WIA and Colorado’s Workforce Centers

1. WIA and Colorado’s Workforce Centers March 2011

2. The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 • WIA Programs – Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth • Adult Education and Literacy Act Amendments • Wagner-Peyser Act Amendments and Other Related Activities • Rehabilitation Act Amendments • General Provisions

3. WIA Key Concepts • Managed at the Local Level - Local Control • There are nine workforce regions in the state with 11 sub-regions in the Rural Consortium • Most workforce centers are operated by counties, but the Rural workforce centers are operated by the State (with two exceptions). • Some workforce centers contract WIA services to community based organizations

5. WIA Key Concepts (cont.) • Local Workforce Investment Boards • Each workforce region must have a board with majority business membership and representatives of education, economic development, labor and community agencies • Boards provide oversight of the programs and set the strategic direction for the workforce region • Boards must develop partner agreements with other providers of workforce services such as Adult Ed, Voc Rehab, TANF Work Programs, Title V Older Workers, UI, Carl Perkins/Community Colleges, HUD E&T, Community Service Block Grant E&T programs.

6. WIA Key Concepts (cont.) • One-Stop Centers (workforce centers) • At least one full-service center must be operated in each region that offers most employment and training services in one physical location • Collocated programs most frequently include WIA, Wagner-Peyser, TAA, VETS, TANF, Employment First, and others • Centers must provide 24/7 access to all customers through on-line self-service options: www.ConnectingColorado.com • Centers must provide access to disabled and limited English proficiency customers

7. One-Stop Center Services • Core Services (for all job seekers) • Access to computers, copiers, and phones for self-directed job search (resource centers) • Job matching and job referrals • Labor market information • Work search and work readiness workshops • One-on-one job search assistance, assessment, and career guidance services • Referrals to intensive and training services in the one-stop and partner agencies

8. One-Stop Center Services (cont.) • Business Services (for all employers) • Recruitment and screening of qualified job candidates • Labor market information • Job fairs and hiring events • Business roundtables and workshops • Paid and unpaid work experiences/internships • On-the-Job training or customized training contracts • Participation in SECTORS training grants

9. One-Stop Center Services (cont.) • Intensive Services (usually offered to those eligible for and enrolled in programs or grants) • In-depth assessment • Counseling and case management • Individual employment plans • Supportive services such as gas vouchers, bus passes, day care, work clothing and tools • In-depth pre-vocational workshops such as Adult Basic Education, ESL, and GED preparation • Special services such as tutoring, work experiences, etc.

10. One-Stop Center Services (cont.) • Training Services (must be eligible for and enrolled in a program or grant) • Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) for classroom training • On-the-Job Training • Entrepreneurial Training • Customized Training • Access to discretionary grants that offer training, such as SECTORS grants

11. WIA Adult Program (AD) Eligibility: • 18 or older, citizen or authorized to work in the US, Selective Service registration (males 18-25) • Veterans Priority of Service applies • In need of services and can benefit from the program • Not an entitlement program

12. WIA Adult Program (AD) Requirements: • When funds are limited, regions may invoke priority of service for low income and other groups • Sequential delivery of core, intensive, and training services • Individual Training Accounts or other training options • 12 months of post program follow-up for those entering employment • Performance outcomes based on entered employment, employment retention, and average wage

13. WIA Dislocated Worker Program (DW) Eligibility: • 18 or older, citizen or authorized to work in the US, Selective Service registration (males 18-25) • Veterans Priority of Service applies • In need of services and can benefit from the program • Not an entitlement program; AND

14. WIA Dislocated Worker Program (DW) Eligibility (one of the following) • Layoff, UI eligible, & unlikely to return to previous industry or occupation; or • Substantial layoff or business closure; or • Loss of self-employment due to economic downturn or natural disaster; or • Displaced homemaker; or • UI Profiled

15. WIA Dislocated Worker Program (DW) Requirements: • Sequential delivery of core, intensive, and training services • Individual Training Accounts or other training options • 12 months of post program follow-up for those entering employment • Performance outcomes based on entered employment, employment retention, and average wage

16. WIA Youth Program (YT)Eligibility • Ages 14 through 21 • Citizen or authorized to work in the US • Selective Service registration (males 18-25 years of age) • In need of services and can benefit from the program/not an entitlement program • Veterans Priority of Service applies to those 18 and older; AND

17. WIA Youth Program (YT)Eligibility (cont.) • Low Income AND • One or more of the following: • Deficient in basic literacy skills • School dropout • Homeless, runaway, or foster child • Pregnant or parenting • Offender • Requires additional assistance to complete education or hold employment (locally defined)

18. WIA Youth Program (YT)Eligibility (cont.) • 5% Low Income Exemption if the client meets one or more of the following: • School dropout • Basic skills deficient • Educational attainment 1 or more grades below grade level appropriate to age • Pregnant or parenting • Disabled including learning disabilities • Homeless or runaway • Offenders • Facing serious barriers to employment (locally defined)

19. WIA Youth Program (YT)Requirements Case managers must provide: • Objective assessment • Development of individual service strategy (ISS) • Preparation for post secondary and/or employment opportunities • Links to academic and occupational learning opportunities

20. WIA Youth Program (YT)Requirements (cont.) • Program operators must procure (or make available) the following youth program elements: • Tutoring • Alternative secondary school opportunities • Paid and unpaid work experiences • Summer employment opportunities • Leadership development • Occupational skills training • Supportive Services • Adult Mentoring • 12 months of post program follow-up • Comprehensive guidance and counseling

21. WIA Youth Program (YT)Requirements (cont.) • 30% of more of local WIA Youth funds must be spent on services to out-of-school youth • Performance outcomes based on: • Literacy/Numeracy Gains • Placement Rate (into employment, military or post secondary school) • Attainment of a Degree or Certificate

22. WIA Discretionary Grants • Can be awarded from state level funds or USDOL national funds (such as the Career Pathways through Education and Employment grant that funds your initiative). • Eligibility • Age, citizen or authorized to work in the US, Selective Service registration (males 18-25 years of age) • Veterans Priority of Service applies • Additional eligibility factors defined by the grant or source of funds • Program elements and performance outcomes defined by grant requirements

23. How is WIA Funded? • Congress appropriates new funds each year that are formula-allocated to states by the US Department of Labor • The WIA program year is July 1 through June 30 • Funds are used for 3 years at the state level, but only 2 years at the local level • States keep some of the money, but most funds are formula-allocated to regions

24. Statewide WIA ActivitiesAdministered by CDLE • Layoff Assistance Program • Discretionary grants awarded to workforce regions and contractors • Program monitoring and fiscal auditing functions • Statewide customer database, program and financial reporting systems, and eligible training provider list • Staff that administer special grants from the US Department of Labor and partner agencies

25. Complying with the Law • States must implement a system of monitoring that insures compliance with all fiscal, administrative, and programmatic requirements of: • WIA – the law and regulations • Federal policies (TEGLs) • OMB Circulars and regulations • State policies (PGLs) • Local policies approved by local boards • Other laws such as those related to employment, non-discrimination, etc. • Grant specific requirements

26. What do we know? • WIA involves the implementation of a statewide system of one-stop centers offering access to multiple employment and training programs • WIA requires working with many partners, and it has a complex set of eligibility, program, fiscal, and administrative requirements • There is much to learn in order to successfully implement WIA programs and grants

27. What additional learning resources are available? • www.doleta.gov (laws, regulations, TEGLs – USDOL policies, and more) • www.workforce3one.org (WIA best practices, webinars, and more) • www.colorado.gov/CDLE/PGL (state policies) • www.e-colorado.org (portal to access a wide variety of employment and training resources) • Workforce Development Programs subject matter experts (Angel Moreno)

28. Thank You Nina Holland Manager Policy and Technical Assistance CDLE (303) 318-8806 nina.holland@state.co.us