IL Service Categories

does not include a youth’s general attendance in high school, but rather to services designed to help a youth complete high school diploma or obtain a General Equivalency Degree (GED) or High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED). Such services include the following: 

• Academic counseling;
• Preparation for a GED/HSED, including assistance in applying for or studying for a GED exam or HSED courses;
• Tutoring and/or help with homework;
• Study skills and/or literacy training; and
• Help accessing educational resources. 

includes the following types of training and practice: 

• Living within a budget;
• Opening and using a checking and savings account;
• Balancing a checkbook;
• Developing consumer awareness and smart shopping skills;
• Accessing information about credit, loans and taxes; and
• Filling out tax forms. 

Focuses on developing a youth’s ability to find, apply for, and retain appropriate employment. Career preparation includes the following types of instruction and support services: 

• Vocational and career assessment, including career exploration and planning, guidance in setting and assessing vocational and career interests and skills, and help in matching interests and abilities with vocational goals;
• Job seeking and job placement support, including identifying potential employers, writing resumes, completing job applications, developing interview skills, job shadowing, receiving job referrals, using career resource libraries, understanding employee benefits coverage, and securing work permits;
• Retention support, including job coaching;
• Learning how to work for employers and with other employees;
• Understanding workplace values such as timeliness and appearance; and
• Understanding authority and customer relationships. 
   

Designed to build a youth’s skills for a specific trade, vocation, or career through classes or on-site training. 

• Employment programs include a youth’s participation in an apprenticeship, internship, or summer employment program and do not include summer or after-school jobs secured by the youth alone.
• Vocational training includes a youth’s participation in vocational or trade programs and the receipt of training in occupational classes for such skills as cosmetology, auto mechanics, building trades, nursing, computer science, and other current or emerging employment sectors. 
   

Services include education and information about:

• Safe and stable families;
• Healthy marriages and relationships;
• Spousal communication; and
• Parenting, including responsible fatherhood, childcare skills, teen parenting
• Domestic and family violence prevention courses and supports; and
• Referrals to community services 
   

A payment that is paid for or provided by the State or contracted agency for education or training to support postsecondary costs, including:

• Allowances to purchase textbooks, uniforms, computers, and other educational supplies;
• Tuition assistance;
• Scholarships; and
• Payment for educational preparation and support services (i.e., tutoring)

Includes any other payments made or provided by the State agency to help the youth live independently. For example:

• Support services;
• Household items;
• Basic need items;
• Phone services;
• Transportation;
• Work items; and
• Consumables 
   

A payment that is paid for or provided by the State agency or contracted agency for room and board, such as:

• Security deposits;
• Monthly rent; and
• Utilities
   

Does not include youth’s receipt of direct medical care or treatment. Includes providing information, supports, referrals, and resources, related to: 

• Physical wellness: hygiene, nutrition, fitness and exercise, and first aid;
• Healthcare providers: behavioral, medical, and dental care benefits, health care resources and insurance, prenatal care and maintaining personal medical records; 
  Sexual wellness: sex education, abstinence education, and HIV prevention, including education and information about sexual development and sexuality, pregnancy prevention and family planning, and sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS; and
• Substance abuse: substance abuse prevention and intervention, including education and information about the effects and consequences of substance use (alcohol, drugs, tobacco) and substance avoidance and intervention

Includes assistance or training related to housing stability, including:

• Housing education: locating and maintaining housing, including filling out a rental application and acquiring a lease; handling security deposits and utilities, understanding practices for keeping a healthy and safe home, understanding tenants’ rights and responsibilities, and handling landlord complaints.
• Home management: skill development related to food preparation, laundry, housekeeping, living cooperatively, meal planning, grocery shopping and basic maintenance and repairs. 
   

While youth often are connected to adult supporters through school, work, or family, this service category only includes a mentor relationship that has been facilitated, paid for, or provided by the State agency or contracted agency. For example, matching a youth with a screened and trained adult for a one-on-one relationship that involves the two meeting on a regular basis. It can be short-term, but it may also support the development of a long-term relationship.

Services designed to help a youth enter or complete a postsecondary education, including: 

• Classes to prepare for tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) standardized tests;
• Counseling about college;
• Information about financial aid and scholarships;
• Assistance with standardized test fees and/or postsecondary application fees, if not waived;
• Help completing financial aid, scholarship, and/or loan applications; and
• Receiving tutoring while in college.