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ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS State agencies are required to include information on the organizational relationship between the units responsible for certification and the units operating the E&T components, including units of the statewide workforce development system, if available. For the purposes of the questions below, E&T providers are considered to include units of the statewide workforce development system. FNS is specifically interested in ensuring that the lines of communication are efficient and that, if applicable, noncompliance with mandatory E&T is reported to the certification unit within 10 working days after the noncompliance occurs, per 7 CFR 273.7(c)(4). State agencies must also include information on the relationship between the State agency and other organizations it plans to coordinate with for the provision of services. The following questions are about how the E&T program is structured in your State agency. Indicate which division within the SNAP State agency is responsible for the E&T program. (i.e. establishes E&T policy, contracts for E&T services, monitors providers). For example, explain if the E&T program unit is separate from the SNAP certification unit, and if there are separate E&T units at the county level. The SNAP E&T Program is state administered through the Office of Workforce Development within the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), Division of Family and Community Services (DFCS). Services are delivered through several stakeholder partnerships primarily with Community Based Organizations (CBO), Local Government Units (LGU) and non-profit organizations and DFCS’s own Workforce Development unit. Contracts with community-based providers to deploy the program are developed by the Bureau of Employment and Training. Provider managers are tasked with assisting provide in executing program functions through TA and they perform annual program monitorings. E&T policy is predominantly set by the Office of Workforce Development, processes and procedures are decided by the Bureau Chief and the Associate Director. How does the E&T unit coordinate and communicate on an ongoing basis with the units responsible for certification policy? The E&T staff communicate with certification policy staff via regular meetings. These meetings are held at least quarterly. These meetings give both units the opportunity to discuss how policies, processes and procedures are working from both sides. Describe the State's relationships and communication with intermediaries or E&T providers. The E&T staff communicate with intermediaries or E&T providers via regular meetings. These meetings are held at least monthly. These meetings give both units the opportunity to discuss how policies, processes and procedures are working from both sides. Describe how the State agency shares new policies, procedures, or other information with the intermediary or other E&T provider. The Providers are given a program manual at the beginning of the contract year. Changes are sent to the providers and they are informed by their provider managers/grant manager. Major changes would also be communicated at quarterly meetings held with the full group of providers or a subset of providers by program if the information is not relevant to all SNAP E&T providers. 1/28/26, 11:56 AM State Plan IL FY26 - Original Submission https://dam-fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/microsite/snapet-ilfy26stateplan//index.html 14/268