| Workforce Development
: Workforce Investment Act |
Workforce 
Contact
Regional Resources
State Resources
Federal Resources
Workforce Profile
|
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998
The Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) provides the framework for a unique
national workforce preparation and employment system. This system is designed
to meet the needs of businesses and job seekers as well as those currently
employed who are striving to advance their careers. Under WIA:
-
Training and employment programs are designed and managed at the local level,
allowing services to be customized to address the challenges of businesses and
individuals in the community.
-
Customers are able to conveniently access employment, education, training, and
information services at a single “One-Stop Career Center” in their communities.
-
Customers direct their career development by selecting education services,
training programs and training providers that best fit their needs.
-
Businesses provide leadership on state and local policy boards to strategically
guide the workforce development system and play an active role in ensuring that
the system prepares people for current and future jobs.
|
WIA Leadership and Administration
WIA’s vision of a comprehensive workforce preparation and employment system
hinges largely on two critical factors: (1) cooperation and coordination at the
federal, state and local levels; and (2) the full involvement of business,
labor, workforce development and community organizations in designing and
ensuring the quality of the workforce investment system. Under WIA, federal
workforce investment funds are distributed to state workforce agencies through
three separate funding streams: adults, dislocated workers, and youth. In Ohio,
the state agency responsible for administering WIA funds is
the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services - Office of Workforce
Development. WIA requires that eighty-five percent of adult and youth
funds must then be allocated by states to local workforce development areas. In
Ohio, state funds are allocated by formula to
County Departments of Job and Family Services.
To ensure the involvement of business, labor and community organizations, WIA
instituted business-led state and local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs),
responsible for directing WIA funds and guiding WIA implementation at the state
and local levels. In coordination with the Governor, the State Workforce Policy
Board WIBs conducts strategic planning, ensures continuous improvement, and
oversees workforce investment funds at the state level. Once funds are
allocated by states to local workforce development agencies,
local WIBs play a central role in setting local policies, making
administrative decisions, conducting local strategic planning, identifying
eligible training providers, and coordinating activities across programs. This
federal-state funded, locally administered, business led WIA structure supports
the cornerstone of WIA’s workforce investment vision, the comprehensive
“One-Stop” delivery system.
|
The One-Stop Approach
WIA’s One-Stop delivery system is designed to integrate workforce programs,
services and governance structures under a single, comprehensive,
customer-focused workforce investment system. One-Stop systems are governed
collaboratively by local WIBs and elected officials.
Under WIA, workforce development services are delivered in communities through
"One-Stop
Career Centers." WIA’s vision is that customers—job seekers, incumbent
workers and employers should be able to easily access a full menu of job
training, education and employment services at neighborhood One-Stop Career
Centers. Services include:
-
A preliminary assessment of their skill levels, aptitudes, abilities, and
support service needs.
-
Information on a full array of employment-related services, including
information about local education and training service providers.
-
Assistance with filing claims for unemployment insurance and evaluating
eligibility for job training and education programs or student financial aid.
-
Job search and placement assistance, and career counseling.
-
Access to up-to-date labor market information that identifies job vacancies,
skills necessary for in-demand jobs, and provides information about local,
regional and national employment trends.
One-Stop centers serve as a single point of contact for employers to convey
information about current and future skills requirements for their employees
and to post job openings. Businesses benefit from this centralized system that
matches job-ready workers with employer needs.
|
Appalachian Ohio Workforce Investment System Contact
List
The following is contact information and/or links for Appalachia Ohio’s key
Workforce Investment system players:
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
145 S. Front St. Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 466-3817
Fax: (614) 728-5938
E-Mail: workforce@odjfs.state.oh.us
Ohio Governor’s Workforce Policy Board
Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Contacts in Appalachian Ohio’s
County Departments of Job and Family Services
Ohio Local Workforce Investment Boards
Local One-Stop Centers
|
|