IDOL Services
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Informational
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Illinois Support, Training & Employment Program (ISTEP)
Program Profile
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Mission
Empowering displaced homemakers to achieve economic self-sufficiency and independence in a competitive workforce—through education, training and employment.
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Who Are Displaced Homemakers?
Displaced homemakers spent time taking care of their families and have lost their primary means of income due to divorce, separation, loss of a spouse, and disabled or unemployed spouse. These traumatic events leave individuals (primarily women) with little or no resources after years of taking care of their families.
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How Does the Program Work?
This statewide program distinguishes itself by emphasizing personalized counseling and professional development to assist participants in finding careers that will economically support them and their dependents over the long term. Through a friendly and hassle-free environment, individuals access life-skills development, assessment testing, career readiness workshops, mentoring programs, skills training, support services, job development and placement services.
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FY 2007 Data from 10 ISTEP Centers
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| Intake Data |
FY 2007 Demographic Data |
| Gender |
99% Women |
| Race or Ethnicity |
62% White
24% Black
7% Hispanic
3% Asian
4% Other |
| Marital Status |
53% Divorced
31% Separated
7% Widowed
6% Disabled or unemployed spouse
3% Marriage at risk |
| Average Age |
84% are between 25 and 54 years of age |
| Highest Level of Education |
94% held a GED, High School Diploma or College Credit at program entry |
| Number of Dependents to Support |
85% of participants have dependents under the age of 18 |
| Participants who Reported Domestic Violence at Intake |
65% report having been involved in a close relationship that has included physical, mental, emotional and/or verbal abuse |
Program Performance Results
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| Result |
FY 2006 |
FY 2007 |
| Number of participants who received services |
1,515 |
1,484 |
| Average hourly wage of a newly employed participant |
$9.79 |
$11.27 |
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| Result |
FY 2006 Goal |
FY 2006 Actual
(% of Goal Achieved) |
FY 2007 Goal |
FY 2007 Actual
(% of Goal Achieved) |
| Displaced homemakers who exited the program to job training |
390 |
419
(107%) |
395 |
455
(115%) |
| Displaced homemakers who exited the program to employment |
390 |
441
(113%) |
395 |
396
(100%) |
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