Updated December 2016
This workforce development initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor seeks to better align the workforce system with education and economic development, creating a collective response to economic and labor market challenges on the national, state, and local levels.
Title I youth programming targets populations identified as "basic skills deficient":
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA Public Law 113 128) is the authorizing legislation for six “core programs” in the public workforce development system.
Local youth programs are encouraged to connect with local workforce development boards. These boards are required to engage employers through industry partnerships and sector strategies in order to target industries that are important to the regional economy.
Title I youth requires that local areas leverage youth funds to conduct an objective assessment used to identify appropriate services and career pathways for participants.
As a WIOA core partner, Title I youth is included in the California state unified WIOA plan and overseen by the California Employment Development Department. Title I youth also operates locally through Local Workforce Development staff. Local providers are required to partner with career technical education providers under the federal Carl D. Perkins Act.
For older or out-of-school youth, WIOA encourages the use of Integrated Education and Training approaches to provide adult education and literacy activities concurrently and contextually with workforce preparation activities. This supports educational and career advancement within a specific occupation or occupational cluster.
Various youth programs also support summer employment opportunities, pre-apprenticeship, and other “Earn and Learn” strategies.
Career services include supportive services (e.g., childcare, transportation) as well as employment services. Title I youth also requires that an individual employment plan be prepared for all youth participants, identifying pathways to meet career objectives.
WIOA shared performance metrics include Measurable Skills Gain and credential attainment.
Initiative design requires state and local workforce boards to report the number of individuals with barriers to employment served by each core program, including specific breakdowns by subpopulation.
WIOA Title I youth programs could target individual or cohort training services to support participants in secondary and postsecondary career pathways programs.
WIOA youth programs could partner with adult education providers (e.g., WIOA Title II and Adult Education Block Grants) to design education services for the out-of-school youth priority population.
Title I youth career counselors could partner with career pathway education providers to offer intensive career services for program participants. This could help mitigate non-academic barriers to program completion and support participants toward employment placement and retention.
Local workforce boards could also establish youth advisory boards to engage community members and strengthen programming.
A Roadmap for Joint Regional Planning from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office can help initiatives identify resources, tools, key questions, and regional partners in order to facilitate collaboration around WIOA and the Strong Workforce Program.
Does this information need updating or adjustment? Send us your suggestions: CAcareerpathway@clasp.org