Introduction
The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) offers a comprehensive range of workforce development activities through statewide and local organizations. The purpose of these activities is to promote an increase in the employment, job retention, earnings, and occupational skills of program participants.

Title I of the Workforce Investment Act authorizes services for youth, adults, and dislocated workers.

Eligible youth must be 14 to 21 years of age, low income, and meet at least one of six specific barriers to employment. A year-round youth program emphasizes attainment of basic skills competencies, enhances opportunities for academic and occupational training, and provides exposure to the job market and employment. Activities may include instruction leading to completion of secondary school, tutoring, internships, job shadowing, work experience, adult mentoring, and comprehensive guidance and counseling. The program emphasizes services for out-of-school youth.

When I started this program (Transitions Program—Youth), I had just been incarcerated, I was failing high school and I was about to become a father. Now, I am taking care of my problems. I have a better relationship with my child and my family, I have a job, I am enrolled in the technical college working toward a diploma in Industrial Mechanics and I have my own apartment. The Transitions program has been helpful, but more than the program, it is the people that I have worked with that have made the difference.

Tyson W.
Green Bay, WI

Eligible adults must be age 18 or older. While eligible dislocated workers are generally individuals who have been terminated from their last employment and are unlikely to return to their previous industry or occupation, displaced homemakers and self-employed individuals also may qualify for these services. In Wisconsin, adult and dislocated worker services are provided through locally based One-Stop Job Centers. Comprehensive One-Stop Job Centers provide access to a full range of services pertaining to employment, training and education, employer assistance, and guidance for obtaining other assistance. While WIA requires One-Stop Job Centers to provide specific services, local areas may design programs and provide services that reflect the unique needs of their area.

Wisconsin’s One-Stop Job Centers use varied strategies in providing appropriate services to meet the needs of their customers:

  • Core Services are available and include, in part, labor market information, initial assessment of skill levels, and job search and placement assistance.
  • Intensive Services are available to eligible unemployed individuals who have completed at least one core service, but have not been able to obtain employment, or employed individuals needing additional services to obtain or keep employment that will lead to personal self-sufficiency.
  • Training Services are available to eligible individuals who have met the requirements for intensive services and have not been able to obtain or keep employment. Individual Training Accounts are established to finance training based upon the individual’s choice of selected training programs.

Forward Service Corporation is an active partner agency in the North Central and Bay Workforce Development Areas as part of the local One-Stop Job Center system. We receive funding from these local Workforce Development Boards to provide a variety of WIA services.

Program Accomplishments (2003—Present):

  • Adults enrolled—500
  • Youth enrolled—760
  • Average wage at placement $13.85/hour

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