WIA Youth Program

The purpose of the WIA youth program is to help eligible youth achieve academic and employment success year round by providing:

• Effective and comprehensive activities, including a variety of options for improving educational and skill competencies and effective connections to employers.
• Ongoing mentoring opportunities with adults committed to providing such opportunities.
• Opportunities for training.
• Continued support services.
• Incentives for recognition and achievement.
• Opportunities and activities related to leadership development, decision-making, citizenship, and community service.

There are 10 required program elements that are available through local programs:

• Tutoring, study skills training, and instruction leading to secondary school completion, including dropout prevention strategies.
• Alternative secondary school offering.
• Summer employment opportunities directly linked to academic and occupation learning.
• Paid an unpaid work experiences, including internships and job shadowing.
• Occupational skills training.
• Leadership development opportunities, which may include such activities as positive social behavior and soft skills, decision-making, team work, and other activities
• Supportive services.
• Adult mentoring for a duration of at least 12 months, that may occur during and after program participation.
• Follow-up services.
• Comprehensive guidance counseling, including drug and alcohol abuse counseling, as well as referrals to counseling, as appropriate to the needs of the individual youth.

The following are WIA eligibility requirements:

• 14-21 years of age
• One or more of the following:
  • Basic skills deficient
  • Dropout
  • Homeless, runaway or foster child
  • Pregnant or parenting teen
  • Offender
  • Requires additional assistance to complete educational program or to secure employment
• Low-income:
  • Receives public assistance
  • Poverty line or 70% lower living standard income level
  • Homeless
  • Foster child
  • Disability (an individual with a disability whose own income meets the income guidelines)
• Out of School Youth
• School dropout
• Received secondary diploma but is: basic skills deficient, unemployed, underemployed

Youth services contact information:

• Athens: (423)745-2028
• Chattanooga:  Erica Smith (423)643-2354, Samantha Printup (423) 643-2342

This project is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY TN Relay 711.