Illinois LiLA Healthcare Pilot Program

As part of its state policy efforts to promote Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs), the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is working with policymakers in the state of Illinois to implement a LiLA Healthcare Pilot Program. On July 3, 2006, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into law a bill authorizing the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to establish a state-based LiLA pilot in the healthcare sector. Senator Don Harmon (D-39) and Representative Harry Osterman (D-14) were the initial sponsors of the bill, which unanimously passed in the Illinois Senate and was warmly received in the Illinois House. In addition to creating a new LiLA pilot program, the bill also provides a state match of up to $500 per participant, per year based on a fifty percent state match of aggregate LiLA contributions.

Three employers have signed up for the Illinois Healthcare demonstration: Gibson Area Hospital, in Gibson City in central Illinois, is a small, critical access community hospital with 375 employees. They are sponsoring 11 LiLA participants. Access Community Health Network, in Chicago, is Chicagoland's largest, private community health center organization, operating 50 health centers and one dental health center throughout Chicagoland and servicing nearly 210,000 patients annually. Access has agreed to sponsor 25 slots for its employees. Sinai Health Systems, in Chicago, provides full continuum medical care and social services to Chicago’s neediest communities. They have agreed to sponsor 30 slots.

CAEL is currently involved in employee outreach activities to fill sponsored slots, and is beginning advising activities to those enrolled. Participants have begun payroll deducting and saving towards their career goal obtainment.

For more information the Illinois LiLA Healthcare Pilot program,
please see www.cael.org or contact:
Amy Sherman, Associate VP of Policy & Strategic Alliances,
asherman@cael.org or 312-499-2635 or
Randall K. Johnson, LiLA State Policy Director, rjohnson@cael.org or 312.499.2656