Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

The criteria to solicit competitive proposals (per WIOA Section 123(a)) for the operation of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I, Public Law 113-128 youth purposes and activities, will ensure that Youth Programs are competitively procured and solicited for comprehensive year-round Youth Programs for out-of-school youth between the ages 16-24, and in-school youth between the ages of 14 and 21. Local Areas’ youth program design must offer a unique opportunity to provide a creative and innovative mix of services designed to address the academic, vocational, and employment needs of at-risk youth.

Targeted activities include:

1. Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and evidence-based dropout prevention and recovery strategies that lead to completion of the requirements for a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent (including a recognized certificate of attendance or similar document for individuals with disabilities) or for a recognized postsecondary credential; 2. Alternative secondary school services, or dropout recovery services, as appropriate;

3. Paid and unpaid work experiences that have as a component, academic and occupational education, which may include:

a. summer employment opportunities and other employment opportunities available throughout the school year; b. pre-apprenticeship programs; c. internships and job shadowing; and d. on-the-job training opportunities;

4. Occupational skill training, which shall include priority consideration for training programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials that are aligned with in demand industry sectors or occupations in the local area involved, if the local board determines that the programs meet the quality criteria described in WIOA Section 123;

5. Education offered concurrently with and in the same context as workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation or occupational cluster;

6. Leadership development opportunities, which may include community service and peer-centered activities encouraging responsibility and other positive social and civic behaviors, as appropriate;

7. Supportive services;

8. Adult mentoring for the period of participation and a subsequent period, for a total of not less than 12 months;

9. Follow-up services for not less than 12 months after the completion of participation, as appropriate;

10. Comprehensive guidance and counseling, which may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling and referral, as appropriate;

11. Financial literacy education;

12. Entrepreneurial skills training; 13. Services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors or occupations available in the local area, such as career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services; and

14. Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to postsecondary education and training.

The State’s Program Integrity Section (monitors) will provide technical assistance and monitor to ensure that local area policies and procedures meet the requirement delineated in WIOA Section 129(c)(2).