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Summary

Employment Opportunities, Personalized Services, Individualized Training, and Career Planning (EPIC) provided enhanced case management support, expanded occupational skills training, and a broad array of support services to two groups of individuals receiving SNAP—unemployed or underemployed SNAP work registrants (participants who had not met any Federal exemptions from SNAP work requirements and were required to register for work) with low skills or limited work experience and those who were working but needed additional skills to increase earnings.

All EPIC participants received enhanced case management support compared to light case management services available in standard SNAP Employment and Training services. Career navigators engaged participants in setting and monitoring goal progress and provided active job search assistance after completion of training programs.

Most participating service providers required participants to complete a job readiness training course before they could complete other activities. Participants were referred either to a basic education provider or to occupational skills training depending on whether they met basic education requirements at entry. Some participants were referred to work experience, on-the-job-training, or subsidized work before, during, or after occupational skills training.

Occupational skills programs ranged from six to 20 weeks depending on the field selected and service provider. Participants who found jobs could receive up to 90 days of job retention services and continued case management. EPIC provided financial support up to $1,000 per participant, often focused on job-specific needs such as transportation assistance, affording work-related supplies (e.g., uniforms, tools), and clothing for job interviews.

The program was implemented in Illinois.

101036.05-Study of Employment
Populations and employment barriers: Public benefits recipients, Unemployed

Effectiveness rating and effect by outcome domain

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Outcome domain Term Effectiveness rating Effect in 2024 dollars and percentages Effect in standard deviations Sample size
Increase earnings Short-term Little evidence to assess support unfavorable $-365 per year -0.010 4812
Long-term Supported favorable $948 per year 0.026 4812
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase employment Short-term Little evidence to assess support favorable 1% (in percentage points) 0.022 4812
Long-term Supported favorable 2% (in percentage points) 0.056 4812
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Decrease benefit receipt Short-term Little evidence to assess support unfavorable $14 per year 0.004 4812
Long-term Supported favorable $-82 per year -0.024 4812
Very long-term Cannot assess support
Increase education and training All measurement periods Cannot assess support

Effectiveness ratings

  • Well- supported
  • Supported
  • Mixed support
  • Not supported
  • Insufficient evidence
  • Cannot assess support

Studies of this program

Study quality rating Study counts per rating
High High 1
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Implementation details

Dates covered by study

EPIC enrolled participants between March 2016 and September 2017. Study data collection ran through September 2020, with outcomes measured over a three-year follow-up period after enrollment.

Organizations implementing program

Illinois Department of Human Services; Southern Illinois University Center for Workforce Development; Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; 24 community-based organizations

Populations served

EPIC was targeted to participants who were unemployed or underemployed work registrants (participants who had not met any Federal exemptions from SNAP work requirements and were required to register for work) with low skills or limited work experience, including able-bodied adults without dependents and individuals working 30 or more hours per week but assessed by enrollment staff as needing skill upgrades to increase earnings substantially. Most participants were unemployed (93 percent). The majority of participants had a high school diploma or GED (77 percent), were male (65 percent), and were Black or African American (63 percent).

Description of services implemented

EPIC provided five main types of services:

  • Enhanced case management. EPIC career navigators at local community-based organizations provided career-focused case management services. Navigators conducted assessments, helped with goal setting and monitoring progress, and assisted with job searches after participants completed training programs.
  • Job readiness training, job search assistance, and job development services. Most providers required participants to complete a job readiness training program prior to starting other services. Services varied by provider but could include computer or financial literacy, life skills training, job readiness or search skills training, and job development services.
  • Job retention services. Participants who found employment could receive up to 90 days of job retention services and case management.
  • Basic education. Participants who did not meet basic skills requirements for occupational training were referred to providers who offered adult basic education, high school equivalency services, or language classes.
  • Occupational skills training and work-based learning. Participants who met basic skills requirements were connected to occupational skills training programs either offered directly by providers or through relationships with local community colleges and providers—including medical certifications, culinary arts, carpentry, commercial driver’s license, welding, machining, and administrative assistant skills programs. Some providers additionally connected participants to work experience, on-the-job training, or subsidized work experiences, which could occur before, in conjunction with, or after an occupational skills training program.

Service intensity

The intensity of services varied by provider and individual needs and basic skills level at entry. Occupational skills programs lasted from six to 20 weeks depending on the program and provider. Job retention services were provided to participants who obtained employment for up to 90 days.

Comparison conditions

The comparison group was eligible for existing SNAP Employment and Training services and any other employment and training services available in the community. Illinois's existing SNAP Employment and Training program offered light case management, access to adult basic education and general education development services, work experience, occupational skills training where available, and limited support services.

Partnerships

The Illinois Department of Human Services enrolled participants and had two key partners:

  • Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Oversaw the delivery of EPIC services, contracting with 24 local community-based organizations to deliver services across 33 counties.
  • Southern Illinois University Center for Workforce Development. Operated the management information system platform and trained staff on its use.

Staffing

Local community-based organizations provided EPIC career navigator staff for case management. The study did not provide specific information about the staff at the local community-based organizations who delivered EPIC services. 

Fidelity measures

The study did not discuss any tools to measure fidelity to the program model.

Funding source

The program was funded by federal SNAP Employment and Training Pilot demonstration funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The information contained here reflects how the program was implemented at the time of the evaluation.

Local context

EPIC was implemented in 33 counties across Illinois by local community-based organizations. The Illinois Department of Human Services’ headquarters is located in Chicago, IL. Southern Illinois University Center for Workforce Development is located in Chatham, IL. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is located in Springfield, IL.

Characteristics of research participants
Black or African American
63%
White, not Hispanic
19%
Asian
1%
Another race
1%
More than one race
3%
Hispanic or Latino of any race
14%

The race and ethnicity categories may sum to more than 100 percent if the authors reported race and ethnicity separately; in these cases, we report the category White, rather than White, not Hispanic.

State(s) where implemented

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Canada

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