Am I right for the WIA youth Program?
WIA Youth programs in the State of Ohio have to meet 3 performance goals. Meeting these performance goals have an impact on future funding of the WIA youth programs for the State of Ohio.
Therefore a youth may be eligible for the program but not appropriate based on our programs goals and design. Below are the performance measures that we must meet and ways our program works with youth to achieve these goals.
Placement in Education or Employment
For youth who have graduated or obtained a GED our goal is to enroll these youth into Post Secondary Education. We work with youth to find the right career goal for them and the right training to meet their career goal. We assist you in filling out applications and Financial Aid forms.
We also assist youth in trying to get a job. We provide workshops focusing on work readiness skills including but not limited to resume development, filling out job applications, interviewing skills, how to get along with your employer.
Our paid work experiences also assists in this by offering youth a limited exposure to the various requirements involved in being employed (being on time, obeying authority etc.) and helping youth gain a positive work ethic, so that they can be better prepared to get and keep a job on their own.
Obtain a diploma or certificate.
For youth who have dropped out of school, our goal is to get youth enrolled into an Alternative Secondary School to work on their high school diploma or ABLE to work on their GED.
In doing career planning with youth we sometimes assist youth in enrolling in short term educational programs that lead to certification such as a Nurse Aide training program or programs at the career center or local community colleges (Wayne College, North Central State, Stark State) The benefit of short term training is that it assists the youth in entering the workforce with a job that pays higher than minimum wage without having to go to school 2 -4 years.
For youth still enrolled in school (High School or College) our goal is to work with you to assist in keeping you enrolled in school so that you obtain your diploma or certificate.
Literacy and Numeracy Gains
All out of school youth who enroll in our program are giving a test to determine their math and reading abilities. If a youth tests below the 9th grade level we require those youth to enroll into ABLE classes in order to assist them in raising their test scores. Below is a list of the requirements for basic skills deficient youth who are interested in either a work experience or assistance in Transitions paying for any training.
1. Enroll in and attend ABLE classes, if not already enrolled in school, for at least four hours per week for one month in order to start working or prior to enrolling in STNA training or other training that the Transitions program has committed to paying part or all of.
2. A youth who has a paid work experience needs to continue to attend four hours/week of ABLE classes in order to continue working. If you do not attend the required four hours, then you will be pulled from the worksite for a week or until you start attending ABLE classes four hours/week.
Youth who are "basic skills deficient" (Below a 9th grade level) are found to be at a disadvantage in getting and keeping employment. Some employers give basic skills test and hire based on the individual's results.
