Human Services Caseworker Core Curriculum

The Institute for Legal and Policy Studies, Center for State Policy and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Springfield, entered into a partnership with the Division of Community Operations, Bureau of Staff Development, Training and Support at the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), in March, 2001. The purpose of this partnership was to develop the framework and internal structures for the delivery of a 2 hour (8 week) online, credit bearing, college course. This effort has developed into a series of courses called, Moving Families to Self-Sufficiency.  The course Food Stamp Expert Certification Program, is entering it's third year at the university and has served approximately 250 IDHS employees.  The instruction is organized into the following lessons:

Additionally, a re-certification course is offered to students who have already attained the Food Stamp Expert certification.  The re-certification course is a two-week course and does not offer college credit.  The courses are taught by adjunct faculty approved by the college of Public Affairs and Administration as a Public Affairs Colloquia. New courses being offered in 2004 are the Food Stamp Core Curriculum which is a  four-week basic entry level curriculum currently offered to new employees and Food Stamp Accuracy is a two-week course being offered to select employees. 

Technology support for the online courses is provided by the Office of Technology and Enhanced Learning at the University of Illinois at Springfield.