The WIOA Youth Program is federally funded to provide a comprehensive system of training and support services for young adults 16 – 24 years of age in preparation for the workforce and citizenry. The program is dedicated to academic excellence, career preparation for youth in the workplace and community, development and support in a safe environment by caring adults, and visible and active leadership roles for participants.
Special emphasis is on youth services through federal mandates, statewide initiatives and regional services. Youth services are provided primarily through grants allocated to both private and public entities throughout the state. In-school and out-of-school youth are served, including those who have dropped out of school.
Grant awards to grantees and public agencies provide a variety of activities and services to enhance education and employment opportunities for youth taken from the Fourteen Basic Elements (below). Participants enrolled in a WIOA program may also be eligible for an Individual Training Account to pursue post-secondary training. Youth service providers may provide services using many approaches and opportunities.
Fourteen Basic Elements:
- Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and evidence based dropout prevention and recovery strategies that lead to completion of the requirements for a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including certificate of attendance or similar document for individuals with disabilities) or for a recognized post-secondary credential.
- Alternative secondary school services, or dropout recovery services
- Paid and unpaid work experience that have as a component academic and occupational education that may include
- Summer employment and other employment opportunities available year round
- Pre-apprenticeship programs
- Internships and job shadowing
- On-the-job training opportunities
- Occupational skill training (with priority for training programs that lead to post-secondary credentials aligned with in-demand industry sectors).
- Education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster
- Leadership development opportunities that may include community service and peer centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive civic and social behaviors
- Supportive services
- Adult mentoring for a total of not less than 12 months
- Follow-up services for not less than 12 months
- Comprehensive guidance and counseling
- Financial literacy education
- Entrepreneurial skills training
- Services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors (local area) , career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services
- Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to post-secondary education and training
WIOA Youth Program Activities
Youth and our WIOA Career Specialist work through engaging activities in preparation for a strong workforce and citizenry. These are the requirements for the program:
Recruit interested young people and establish eligibility
- Determine if youth is eligible to receive services under program.
- Recruit “neediest youth” populations.
- Develop effective strategies for recruiting and serving out-of-school youth.
Assess skills
- Provide an assessment of each participant including a review of the academic and occupational skill levels and match this information with appropriate services.
- Identify barriers to employment and/or education.
Develop strategies and goals
- Develop an individual service strategy (ISS) for each youth participant that includes identifying age-appropriate goals and sub-goals to meet those goals.
- Develop activities to meet needs.
- Develop internships or job shadows for youth to explore career options.
- Provide training and support services to meet career and education goals and document in the ISS.
- Provide special events and activities that focus on keeping youth in school.
- Encouraging and incentivizing youth to finish school through the Adult Basic Education (GED) or an alternative school option.
- Assisting participants in the “how to” process to successfully enter a post-secondary education or registered apprenticeships.
- Provide training and support to youth to enter employment in high wage, high growth areas such as healthcare, construction, resource development, education, information technology and tourism and hospitality.
- Provide follow-up support after exit to ensure that participants have been able to meet barriers and mediate if needed with employers.
Choose services from a menu of fourteen:
- Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and evidence based dropout prevention and recovery strategies that lead to completion of the requirements for a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including certificate of attendance or similar document for individuals with disabilities) or for a recognized postsecondary credential.
- Alternative secondary school services, or dropout recovery services
- Paid and unpaid work experience that have as a component academic and occupational education that may include
- Summer employment and other employment opportunities available year round
- Pre-apprenticeship programs
- Internships and job shadowing
- On-the-job training opportunities
- Occupational skill training (with priority for training programs that lead to postsecondary credentials aligned with in-demand industry sectors).
- Education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster
- Leadership development opportunities that may include community service and peer centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive civic and social behaviors
- Supportive services
- Adult mentoring for a total of not less than 12 months
- Follow-up services for not less than 12 months
- Comprehensive guidance and counseling
- Financial literacy education
- Entrepreneurial skills training
- Services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors (local area) , career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services
- Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to postsecondary education and training
Contact your local county office today to see how the West Tennessee Workforce Development Board – Area 11 may be able to meet your needs as a young adult.