1. An equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TTY (815) 966-2436 WELCOME TO Workforce Investment Act Programs

2. Customer Information Sheet

3. T his Illinois workNet Center is designed to help you find and keep the job you want by providing the services you need.

4. Many of the services you receive through this center are funded under and guided by a Federal Law called the Workforce Investment Act or W.I.A.

5. In these difficult economic times, the availability of WIA funding fluctuates very rapidly, even on a daily basis. Your assigned case manager will advise you of the status of available funding. This slide presentation will provide you with additional information about alternative sources of funding and job seeker assistance available to you.

6. Due to the uncertain funding conditions, Rock River Training Corporation will only offer assistance with short term training programs at this time. Only training programs lasting 12 months or less will be considered for funding.

7. If you have recently worked and are receiving Unemployment Insurance Compensation (U.I.), or are eligible to receive U.I., or have exhausted your U.I. benefits, you may want to contact the Dislocated Workers Program, (815) 921-2200, to see if you are eligible for that program.

8. IMPORTANT! In order to become enrolled in our WIA programs, you must have an e-mail address. If you don’t have an e-mail address, visit our Resource Room for assistance. The Resource Center is located on the 3 rd floor at 303 N. Main Street, Rockford, IL E-mail is available FREE to everyone.

9. Refer to the link titled “The Workforce Connection Programs” to get a quick overview of the various programs available through this office. If you think you might fit the eligibility criteria listed for one or more programs, call the listed contact number for more information.The Workforce Connection Programs

10. All job seekers are entitled to use all the services available in the Resource Room. This includes up-to-date job information, computers, internet access, phones, fax machines, copiers, a complete audio and visual library, helpful staff, and much more – ALL AT NO CHARGE! This may be the only help that many people need to find the job they are looking for.

11. If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, this is a good time to take a good look at your real interests. Go to www.ides.illinois.gov and complete the Interest Profiler. It will tell you a lot about yourself and the type of career you should be looking into. Open, print out, and complete the “Interest Profiler Worksheet” sheet.www.ides.illinois.govInterest Profiler Worksheet This is a REQUIRED ACTIVITY that you must complete before coming to an eligibility appointment.

12. www.illinoisworknet.com will give you current information about any job-related topic you can think of. Job descriptions, videos, education requirements, future demand trends for jobs, wage scales, and more are all available there.

13. Complete a FAFSA form online (the Resource Room can help) to see if you are eligible for Pell grants or other grants or student financial aid that can help pay for your training.FAFSA NOTE: You must now have a GED or H.S. Diploma in order to receive any federal aid for training.

14. Check with schools you might like to attend to see if loans and/or scholarships are available to help you finance your education.

15. Illinois JobLink is a free Internet-based job search tool that searches for open jobs, both statewide and nationwide, by job category. With your permission, employers can also search resumes posted here to find matches for their needs, increasing your chances of finding a job.JobLink

16. In order to be eligible to participate in the RRTC Adult WIA program, you must meet certain federal low-income guidelines. If you do, you will be eligible for on-the-job training, education assistance, and many job-related support services when funds are available.

17. If you’re eligible for RRTC help, realize there is no ready-made “list” of available job or training opportunities. RRTC can: Help you find a job. Provide On-The-Job Training if appropriate. Help pay for schooling if appropriate. RRTC works with each customer personally to decide the best course of action for that individual, and then helps them reach their goal.

18. In order to determine your eligibility, we must first give you the WIA definition of “family”. A family is defined as: “Persons living together in a single residence and related by blood, marriage, or decree of court… AND are either a husband and wife; a husband, wife and dependent children; or a parent or guardian and dependent children.” A “YES” answer to any of the questions on the next slide indicates you are probably eligible for certain WIA programs.

19. In the last six months, have you been a member of a household that receives or has been approved to receive food stamps? OR Are you or any family* member currently receiving: Township Assistance S.S.I. (Supplemental Security Income) TANF (Cash Assistance) OR Do you consider yourself homeless? *Family=Persons living together in a single residence and related by blood, marriage, or decree of court, and are either a husband and wife; a husband, wife and dependent children; or a parent or guardian and dependent children.

20. If none of the conditions in the previous slide apply to you, then the members of your family* (combined) must have earned at or below the following amounts in the past six months in order for you to qualify: Family sizeMaximum Combined Gross Income 1 $ 5,585.00 2 $ 7,565.00 3 $10,135.50 4 $12,512.00 5 $14,765.00 6 $17,270.50 Add $2,505.50 for each additional family member * Family=Persons living together in a single residence and related by blood, marriage, or decree of court, and are either a husband and wife; a husband, wife and dependent children; or a parent or guardian and dependent children. If you want to print copy, this link will take you to the “RRTC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS” sheet.RRTC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

21. If you think you are eligible for one or more of the programs listed on the “programs” sheet, call the contact number for that program for more information and a personal appointment. OR If you think you are eligible and want to apply to RRTC, do the following two things BEFORE you call for an appointment:

22. 1.Prepare a quality up-to-date resume. Print out and use the Resume Worksheet to get started if you don’t already have a resume. Resume Worksheet Help with producing a resume is available free of charge in the Resource Room. 2.Gather the documentation shown on the following slide. THEN CALL (815) 847-7574 FOR AN ELIGIBILITY APPOINTMENT

23. When you complete the required tasks and come in for your eligibility appointment, be sure to bring: 1. Driver’s License or I.D. card 2. Birth certificate or Alien Registration card 3. Social Security Card 4. Proof of income for the past 6 months (Pay Stubs, etc.) from ALL family wage earners OR proof of receipt of food stamps, SSI, Township and/or TANF assistance. 5. Proof of your address/residence. 6. Selective Service Registration number (for males born Jan. 1, 1960 or later only) (You can check at www.sss.gov) www.sss.gov 7. Your completed resume. 8. Proof of GED or H.S. Diploma (for training program funding only) 9. Veterans only: Your DD214 papers. 10. Persons claiming to be homeless: Letter from temporary residence or shelter; OR see your assigned RRTC counselor at eligibility appointment. 11. All items listed on the “Interest Profiler” instruction sheet. You can make free copies of everything in the Resource Room. PLEASE make copies BEFORE your appointment time.

24. From the time you call for an eligibility appointment, allow at least 2 to 4 weeks to complete the WIA enrollment process. DO NOT START ANY PROGRAM OR CLASS UNTIL YOU HAVE WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM RRTC, UNLESS YOU INTEND TO PAY FOR IT YOURSELF!

25. IF YOU INTEND TO REQUEST WIA FUNDS TO PAY FOR ANY PROGRAM, DO NOT START THE PROGRAM OR CLASS OR PURCHASE ANY SUPPLIES UNTIL YOU HAVE WRITTEN APPROVAL FROM RRTC. Doing so will obligate you personally for the full cost of any expenditures you make. No reimbursements will be given for any expenditures made by customers prior to receiving written approval from RRTC. Funding is limited. Awarding of funds always depends on the availability of funds at the actual time of obligation, and may change quickly.

26.  Being ELIGIBLE for funding does not mean you’re ENROLLED in the program.  You are not authorized to say you are “working with RRTC” or that “RRTC will pay for my training” until you have successfully completed the enrollment process and have WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION from RRTC that you’re officially enrolled and can proceed with making arrangements for your training.

27.  Please complete and review all documents indicated in this presentation.  When you have printed out, completed, and compiled all of the required documents required for your eligibility appointment, please call (815) 847- 7574 to schedule and eligibility appointment.  Click the button below to send an email (include your name and telephone number) advising us that you have completed this online orientation and are ready to schedule an eligibility appointment. Eligibility Appointment