WIA and Colorado’s WIA and Colorado’s Workforce CentersWorkforce Centers

March 2011March 2011

The Workforce Investment Act of The Workforce Investment Act of 19981998

WIA Programs – Adult, Dislocated Worker, WIA Programs – Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youthand Youth

Adult Education and Literacy Act Adult Education and Literacy Act AmendmentsAmendments

Wagner-Peyser Act Amendments and Wagner-Peyser Act Amendments and Other Related ActivitiesOther Related Activities

Rehabilitation Act AmendmentsRehabilitation Act AmendmentsGeneral ProvisionsGeneral Provisions

WIA Key ConceptsWIA Key Concepts

Managed at the Local Level - Local Managed at the Local Level - Local Control Control There are nine workforce regions in the state There are nine workforce regions in the state

with 11 sub-regions in the Rural Consortiumwith 11 sub-regions in the Rural ConsortiumMost workforce centers are operated by Most workforce centers are operated by

counties, but the Rural workforce centers are counties, but the Rural workforce centers are operated by the State (with two exceptions).operated by the State (with two exceptions).

Some workforce centers contract WIA Some workforce centers contract WIA services to community based organizationsservices to community based organizations

WIA Key Concepts (cont.)WIA Key Concepts (cont.)

Local Workforce Investment BoardsLocal Workforce Investment Boards Each workforce region must have a board with Each workforce region must have a board with

majority business membership and representatives of majority business membership and representatives of education, economic development, labor and education, economic development, labor and community agenciescommunity agencies

Boards provide oversight of the programs and set the Boards provide oversight of the programs and set the strategic direction for the workforce regionstrategic direction for the workforce region

Boards must develop partner agreements with other Boards must develop partner agreements with other providers of workforce services such as Adult Ed, Voc providers of workforce services such as Adult Ed, Voc Rehab, TANF Work Programs, Title V Older Workers, Rehab, TANF Work Programs, Title V Older Workers, UI, Carl Perkins/Community Colleges, HUD E&T, UI, Carl Perkins/Community Colleges, HUD E&T, Community Service Block Grant E&T programs.Community Service Block Grant E&T programs.

WIA Key Concepts (cont.)WIA Key Concepts (cont.) One-Stop Centers (workforce centers)One-Stop Centers (workforce centers)

At least one full-service center must be operated in At least one full-service center must be operated in each region that offers most employment and each region that offers most employment and training services in one physical location training services in one physical location

Collocated programs most frequently include WIA, Collocated programs most frequently include WIA, Wagner-Peyser, TAA, VETS, TANF, Employment Wagner-Peyser, TAA, VETS, TANF, Employment First, and othersFirst, and others

Centers must provide 24/7 access to all customers Centers must provide 24/7 access to all customers through on-line self-service options:through on-line self-service options:www.ConnectingColorado.comwww.ConnectingColorado.com

Centers must provide access to disabled and limited Centers must provide access to disabled and limited English proficiency customersEnglish proficiency customers

One-Stop Center ServicesOne-Stop Center Services

Core Services (for all job seekers)Core Services (for all job seekers)Access to computers, copiers, and phones for self-Access to computers, copiers, and phones for self-

directed job search (resource centers)directed job search (resource centers)Job matching and job referralsJob matching and job referralsLabor market informationLabor market informationWork search and work readiness workshopsWork search and work readiness workshopsOne-on-one job search assistance, assessment, One-on-one job search assistance, assessment,

and career guidance servicesand career guidance servicesReferrals to intensive and training services in the Referrals to intensive and training services in the

one-stop and partner agenciesone-stop and partner agencies

One-Stop Center Services (cont.)One-Stop Center Services (cont.)

Business Services (for all employers)Business Services (for all employers)Recruitment and screening of qualified job Recruitment and screening of qualified job

candidatescandidatesLabor market informationLabor market informationJob fairs and hiring eventsJob fairs and hiring eventsBusiness roundtables and workshopsBusiness roundtables and workshopsPaid and unpaid work experiences/internshipsPaid and unpaid work experiences/internshipsOn-the-Job training or customized training On-the-Job training or customized training

contractscontractsParticipation in SECTORS training grantsParticipation in SECTORS training grants

One-Stop Center Services (cont.)One-Stop Center Services (cont.)

Intensive Services (usually offered to those Intensive Services (usually offered to those eligible for and enrolled in programs or grants)eligible for and enrolled in programs or grants) In-depth assessmentIn-depth assessment Counseling and case managementCounseling and case management Individual employment plansIndividual employment plans Supportive services such as gas vouchers, bus Supportive services such as gas vouchers, bus

passes, day care, work clothing and toolspasses, day care, work clothing and tools In-depth pre-vocational workshops such as Adult In-depth pre-vocational workshops such as Adult

Basic Education, ESL, and GED preparationBasic Education, ESL, and GED preparation Special services such as tutoring, work experiences, Special services such as tutoring, work experiences,

etc. etc.

One-Stop Center Services (cont.)One-Stop Center Services (cont.)

Training Services (must be eligible for and Training Services (must be eligible for and enrolled in a program or grant)enrolled in a program or grant) Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) for Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) for

classroom trainingclassroom trainingOn-the-Job TrainingOn-the-Job TrainingEntrepreneurial TrainingEntrepreneurial TrainingCustomized TrainingCustomized TrainingAccess to discretionary grants that offer Access to discretionary grants that offer

training, such as SECTORS grantstraining, such as SECTORS grants

WIA Adult Program (AD)WIA Adult Program (AD)

Eligibility:Eligibility: 18 or older, citizen or authorized to work 18 or older, citizen or authorized to work

in the US, Selective Service registration in the US, Selective Service registration (males 18-25) (males 18-25)

Veterans Priority of Service appliesVeterans Priority of Service applies In need of services and can benefit from In need of services and can benefit from

the programthe program Not an entitlement program Not an entitlement program

WIA Adult Program (AD) WIA Adult Program (AD) Requirements:Requirements:

When funds are limited, regions may invoke When funds are limited, regions may invoke priority of service for low income and other priority of service for low income and other groupsgroups

Sequential delivery of core, intensive, and Sequential delivery of core, intensive, and training servicestraining services

Individual Training Accounts or other training Individual Training Accounts or other training optionsoptions

12 months of post program follow-up for those 12 months of post program follow-up for those entering employmententering employment

Performance outcomes based on entered Performance outcomes based on entered employment, employment retention, and employment, employment retention, and average wage average wage

WIA Dislocated Worker Program WIA Dislocated Worker Program (DW)(DW)

Eligibility: Eligibility: 18 or older, citizen or authorized to work 18 or older, citizen or authorized to work

in the US, Selective Service registration in the US, Selective Service registration (males 18-25) (males 18-25)

Veterans Priority of Service appliesVeterans Priority of Service applies In need of services and can benefit from In need of services and can benefit from

the programthe program Not an entitlement program; ANDNot an entitlement program; AND

WIA Dislocated Worker Program WIA Dislocated Worker Program (DW)(DW)

Eligibility (one of the following)Eligibility (one of the following)Layoff, UI eligible, & unlikely to return to Layoff, UI eligible, & unlikely to return to

previous industry or occupation; previous industry or occupation; ororSubstantial layoff or business closure; Substantial layoff or business closure; ororLoss of self-employment due to economic Loss of self-employment due to economic

downturn or natural disaster; downturn or natural disaster; ororDisplaced homemaker; Displaced homemaker; ororUI ProfiledUI Profiled

WIA Dislocated Worker Program WIA Dislocated Worker Program (DW)(DW)

Requirements:Requirements: Sequential delivery of core, intensive, and Sequential delivery of core, intensive, and

training servicestraining services Individual Training Accounts or other training Individual Training Accounts or other training

optionsoptions 12 months of post program follow-up for those 12 months of post program follow-up for those

entering employmententering employment Performance outcomes based on entered Performance outcomes based on entered

employment, employment retention, and employment, employment retention, and average wage average wage

WIA Youth Program (YT)WIA Youth Program (YT)EligibilityEligibility

Ages 14 through 21Ages 14 through 21Citizen or authorized to work in the USCitizen or authorized to work in the USSelective Service registration (males 18-Selective Service registration (males 18-

25 years of age)25 years of age) In need of services and can benefit from In need of services and can benefit from

the program/not an entitlement programthe program/not an entitlement programVeterans Priority of Service appliesVeterans Priority of Service applies to those to those

18 and older; 18 and older; ANDAND

WIA Youth Program (YT)WIA Youth Program (YT)Eligibility (cont.)Eligibility (cont.)

Low Income Low Income ANDAND One or more of the following:One or more of the following:

Deficient in basic literacy skillsDeficient in basic literacy skills School dropoutSchool dropout Homeless, runaway, or foster childHomeless, runaway, or foster child Pregnant or parentingPregnant or parenting OffenderOffender Requires additional assistance to complete education Requires additional assistance to complete education

or hold employment (locally defined)or hold employment (locally defined)

WIA Youth Program (YT)WIA Youth Program (YT)Eligibility (cont.)Eligibility (cont.)

5% Low Income Exemption if the client meets one or more of the 5% Low Income Exemption if the client meets one or more of the following:following: School dropoutSchool dropout Basic skills deficientBasic skills deficient Educational attainment 1 or more grades below grade level Educational attainment 1 or more grades below grade level

appropriate to ageappropriate to age Pregnant or parentingPregnant or parenting Disabled including learning disabilitiesDisabled including learning disabilities Homeless or runawayHomeless or runaway OffendersOffenders Facing serious barriers to employment (locally defined)Facing serious barriers to employment (locally defined)

WIA Youth Program (YT)WIA Youth Program (YT)RequirementsRequirements

Case managers must provide:Case managers must provide:Objective assessmentObjective assessmentDevelopment of individual service strategy Development of individual service strategy

(ISS)(ISS)Preparation for post secondary and/or Preparation for post secondary and/or

employment opportunitiesemployment opportunitiesLinks to academic and occupational learning Links to academic and occupational learning

opportunitiesopportunities

WIA Youth Program (YT)WIA Youth Program (YT)Requirements (cont.)Requirements (cont.)

Program operators must Program operators must procureprocure (or make (or make available) the following youth program elements:available) the following youth program elements: TutoringTutoring Alternative secondary school opportunitiesAlternative secondary school opportunities Paid and unpaid work experiencesPaid and unpaid work experiences Summer employment opportunitiesSummer employment opportunities Leadership developmentLeadership development Occupational skills trainingOccupational skills training Supportive ServicesSupportive Services Adult MentoringAdult Mentoring 12 months of post program follow-up12 months of post program follow-up Comprehensive guidance and counselingComprehensive guidance and counseling

WIA Youth Program (YT)WIA Youth Program (YT)Requirements (cont.)Requirements (cont.)

30% of more of local WIA Youth funds 30% of more of local WIA Youth funds must be spent on services to out-of-school must be spent on services to out-of-school youthyouth

Performance outcomes based on:Performance outcomes based on:Literacy/Numeracy GainsLiteracy/Numeracy GainsPlacement Rate (into employment, military or Placement Rate (into employment, military or

post secondary school)post secondary school)Attainment of a Degree or CertificateAttainment of a Degree or Certificate

WIA WIA DiscretionaryDiscretionary Grants Grants Can be awarded from state level funds or Can be awarded from state level funds or

USDOL national funds (such as the Career USDOL national funds (such as the Career Pathways through Education and Employment Pathways through Education and Employment grant that funds your initiative). grant that funds your initiative).

EligibilityEligibility Age, citizen or authorized to work in the US, Selective Age, citizen or authorized to work in the US, Selective

Service registration (males 18-25 years of age)Service registration (males 18-25 years of age) Veterans Priority of Service appliesVeterans Priority of Service applies Additional eligibility factors defined by the grant or Additional eligibility factors defined by the grant or

source of fundssource of funds Program elements and performance outcomes Program elements and performance outcomes

defined by grant requirementsdefined by grant requirements

How is WIA Funded?How is WIA Funded?

Congress appropriates new funds each Congress appropriates new funds each year that are formula-allocated to states by year that are formula-allocated to states by the US Department of Laborthe US Department of Labor

The WIA program year is July 1 through The WIA program year is July 1 through June 30June 30

Funds are used for 3 years at the state Funds are used for 3 years at the state level, but only 2 years at the local levellevel, but only 2 years at the local level

States keep some of the money, but most States keep some of the money, but most funds are formula-allocated to regionsfunds are formula-allocated to regions

Statewide WIA ActivitiesStatewide WIA ActivitiesAdministered by CDLEAdministered by CDLE

Layoff Assistance Program Layoff Assistance Program Discretionary grants awarded to workforce Discretionary grants awarded to workforce

regions and contractorsregions and contractors Program monitoring and fiscal auditing functions Program monitoring and fiscal auditing functions Statewide customer database, program and Statewide customer database, program and

financial reporting systems, and eligible training financial reporting systems, and eligible training provider listprovider list

Staff that administer special grants from the US Staff that administer special grants from the US Department of Labor and partner agenciesDepartment of Labor and partner agencies

Complying with the LawComplying with the Law States must implement a system of monitoring States must implement a system of monitoring

that insures compliance with all fiscal, that insures compliance with all fiscal, administrative, and programmatic requirements administrative, and programmatic requirements of:of: WIA – the law and regulationsWIA – the law and regulations Federal policies (TEGLs)Federal policies (TEGLs) OMB Circulars and regulationsOMB Circulars and regulations State policies (PGLs)State policies (PGLs) Local policies approved by local boardsLocal policies approved by local boards Other laws such as those related to employment, non-Other laws such as those related to employment, non-

discrimination, etc.discrimination, etc. Grant specific requirements Grant specific requirements

What do we know?What do we know?

WIA involves the implementation of a statewide WIA involves the implementation of a statewide system of one-stop centers offering access to system of one-stop centers offering access to multiple employment and training programsmultiple employment and training programs

WIA requires working with many partners, and it WIA requires working with many partners, and it has a complex set of eligibility, program, fiscal, has a complex set of eligibility, program, fiscal, and administrative requirementsand administrative requirements

There is much to learn in order to successfully There is much to learn in order to successfully implement WIA programs and grantsimplement WIA programs and grants

What additional learning resources What additional learning resources are available?are available?

www.doleta.govwww.doleta.gov (laws, regulations, TEGLs – (laws, regulations, TEGLs – USDOL policies, and more)USDOL policies, and more)

www.workforce3one.orgwww.workforce3one.org (WIA best practices, (WIA best practices, webinars, and more)webinars, and more)

www.colorado.gov/CDLE/PGLwww.colorado.gov/CDLE/PGL (state policies) (state policies) www.e-colorado.orgwww.e-colorado.org (portal to access a wide (portal to access a wide

variety of employment and training resources)variety of employment and training resources) Workforce Development Programs subject Workforce Development Programs subject

matter experts (Angel Moreno)matter experts (Angel Moreno)

Thank YouThank You

Nina HollandNina HollandManager Policy and Technical AssistanceManager Policy and Technical Assistance

CDLECDLE(303) 318-8806(303) 318-8806

nina.holland@state.co.usnina.holland@state.co.us