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Study Name
Study of Employment Opportunities, Personalized Services, Individualized Training, and Career Planning
Study Sharepoint ID
101036.05
Evaluation name
Evaluation of Pilot Projects to Promote Work and Increase State Accountability in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Expanding Opportunities & Reducing Barriers to Work: Illinois

Subgroups

Subgroup data - Female
No
Subgroup data - Male
No
Subgroup data - White
No
Subgroup data - Black
No
Percent Young Adults
20.30
Percent female
34.60
Percent Male
65.30
Percent No high school diploma or GED
22.80
Percent With a high school diploma or GED
77.20
Percent Employed
6.70
Percent Unemployed
93.30
Percent welfare population
100.00
Percent Asian
0.70
Percent Black or African American
63.10
Percent Hispanic or Latino of any race
13.50
Percent White not Hispanic
19.10
Percent More than one race
3.10
Percent another race
0.60
Percent Adults
79.70
Percent Old Adults
2.30
Percent Postsecondary credential
15.50
Mean age
33.70
Group formation formatted
5,038 SNAP participants were enrolled in the pilot and randomized to either the EPIC group or the control group.
Study timing formatted

Three years

Study funding formatted

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Nutrition Service, Contract Number AG-3198-B-15-0002/12319818F0080

Sample Characteristics

Participants were unemployed or underemployed work registrants with low skills or limited work experience, including Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents and individuals working 30 or more hours per week but needing skill upgrades.

Implementing organization formatted

Illinois Department of Human Services partnered with the Southern Illinois University Center for Workforce Development and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which, in turn, contracted with 24 Community-Based Organizations to offer EPIC services.

Program history

EPIC was one of 10 pilot programs across the country authorized and funded by the Agricultural Act of 2014 to offer enhanced SNAP E&T services to help connect SNAP participants to employment opportunities.

Treatment condition formatted

The treatment group was eligible for enhanced services through Employment Opportunities, Personalized Services, Individualized Training, and Career Planning (EPIC), including access to career planning, substantive case management by a career navigator, basic education assistance with reading, math, and English as a Second Language, high school equivalency attainment services, occupational skills training, paid work experience, on-the-job training, subsidized work, job search and job readiness assistance, employment retention assistance, and support services.

Comparison condition formatted

The control group was eligible for existing SNAP E&T and any other employment and training services available in the community. Illinois's existing SNAP E&T program offered light case management, access to adult basic education and General Education Development (GED) services, work experience, occupational skills training where available, and limited support services.

Timing of study formatted

Average length of participation was 5 months

Program funding formatted

Federal SNAP Pilot Funding

Setting details formatted

33 counties in Illinois

Delivered by public or private entity?
Public-private partnership
Secondary domains examined

The study reports impacts on food security, health, well-being, and housing status.

Earliest publication year
2021
Most recent publication year
2022
Manuscripts
101036.05_01_Olejniczak
101036.05_02_Olejniczak
101036.05_03_Hamilton
101036.05_04_Hamilton
101036_01_Rowe
101036_02_Dotter
101036_03_Mabli
101036_04_Dotter
Check edits flag
No
Primary Service
Case management
Services Referred
Occupational or sectoral training
Services Unclear
This field is populated using a formula. Do not manually edit.
Enrollment Period
March 2016 to September 2017
Intervention Duration
5.00
Subgroup data - Hispanic
No
State & Region
Illinois