The needs of the current and future workforce have clearly created challenges for the education, training and employment community. To prepare adults, in transition for successful participation in the workforce, the following strategies have been identified to assist adults with the employment and training opportunities to attain and retain employment to achieve self-sufficiency:

• Expand access to and provide the necessary intensive services, as appropriate, to include childcare assistance, transportation, substance abuse counseling, and other services that will remove barriers to employment.
• Focus services on retention of jobs and wage progression.
• Increase access and opportunities in basic skills and English as a Second Language instruction.
• Offer incentives to Employers for hiring and training low-income and/or older workers to increase employment and training opportunities.
• Provide the full range of services to the adult customer through the WorkSource system.

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998, which replaced the Job Training Partnership Act, is the nation’s principle workforce development legislation. Key components include: streamlining services through a one-stop service delivery system (WorkSource); empowering individuals through information and access to training resources; providing universal access to core services; increasing accountability results; ensuring a strong role for local Workforce Council and the private sector in the workforce investment system; and facilitating state and local flexibility.

WIA formula funds allocated to local Workforce Councils for Adult programs must be used to provide services through the WorkSource delivery system. Local agencies may use grant funds to provide services to individuals who are 18 years of age or older and meet the local and federal WIA Adult eligibility definitions. The goal is to provide workforce investment activities that increase the employment, retention, earning, and occupational skill attainment of job seeking customers.

WIA divides Adult services into three “tiers” – Core, Intensive, and Training.

Core Services are available to all adults and include but are not limited to the following:

1. Determination of eligibility to receive additional services (beyond WIA core);
2. Outreach, intake and orientation to the information and other services available through the WorkSource system (includes acting as a broker);
3. Initial assessment of skill levels, aptitudes, abilities, and supportive service needs;
4. Employment statistics information relating to local, regional, and national labor market areas, including job vacancy listings, information on job skills necessary for these positions, and information relating to local occupations in demand and the earnings and skill requirements for these occupations;
5. Performance history and program cost of eligible providers of training services;
6. Job search and placement assistance, and where appropriate, career counseling;
7. Consumer information regarding local performance, supportive services and how to file unemployment compensation claims;
8. Follow-up services, including counseling regarding the workplace, for participants in WIA activities who are placed in unsubsidized employment, for not less than 12 months after the first day of the employment, as appropriate.

Intensive Services are available to Adults and who are eligible for WIA Adult services and have received at least one core service and are:

• Unemployed and are unable to obtain employment through core services and who have been determined by the WorkSource Operator to be in need of more intensive services in order to obtain employment; or
• Employed but who are determined by the WorkSource Operator to be in need of such intensive services in order to obtain or retain employment that allows for self-sufficiency.

Intensive Services activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Comprehensive and specialized assessments of a customer’s skill levels and service needs, which may include diagnostic testing and the use of other assessment tools;
2. In depth evaluation to identify employment barriers and employment goals;
3. Development of an individual employment plan to identify appropriate objectives and combination of services for the customer to achieve the employment goals;
4. Group counseling;
5. Individualized career planning;
6. Case management for participants seeking intensive and training services;
7. Short-term prevocational services including development of skills in learning, communications, interviewing punctually, personal maintenance, and professional conduct to prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment or training;
8. Job retention and wage progression services after placement;
9. Supportive services such as childcare, transportation, and work- and training related expenses.

At a minimum, an Adult must receive at least one intensive service before receiving Training Services. There must be a determination of need for training services, as identified in the Individual Employment Plan, comprehensive assessment, or through other intensive services.

Training Services for eligible individuals are provided through Individual Training Accounts (ITA) vouchers that can be used at any eligible training provider. Training includes:

1. Occupational skills training, including training for nontraditional employment;
2. On the Job Training
3. Programs that combine workplace training with related instruction, which may include cooperative education programs;
4. Training programs operated by the private sector;
5. Skills upgrading and retraining;
6. Entrepreneurial training;
7. Adult education and literacy activities provided in combination with other training services; and
8. Customized training conducted with a commitment by an employer or group of employers to employ an individual upon successful completion or the training.

Supportive Services are intended to enable an individual to participate in program activities and to secure and retain employment Examples include assistance with local transportation costs; childcare and dependent care costs; housing and food; and relocation and out-of-area job search expenses

Retention Services (Follow-Up Services) – Post-employment job retention services, including supportive services, counseling and training, are allowable under WIA. These services are expected to assist customers in maintaining and succeeding in their jobs, as well as moving up in wage to achieve self-sufficiency.