Overview
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth & Young Adult program offers fourteen types of services to help participants lead a self-sufficient lifestyle. These services are called elements and they focus on education, employment, well-being, growth, and transition of youth and young adults into the world of work.
| Education Focused Elements | Employment & Training Focused Elements | Well-Being Focused Elements | Growth Focused Elements | Transition Focused Element |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alternative Secondary Education | Labor Market & Employment Information | Comprehensive Guidance & Counseling | Adult Mentoring | Follow-up |
| Integrated Education (Education Concurrent w/Workforce Prep) | Integrated Education (Education Concurrent w/Workforce Prep) | Financial Literacy Education | Entrepreneurial Skills Training | |
| Postsecondary Transition | Occupational Skills Training | Supportive Services | Leadership Development Opportunities | |
| Tutoring & Study Skills | Work Experiences | |||
| The Services Brief includes key concepts, example services, and reporting requirements for the elements | ||||
Education Focused Elements
Resources
Education-focused elements support youth and young adults in attaining their educational academic goals. Learn about the WIOA elements with recorded workshops and slides on the training page by NYSDOL’s Youth & Young Adult Unit and the Services Brief.
Alternative Secondary Education for High School Equivalency
- Pathways to High School Equivalency — Outlines four options in NYS, including National External Diploma Program
- NYSED/CUNY CareerKit — A career preparation teaching resource for HSE & ESL learners reflecting NYS regional labor market statistics
- Distance Education — NYS Education Department approved programs
- CollectEdNY — Resources for educators preparing adult students for HSE
- Fast Track GRASP Math — Model lessons to help teachers plan math instruction
- WorkforceGPS — Alternative Secondary School and Dropout Recovery Services
Integrated Education (Education Concurrent w/ Workforce Preparation)
- Work-Based Learning Programs — Information and registration form
- Career and Technical Education — NYS Education Department approved programs
- WorkforceGPS — Education Offered Concurrently with Workforce Preparation and Training
Postsecondary Transition Element
- College Scorecard — Comparison of cost & value of higher education institutions in the United States
- New York State Colleges — Visit campuses virtually or in person
- College Navigator and College Board — Guidance to find the best college fit
- Registered Apprenticeship Programs — Application process and diverse trades in NYS
- WorkforceGPS — Postsecondary Preparation and Transition Activities
Tutoring & Study Skills Element
- Education Pays — The Bureau of Labor Statistics proves that earnings increase with education
- General Education and Diploma — Regulations and requirements according to the NYS Department of Education
- Multiple pathways to graduation — NYS Education Department approved subject matter-focused diplomas
- Video - Think Again About Dropping Out — Former high school dropouts give insight into rethinking college by Boston Private Industry Council
- WorkforceGPS — Tutoring, Study Skills Training, Instruction, and Dropout Prevention
Employment & Training Focused Elements
Resources
Employment & Training focused elements help youth and young adults enhance their occupational, foundational and job search skills with training and work experiences. Learn about the WIOA elements with recorded workshops and slides on the training page by NYSDOL’s Youth & Young Adult Unit and the Services Brief.
Integrated Education (Education Concurrent with Workforce Preparation and Training) Element
- Work-Based Learning Programs — Information and registration form
- Career and Technical Education — NYS Education Department approved programs
- WorkforceGPS — Education Offered Concurrently with Workforce Preparation and Training
Labor Market & Employment Information Element
Career Awareness & Exploration
- CareerZone (ages 18 and under), JobZone (ages 18 and above) — Building a comprehensive career portfolio based on personal interests and values
- My Next Move — Shaping career awareness with assessments and occupational information
- Video library — Career, skills, and industry centered videos by CareerOneStop
- Road Trip Nation — Road trips that capture empowering stories give confidence and tools for youth to find a career that matters
- Labor Market Analysts — Contact analysts to understand employment projection, wages and job openings to support youth
- Occupational and industry data — Projections, potential employers, jobs in demand in state or region
Career Guidance & Job Search
- Jobs in Demand Today — A list of sought-after occupations per region in real-time in NY state
- Career Development Resources — NYS Department of Labor compiled tips and tools, events & workshops for setting goals and acquiring skills for a career
- Seasonal Jobs — A way to work on an interim basis and gain work experience from the NYS jobs bank
- NY Youth Job Program – Tax credits for businesses for employing certified youth in NY state
- WorkforceGPS — Tools to help youth find jobs
- WorkforceGPS — Services that provide Labor Market Information
Occupational Skills Training Element
- CareerOnestop Certification Finder — Find the right in-demand, accredited or industry-endorsed certification to boost qualifications by occupations and industry (not all the certifications are WIOA credentials)
- Massive Online Open Courses — Free online courses, available for anyone to enroll, offering a flexible way to learn new skills
- CareerOnestop Skills Matcher — Rating of 40 key workplace skills levels to find matching careers
- WorkforceGPS — Occupational Skills Training
Work Experience Element
- Worksite Agreement — A sample agreement to clarify responsibilities of the case manager, worksite supervisor and youth, including documentation of required academic and occupational components
- NYS Department of Civil Service Internships — College students gain valuable experience and receive academic credit by doing meaningful work in the public sector
- On-the-Job Training Policy — Updated Technical Advisory TA-1-15.2 recommends Local Workforce Development Areas to develop OJT procedures
- Direct Entry Programs — Preparation programs, as if pre-apprenticeship, to build skills for NYS Registered Apprenticeships
- Job Shadowing Guide — Proven approaches to create high-quality, safe and legal experiences
- Youth Engaged 4 Change — Volunteering, internships, and job opportunities for youth
- New Yorkers Volunteer — Opportunities to serve and build skills by NYS Commission on National and Community Service
- WorkforceGPS — Paid and unpaid Work Experiences
Well-Being Focused Elements
Resources
Well-being focused elements expansively support youth and young adults to build a supporting network for their success. Learn about the WIOA elements with recorded workshops and slides on the training page by NYSDOL’s Youth & Young Adult Unit and the Services Brief.
Comprehensive Guidance & Counseling Element
- Youth Mental Health Resource Guide – Resource guide compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor designed to help workforce practitioners
- Counseling, Case Management, and Program Culture Manual — Guidance on engaging disconnected youth to define positive goals by YouthBuild
- WorkforceGPS — Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling
Financial Literacy Education Element
- You For Youth – Free curricula, online courses, and a detailed training plan for financial literacy education
- Fostering Financial Literacy for Youth — Lessons on budgeting and saving, credit cards and fraud schemes, and college financial aid
- Consumer Advice — Resources and videos protecting identity, credit reports, debt collection, phishing and money transfer scams, car loans, and credit cards by Federal Trade Commission
- Your Money Your Goals Toolkit, videos, booklets and print materials — Resources on five principles of money management (Earn, Save and Invest, Protect, Spend, Borrow) by the Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission
- WorkforceGPS — Financial Literacy Education
Supportive Services Element
- First Step — A Youth Practitioner’s Resource Guide to Supportive Services
- Supportive Services (Part One) — Connect for supports related to cash assistance, childcare, child support, food, foster care, health, mental health, and substance abuse
- Supportive Services (Part Two) — Collaborate to support youth with circumstances such as: homelessness, juvenile justice, legal aid, transportation, violence and abuse skills
Growth Focused Elements
Resources
Growth focused elements help youth and young adults envision their potential and work to achieve it with the support of caring adults. Learn about the WIOA elements with recorded workshops and slides on the training page by NYSDOL’s Youth & Young Adult Unit and the Services Brief.
Adult Mentoring Element
- Becoming a better mentor — Strategies for career navigators and worksite supervisors to develop a mentoring mindset, enhance empathy, make room for play, and set goals
- Mentoring Resources — Youth.gov resources to support youth mentoring with successful practices
- 100 Ideas to Use When Mentoring Youth — Activities and conversations to help mentees excel
- WorkforceGPS — Adult Mentoring
Entrepreneurial Skills Training Element
- Entrepreneurial Assistance Centers — Collaborate with experts to support youth business endeavors
- My Own Business Institute — Free online education for entrepreneurs
- SCORE — Nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs with mentoring and free workshops
- Small Business Development Center and Small Business Administration — Extensive network of regional centers offering free business counseling and training
- WorkforceGPS — Entrepreneurial Skills Training for Youth
Leadership Development Opportunities Element
- Skills to Pay the Bills — Curriculum to teach workforce readiness skills to youth, including youth with disabilities with videos and activities by the US Department of Labor
- Leadership Competencies Tracking Tool — Created to assist in establishing a baseline and personal benchmark for each leadership skill
- 28 Employability Skills Framework — Checklist of skills that youth need to get hired according to federal agencies and employers
- Casey Life Skills Assessments — Quick questionnaires to determine which life and leadership skills youth need for long-term goals
- WorkforceGPS — Leadership Development Opportunities
Transition Focused Elements
Resources
Transition focused element supports youth and young adults to gradually transition out of the WIOA program and independently succeed in their careers. Learn about the WIOA elements with recorded workshops and slides on the training page by NYSDOL’s Youth & Young Adult Unit and the Services Brief.
Follow-Up Element
- Follow-Up Agreement Template — Sample document to clarify expectations and roles of youth and case manager during follow-up of WIOA
- Tip Sheet for Follow-Up Services — A collection of effective follow-up practices that ultimately help lead to better outcomes
- WorkforceGPS — Follow-up Services