Workforce Partners

Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. (BEST, Inc.) provides workforce development services to adults, youth, and dislocated workers at the comprehensive one-stop center with full-time employees who will offer the career services to customers. These services include comprehensive assessments, career planning, work readiness training, internships, work experience, other work based activities and classroom training reimbursements. BEST, Inc. also delivers business services such as on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, customized and essential skills training along with recruitment assistance, job fair hosting, job posting and meeting space to meet the need of the businesses.  BEST, Inc. is a non-profit agency that administers federal-funded programs.
Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) provides employment service and outreach through use of a labor exchange program designed to sustain economic growth by expanding employment opportunities to qualified job seekers while meeting employer needs. The program’s objectives aim to reduce  the loss of individuals’ unemployment. Eligible workers who become unemployed and meet all requirements set forth in the UI Act may receive benefits for the maximum number of weeks payable under the law or until the worker finds employment or becomes otherwise ineligible. Services available onsite.
The Unemployment Insurance program, administered by IDES, is designated to contribute to the state’s overall economic stability by partially protecting eligible workers against loss of income during periods of unemployment. The program ensures that, if you meet the eligibility requirements of the law, you will have some income while you are looking for a job, up to a maximum of 26 full weeks in a one-year period, depending on when the claim was established. Unemployment insurance, however, cannot and does not protect you against wage losses while you are absent from work due to illness or while you are idle by choice. Services available onsite.
IDES provides veterans with priority of service over all other job applicants, actively promotes and develops employment opportunities, and provides placement and vocational guidance services. It also provides staff-assisted services including job development, career guidance, and referral to training and supportive services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and administers Trade Readjustment Allowances, a benefit under the TAA program, Trade Readjustment Allowance provides income support to persons who have exhausted unemployment compensation and whose jobs were affected by foreign imports. These services are available onsite.

As a One Stop partner, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) is committed to providing world class customer service to individuals accessing the One Stop Center. The agency will provide an on-site counselor at least one day per week for approximately five hours to work with customers with disabilities access appropriate services. In addition to meeting with his current customers for regular appointments at the center to give them exposure to all services, he will be available to meet with walk ins to discuss DRS and serve as a referral source for other community agencies appropriate for individuals with disabilities. We will be able to take referrals for the vocational rehabilitation program, complete an initial interview or forward the referral to the appropriate office. Additionally, DRS will be involved in cross training with partner agencies in hopes of better overall knowledge of various programs.

Adult Education will provide cross-training on Adult Education services for One-Stop staff. To meet the “on-demand access to required career services” at the One-Stop, Adult Education will administer a needs assessment with ADA accommodations, if necessary, through:

  • The Adult Education web site (Spanish/English)
  • Phone calls (Spanish/English)
  • Email (Spanish/English)

Needs assessment follow-up will include:

  • Intake and orientation for adult education classes
  • Employment and education transition services
  • ADA services
  • Individual career and academic counseling
  • College placement testing

Adult Education will also provide supportive services such as constitution testing, online learning, academic referrals, and assistance with HSE testing accommodations as well as coordination with other social service agencies to avoid duplication of services.

IDHS—Illinois Department of Human Services
Address 1560 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350
www.dhs.state.il.us
• TANF Cash
• SNAP Food-stamps
• Health Insurance Benefits
• Medicaid

Tri-County Opportunities Council
www.tcochelps.org
• Homeless (Prevention)
• LIHEAP -Energy Assistance (lights, heating)
• CSBG Programs- Child Care payment support, Health Services;
Scholarship: Short Term Certification program; (others listed on
website
• Early Head Start and Head Start
• Weatherization

National Able Network
888-315-8558
SCSEP—Senior Community Services Employment Program
www.napca.org

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA)
872-270-0871
www.napca.org

SVCC Adult Education
Phone: (815) 835-6310
https://www.svcc.edu/community/adult-education/index.html
•         High School Equivalency certificate preparation classes
•         GED Testing
•         English as a Second Language/Citizenship classes
•         Bridge/ICAPS transition programs
•         Adult Literacy (Project Vital)

Northwestern Illinois Community Action Agency
www.nicaa.org
(815) 232-3141
• Golden Meals Program – Congregate and home-delivered meals
• Homeless (Prevention)
• LIHEAP -Energy Assistance (lights, heating)
• CSBG Programs- Child Care payment support, Health Services;
Scholarship: Short Term Certification program; (others listed on
website
• Early Head Start and Head Start
• Weatherization

Tri-County Opportunities Council
www.tcochelps.org

815-625-7830   
• Homeless (Prevention)
• LIHEAP -Energy Assistance (lights, heating)
• CSBG Programs- Child Care payment support, Health Services; Scholarship: Short Term Certification program; (others listed on website  
• Early Head Start and Head Start
• Weatherization

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
www.napca.org
812-270-0871
• Senior Community Service Employment Program
• Employment/Training for 55 and over (income eligible)