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which works on cross agency coordination of programs and whose work is still ongoing. Currently this committee is continuing to focus on: • Sector-specific strategies (e.g. in Information Technology (IT), energy, manufacturing, health care) including an overall methodology for identifying high priority sectors/occupations • College and career pathways • Dual credit • Work-based learning (including apprenticeships) • Data, research and evaluation • Customer relationship management The OWD also participates in the WIOA Professional Development Committee that works to strengthen the workforce system through offering wider resources to staff and providers in the field for ongoing professional development. We have a staff who is the OWD’s WIOA coordinator that attends regularly and fully participates in these sub-committee meetings. Staff who attends these meetings, represents both programs overseen by the Office of Workforce Development including the SNAP and TANF E&T programs. The Professional Development Committee regularly sends out training resources so that Workforce professionals have access to the same information even if they are operating in different programs and from different state agencies. Describe the extent to which the State agency is carrying out SNAP E&T programs in coordination with title I programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). There are 22 LWIAs statewide. Participation in the employment and training programs and services provided by LWIAs in their local service areas, qualify as work programs and meet the work requirement for ABAWDs. The State’s LWIAs connect individuals to Title I and II workforce services through offering access to education, training, and other resources, such as the American Job Centers. The SNAP E&T program attempts to take full advantage of the employment opportunities and training services available with other state and local entities. Some of this work is being coordinated by a WIOA Interagency Workgroup convened in partnership between IDHS and DCEO leadership and includes ICCB and IDES. The workgroup attempted to look at service delivery for ABAWDs statewide by all the interagency partners (DCEO, ICCB and IDES) to develop a more effective referral system to improve access to appropriate and available services to ABAWDs not only from IDHS but from any one of the partners. An initial data match suggests that there is not much cross over for ABAWDs and WIOA Title I services. This speaks to the need to improve referral opportunity and tracking. The One Stop Operator in Cook County developed a more sophisticated referral tracking mechanism which is different than the one mentioned in prior state plans. A pilot program for this improved referral tracking system was being developed and will be housed on the IL Worknet platform (similar to ISETS). The Universal Referral System will coordinate referrals for all 10 AJCs and partners across the Chicago/Cook County area. The One Stop Operator’s Career Pathways Navigators, Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES), and the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) participated in the soft launch of the Airtable Referral System. The Division of Family and Community Services didn’t participate in the soft launch, and we will see moving forward how the referral system best works for SNAP E&T. The Secretary of IDHS has designated the Associate Director of the Office of Workforce Development to sit on the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Board (LWIA for Cook). This facilitates improved coordination and communication between IDHS and local WIOA services within the single largest and densest program area in the state. For example, learning about and receiving briefings on the Airtable referral pilot mentioned above. IDHS staff are co-located at a number of American Job Centers throughout the State of Illinois to assist job seekers in applying for IDHS benefits. Additionally, where IDHS staff are not available, partners can assist customers in the navigation of the application process through ABE, IDHS’s online benefits application system. 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 8/268