Policy Chapters and Sections

Illinois workNet Universal Referral System

Chapter: 4 Section: 3
Effective Date: 7/9/2026
Expiration Date: Continuing
Published Date: 7/9/2026 3:27:52 PM
Status: Current
Version: 1

  1. Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), customers often receive services from multiple workforce, education, human services, and community-based programs. Because these programs may use different funding sources, systems, and processes, it can sometimes be difficult to coordinate services and provide a seamless customer experience.
  2. For the purposes of this policy, a referral is the process of connecting a customer to another program, agency, or organization for services or resources that support employment, education, training, or supportive service needs. Referrals help customers access the services they need and support better outcomes.
  3. In the past, referrals were tracked through emails, phone calls, spreadsheets, and other local methods, making it difficult to consistently monitor referrals, confirm receipt, verify customer contact, identify co‑enrollment opportunities, or track outcomes across partner programs. As a result, customers often had to repeat information, experienced delays in receiving services, and sometimes missed connections to programs and resources.
  4. To improve coordination and support a more customer-centered workforce system, the Illinois workNet Referral System was developed to support statewide referral management across the Illinois workforce network. The system helps partners coordinate services, track referrals and follow-up activities, improve accountability, and support more consistent service delivery among WIOA core and required partners.
  5. The Referral System may be accessed through two avenues: the Illinois workNet Universal Referral System (See the Resources tab), which allows providers connected to the Service Finder to send and receive referrals, and the IWDS 2.0 Integrated Referral System, which connects referrals directly to a customer’s Universal Career Plan.