The Lake County Health and Community Services Committee voted July 29 to approve a memorandum of understanding and cost-sharing agreement between the Workforce Development Board and the Job Center of Lake County, formalizing partner roles and dividing facility operating costs. The committee also heard an annual report from Director Jennifer Serino on job-center operations, outreach kiosks and the summer youth employment program.

Under the agreement, the Job Center lists 14 partners, including the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Illinois Department of Human Services, vocational rehabilitation, adult basic education, community action agencies, youth programs and housing authorities. Serino said the facility operating cost is $228,000 and partners share that cost based on occupancy; she said the workforce department’s occupancy share results in about $51,000 returned to support operations.

Why it matters: the MOU and cost sharing clarify partner responsibilities and funding for the Job Center — the county’s main hub for employer and job-seeker services. Serino said the Job Center and partner network touch thousands of residents through on-site services, kiosks and mobile outreach.

Key points from the annual report: Serino told the committee the job center served about 21,000 individuals last year (a figure that includes phone inquiries, walk-ins and outreach contacts). The county operates eight kiosks placed at locations such as the Illinois Department of Human Services, several township offices and public libraries; the kiosks allow residents to apply for services, view partner resources and see Lake County employer job postings. “We get about a 100 applications a month for our services,” Serino said.

Outreach: Serino described 10 Job Center on the Move locations that bring staff into communities in townships, shelters and libraries. Upcoming events highlighted by staff include job fairs (the next on Aug. 12 at Round Lake Area Park District sports center) and employer trainings on EEOC and tax-credit opportunities in August.

Summer youth program: Serino said the summer program placed 172 students at 30 worksites across county departments, municipalities, park districts, libraries and nonprofit organizations. The program received over 1,000 applications; students worked roughly 20 hours per week for six to seven weeks at $15 per hour. Serino said 150 students signed up for the Lake County Digital Growth Initiative; half have completed the four-hour digital literacy workshop and received laptops so far.

Committee discussion: members asked about kiosk functionality and outreach to residents who cannot travel to the Waukegan job center. Serino said kiosks and mobile sites allow residents to access services without coming to the main center. Several members urged increased newsletter coordination to publicize job fairs, events and workshops to residents.

Formal action: the committee approved the Job Center memorandum of understanding, cost-sharing agreement and authorization to file the signed MOU with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.