The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement includes seven Non-Custodial Parent Services Units (NCPSU). These units, located in Cook, Peoria, Winnebago, Champaign, Kane, Lake and St. Clair counties, address issues facing non-custodial parents.

Participants

Non-custodial parents with children receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) who are unable to pay child support due to unemployment may utilize services provided by the NCPSU to prepare them for employment. Participants may be referred by the Court, by an Administrative Hearing Officer, or through a self-referral process. Services available for individuals that are self-referred may be limited.

Services

Each individual is given an employability assessment to determine eligibility. Once eligibility has been established, each participant is given an individualized service plan and assigned a Service Coordinator. Based upon the participant's level of eligibility, the non-custodial parent may engage in employment-related services such as Earnfare, a supervised job search, referrals to community-based organizations for employment and training (Cook County Only), or referrals to contracted Welfare to Work program providers. All participants, regardless of eligibility, receive information regarding child support and other related programs.

Non-custodial parents may be eligible for the following:

Earnfare - A six-month program of training for persons with little or no work record. Jobs are based upon individual's skill levels, interests and location. Earnfare participation is restricted to non-custodial parents who have children receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or individuals receiving food stamps, who volunteer for the program. Earnfare employers are encouraged to provide permanent employment for participants.

• Participants who receive food stamps work up to a maximum of 80 hours a month. The first $50 goes to the custodial parent as child support. After working the hours needed to cover the value of the monthly food stamps ( up to 26 hours ), workers receive $5.15 per hour for additional hours and can earn up to $244 a month.
• Participants who do not receive food stamps work up to a maximum of 57 hours a month. The first $50 goes to the custodial parent as child support. Workers then receive $5.15 per hour for additional hours and can receive up to $244 a month.

Supervised Job Search - Participants may be required to participate in a supervised job search. Job search activities are recorded in job diaries that are periodically submitted to NCPSU. Participants are also required to register with the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Community Service Referrals (Cook County Only) - NCPSU provides referrals to community-based service providers who offer pre-employment/job readiness training, education and vocational training services, job placement and post-employment services as well as other services.

Welfare to Work Program Referrals - Eligible individuals may be referred to Welfare to Work (WtW) programs for a variety of services including employment, training and other support services.

Non-Employment Related Information Services - Individuals can request information on a variety of child support issues including but not limited to paternity establishment.