WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT (WIA)

The following is summarized from "Workforce Investment Act of 1998" posted on the State of Connecticut Department of Labor Website (www.ctdol.state.ct.us/wia/wia.htm)

WHAT IS THE WIA?

WIA authorizes training and employment programs and services for eligible youth and adults.

The federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) supersedes the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and amends the Wagner-Peyser Act. WIA also contains the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (title II) and the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 (title IV).

The WIA was designed to "increase the employment, retention and earnings of participants, and increase occupational skill attainment by participants, and as a result, improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the Nation. Key components of this reform include streamlining services through a One-Stop service delivery system, empowering individuals through information and access to training resources through Individual Training Accounts, providing universal access to core services, increasing accountability for results, ensuring a strong role for Local Boards and the private sector in the workforce investment system, facilitating State and local flexibility, and improving youth programs." (quotes taken from http://www.doleta.gov/regs/statutes/finalrule.htm)

Key components of this reform include streamlining services through a One-Stop service delivery system, empowering individuals through information and access to training resources through Individual Training Accounts, providing universal access to core services, increasing accountability for results, ensuring a strong role for Local Boards and the private sector in the workforce investment system, facilitating State and local flexibility, and improving youth programs. This One-Stop delivery system provides a full range of services.

WIA PARTNERS IN CONNECTICUT

• Local Workforce Investment Boards
• Connecticut Department of Labor
• Connecticut Employment and Training Commission (CETC)
• Office for Workforce Competitiveness/Connecticut's Workforce Investment System
• Connecticut Department of Social Services
• Connecticut Department of Education
• Connecticut Department of Higher Education
• Community Colleges
• Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
• Job Corps

WIA PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY:

WIA Adult programs are for people ages 18+ who need help gaining employment, or who have disabilities, or are veterans, dislocated workers, displaced homeowners, or ex-offenders. Intensive employment assistance and training are provided to those with few or no skills.

WIA Youth programs are for in-school or out-of school youth ages 14 through 21 who are low income and who have at least one barrier to employment. Youth programs require year round participation and involvement in educational enrichment or literacy programs, and include a summer employment component.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:

• Search by service name: WIA Programs

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SOURCES: State of Connecticut Department of Labor website
PREPARED BY: 211/pt
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2012