The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which
became effective July 1, 2000, establishes a national workforce preparation and
employment system (America's Workforce Network) to meet the needs of
businesses, job seekers and those who want to further their careers. Customers
will have easy access to information and services through the One-Stop Career
Center system. Customers with disabilities must be served alongside customers
without disabilities.
Q. What is America's Workforce Network and how does it relate to
the One-Stop System?
America's Workforce Network (AWN) is a nationwide
system of workforce development organizations that help employers find
qualified workers and help people manage their careers. The One-Stop approach
provides a single point where customers can access a wide array of job
training, education and employment services. It also provides a single point of
contact for employers to provide information about current and future skills
needed by their workers, and to list job openings. WIA requires the
participation of relevant programs administered by the Department of Labor
(DOL) and the Departments of Agriculture, Education (including Vocational
Rehabilitation), Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development
and encourages participation by additional partners. By bringing these partners
together under one roof, One-Stop simplifies the process for accessing services
from multiple partners.
Basic information and the location of One-Stop
Centers may be accessed by calling the toll-free telephone help line at
877-US2-JOBS (877-872-5627). TTY users may dial 877-TTY-JOBS (877-887-5627),
and Internet users can gain access through America's Service Locator at <www.servicelocator.org>.
The One-Stop System's Internet service strategy, its
electronic backbone, has appeal because it offers ease of access from any
location at any time: home, school or One-Stop Center. America's Career Kit,
which consists of America's Job Bank <www.ajb.dni.us>,
America's Career InfoNet <www.acinet.org>
and America's Learning eXchange <www.alx.org>
provides information on job vacancies, employment trends, and availability of
training respectively.
Q. What is the governance structure for the Workforce Investment
Act?
Title I of WIA authorizes the new Workforce
Investment System. State Workforce Investment Boards (State Boards) are
established and help the Governor develop a five-year strategic plan describing
statewide workforce development activities, explaining how the requirements of
the Act will be implemented and outlining how special population groups will be
served. The State Board advises the Governor on ways to develop the statewide
workforce investment system and a statewide labor market information system.
The State Board also helps the Governor monitor statewide activities.
Governors designate local workforce investment areas
and oversee local workforce investment boards. New youth councils are set up as
a subgroup of the Local Board to guide the development and operation of
programs for youth. The Local Board is composed of employers, representatives
of education, labor unions, economic development agencies, One-Stop partners,
and community-based organizations.
Q. What are some key guiding principles of the Workforce
Investment Act?
- Streamlining services: Programs and providers
co-locate, coordinate and integrate activities and information, so that the
system as a whole is coherent and accessible.
- Empowering individuals: Eligible adults are given
financial power to use Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) at qualified
institutions and individuals are empowered through the advice, guidance and
support available through the One-Stop system, and the activities of One-Stop
partners.
- Universal Access: All individuals have access to core
employment-related services. This includes information about job vacancies,
career options, student financial aid, relevant employment trends, and
instruction on how to conduct a job search, write a resume or interview with an
employer.
Q. A key reform element of the Workforce Investment Act is the
Individual Training Account (ITA). What is the ITA?
Eligible customers, in consultation with their case
manager, can purchase training services under WIA through an Individual
Training Account (ITA). If a person is determined eligible for training
services, an ITA will be established for that individual by the One-Stop
Center. To assist individuals in selecting a training provider, the One-Stop
system provides information on each approved provider's performance.
Q. What do WIA title I Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs
provide for people with disabilities through the One-Stop System?
- Core Services include outreach, intake and orientation,
initial assessment, determination of eligibility for additional services, job
search and placement assistance, career counseling, information on the
availability of supportive services such as child care and transportation,
labor market information and followup services. These services are available to
all.
- Intensive Services are provided to eligible
individuals. Intensive Services include comprehensive assessment of skill
levels and service needs, development of individual employment plans,
individual counseling and career planning, group counseling, case management,
and short term prevocational services such as development of learning,
communication and personal maintenance skills.
- Training Services are provided to eligible individuals.
Training services may include occupational skills training, on-the-job
training, training programs operated by the private sector, skill upgrading and
retraining, entrepreneurial training, job readiness training, adult education
and literacy activities and customized training.
Q. What services are available to people with disabilities
through the One-Stop System?
There is a wide range of services available at
One-Stop Centers provided by disability-specific organizations. Vocational
Rehabilitation (VR) is a required partner of the One-Stop system; therefore,
eligible people with disabilities can access the full range of services
provided by VR through the One-Stop system. There are also other
disability-specific organizations that provide services in One-Stop Centers.
Q. Which programs are identified as required partners in the
Act?
- Programs authorized under title I of WIA serving adults,
dislocated workers, youth and veterans, as well as Job Corps, Native American
programs and migrant and seasonal farmworker programs
- Programs authorized under the Wagner-Peyser Act
- Adult education and literacy activities authorized under title
II of WIA
- Programs authorized under parts A and B of title I of the
Rehabilitation Act
- Welfare-to-Work programs authorized under the Social Security
Act
- Senior community service employment activities authorized
under title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965
- Postsecondary vocational education authorized under the Carl
D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technological Education Act
- Trade Adjustment Assistance and NAFTA Transitional Adjustment
Assistance authorized under the Trade Act of 1974
- Local veterans' employment representatives and disabled
veterans outreach programs
- Employment and training activities under the Community
Services Block Grant
- Employment and training activities of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development
- Programs authorized under State unemployment compensation
laws
Q. Where can I get more information on WIA?
For general information on WIA contact: U.S.
Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Division of
One-Stop Operations at 202-693-3045 (V); or visit ETA's WIA website at <www.usworkforce.org>
For general information on WIA and people with
disabilities, contact ETA's Disability Employment Policy Unit at 202-693-3840
(V) or 202-693-2871 (TTY); or visit <http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/>
For information on WIA's nondiscrimination
provisions, and on the legal rights of people with disabilities under that law,
contact: U.S. Department of Labor, Civil Rights Center (CRC) at 202-219-8927
(V), or 202-219-6118 or 800-326-2577 (TTY) or visit its website: <http://www.dol.gov/oasam/programs/crc/crcwelcome.htm>
This publication is available in alternate formats.
July 2001 |