and Economic Development Demonstration Grant Program. DCCA anticipates awarding 18 grants totaling $1 million commencing January 1, 1998. This program came about as a result of successful advocacy during the spring session of the General Assembly by nonprofit economic development groups and employment and training service providers.

Nonprofit community-based providers that directly provide job training services are invited to apply to one or both of the newly created training programs. Under the first program, community-based providers must establish partnerships with local employers to train low-wage and low-skilled workers who are unable to advance in their careers due to inadequate skills. The community-based provider and the employer will jointly design training curricula for these workers to eliminate skill deficiencies. The second program is designed to link the workforce needs of local industries with the job training and placement needs of unemployed disadvantaged persons, including welfare recipients. In addition, a small number of planning grants will be issued to establish new industry partnerships to expand both types of programs.

Project proposals must be submitted to DCCA by Friday, November 7, 1997. For a copy of the Request For Proposal call Carol Kulek at DCCA, 217-785-6059.

Federal Welfare-to-Work Grants
A third source of funding for services for TANF recipients and other low-income people is $48 million Illinois will soon receive in welfare-to-work grants from the federal government. This money will be funneled from the U.S Department of Labor (DOL) to local Private Industry Councils (PICs), the entities that currently administer job training programs funded under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA). In Chicago the PIC is now known as the Chicago Workforce Board.

Federal funds can be used for the conduct and administration of community service or work experience programs; job creation through public or private sector employment wage subsidies; on-the-job training; contracts with public or private providers of readiness, placement, and postemployment services; job vouchers for placement, readiness, and postemployment services; and job retention or support services if such services are not otherwise available. Welfare recipients with the most significant barriers to employment are a primary target of these federal funds.

DOL has just released a draft copy of interim planning guidance and instructions for submission of state plans for the welfare-to-work grants.

For more information contact Wendy Pollack at 312-263-3830 ext. 238.