Workforce Development
The purpose of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is to improve the opportunity for everyone on the economic ladder in the East Local Workforce Development Area (ELWDA) to contribute to the economy in the way that they are most capable. We provide workforce development activities through the American Job Center system that increases the employment, retention, and earnings of customers, while striving to increase the occupational skill attainment by customers, thereby attempting to improve the quality of the workforce, reduce public assistance dependency, and enhance the productivity, competitiveness of the area, the State, and the Nation.
Eligibility
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act provides for services to three (3) broad categories of individuals:
- Adults (18 and older) that need assistance with finding or bettering their employment situation. Any adult (employed or unemployed) can access basic career services to help them with their employment situation.
WIOA establishes a priority requirement with respect to funds allocated to a local area for adult employment and training activities. Under this section, American Job Center (AJC) staff, when using WIOA Adult funds to provide individualized career services, training services, or both, must give priority to recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient.
- Dislocated Workers that have lost a job through no fault of their own. This includes those impacted by business closures and layoffs. Additionally, family members impacted by a layoff and displaced homemakers may be served.
- Out-of-school youth must be aged 16-24, not attending any school, and meet one or more additional conditions, which could include:
School dropout; within age of compulsory attendance but has not attended for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter; holds a secondary school diploma or recognized equivalent and is low-income and is basic skills deficient or an English language learner; subject to the juvenile or adult justice system; homeless, runaway, in foster care or aged out of the foster care system, eligible for assistance under Section 477, Social Security Act, or in out-of-home placement; pregnant or parenting; an individual with a disability; low income person who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure and hold employment
- In-school youth must be aged 14-21, attending school, low income, and meet one or more additional conditions which could include:
Basic skills deficient; English language learner; an offender; homeless, runaway, in foster care or aged out of the foster care system; pregnant or parenting; an individual with a disability; person who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure and hold employment
Goals
- To assist job seekers (Adults, Dislocated Workers and Youth) in developing and implementing a plan to obtain employment. This may include formal training, job search skill development, case management, work experiences, on-the-job training and more.
- Provide Youth with the opportunity to develop job skills, have the opportunity for work experiences and other experiences to develop the social and behavioral skills required to succeed in today’s workplace. The primary focus of this goal is to afford youth work experiences, participate in other developmental and academic enrichment activities and ultimately earn scholarships for post secondary training that results in self-sufficient employment.
- The delivery of WIOA and WIOA partner services through an American Job Center system is critical to the effective delivery of services at a local level. WIOA services alone cannot meet the needs of many of our customers. It is critical WIOA services be delivered in coordination with other WIOA partner services (Adult Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, TN Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development, Dept. of Human Services and more) in a fashion that meets the customer needs.
Explanation of Services
Services are delivered through the Tennessee American Job Centers. ETHRA operates 10 American Job Centers. Additionally, many WIOA partners are also located at these job centers. Examples of WIOA services include:
- One-on-one Individual Employment Plan development with job seekers that may include activities within the Job Center and post secondary training. The primary goal of each Individual Employment Plan (Individual Service Strategy-Youth) is for the job seeker to obtain self-sufficient employment.
- Operation of resource rooms in the Job Centers that provide internet access; computer software; hard copy materials; and space for job seekers to perform job search activities such as developing cover letters and resumes, researching job opportunities, faxing and copying resumes and more.
- Facilitating of workshops to help job seekers in targeted skill areas such as Resume Preparation, Interviewing Skills, Preparing to Return to School, Financial Aid and more.
- Development and provision of onsite training at the Job Center such as keyboarding, basic word processing skills and more.
- Meet with Dislocated Workers when announcements of layoffs and business closures are made to ensure they are aware of WIOA and other services available to them.
- Assist employers with finding and keeping qualified employees by connecting them with qualified job candidates, offering on-the-job training contracts and providing other resources to the local business community.
LOCATION- 180 Eli Lane, Oneida, TN 37841
