WIA Youth Program

Are you between the ages of 17 and 21?

If so, we want to hear from you!

Help You With…

Ø     Attaining your high school diploma or GED

Ø     Employability Skills

Ø     College Placement & Tuition Assistance

Ø     Career Guidance

Ø     Free training opportunities

You hold the key to your success—we’ll help you find the right door!

The chart above demonstrates earnings by educational attainment and gender for the year 2002. 

Without a high school diploma, employees make an average of $200 less money per week.  That means that someone with a HS Diploma earns $10, 400 more per year than someone without a HS Diploma.

Statistics taken from www.bls.gov

·         Free  Job Skills Training

·         Employment Opportunities through both Volunteer and Paid Work Experience

·         Additional Assistance as needed for work uniforms, obtaining high school diploma/GED, etc.

·         Study Skills

·         Mentoring

·         Tutoring

If you feel you may qualify or have general questions about the program, contact your local Tennessee Career Center.

You can do it,

one step at a time!

Ten Elements of WIA Youth Programs

There are ten required elements of the Youth Enrichment Services program.  These are federally mandated as part of the youth programs across the nation.  Each youth should be assessed individually.  Only those ten elements that apply to the need of that individual youth should be addressed.  Therefore, there may be youth who need aid in all ten elements, and there may be youth who only needs aid in one element.  The ten elements are as follows:

Tutoring:  Study skills training and instruction leading to secondary school completion, including dropout prevention strategies.  Example:  Peer Tutors

Adult Mentoring:  Mentoring may take place during WIA participation and follow-up

Alternative Secondary School Services:  A non-traditional school

Guidance and Counseling

Follow-Up (for one year after exit):  Follow-up services are to be conducted for not less than 12 months after the completion of active participation.

Regular contact with the youth participant’s employer, including 

Leadership Development:  Opportunities should encourage responsibility, employability, and other positive social behaviors.  Positive social behaviors are defined as outcomes of leadership opportunities (soft skills) and focus on:

·        Positive attitudinal development

·        Self-esteem building

·        Openness to working with individuals from diverse

ethical and racial backgrounds.

·        Maintaining healthy lifestyles, including being drug and alcohol free

·        Maintaining positive relationships with responsible adults and peers, and contributing to the well being on one’s community, including voting

·        Maintaining a commitment to learning and academic success

·        Avoiding delinquency

·        Postponed and responsible parenting

·        Positive job attitudes and work skills

Examples include:

·        Exposure to post-secondary educational opportunities

·        Community and service learning projects

·        Peer-centered activities, including peer mentoring and tutoring

·        Organizational and teamwork training and team leadership training

·        Training in decision-making, including determining priorities          

·        Citizenship training, including life-skills training (parenting, work-behavior, budgeting and resources) 

Occupational Skills Training:  Specialized classroom training leading to employment in a specific occupation.  Training should be specific to the individual’s assessment and career interests.

Paid/unpaid Work Experience:  Work experiences are planned, structured learning experiences that take place in a workplace for a limited period of time.  Experiences should be designed to enable youth to gain exposure to the working world and its requirements and should help the youth acquire the personal attributes, knowledge, and skills needed to obtain a job and advance in employment. 

Summer Employment Opportunities:  An activity directly linked to academic and occupational learning.

Supportive Service:  May be provided to youth who based on their assessment and Individual Service Strategy may be in need of such support in order to participate in the youth program.

Examples include:  Linkage to community services, Assistance with transportation, assistance with child care and dependent care, assistance with housing, referrals to medical services, assistance with uniforms or other appropriate work attire and work related tools, including such items as eye glasses and protective eye gear, GED exams fees, driver’s license exams.