15-12 Initial Guidance Regarding the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Purpose

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act becomes effective July 1, 2015.  Although there will be many issues to discuss in this first year, we are addressing our current understanding of some early changes. 

Background

  Although the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act brings some changes to the Workforce Investment Act, our services remains the same.  We help employers meet their human resource needs and individuals build careers.  A substantial portion of our work is helping employers find qualified applicants for their job openings and individuals find - or prepare for - the openings that meet their education and experience.

Eligibility

There are some changes to eligibility criteria for financial assistance.  The WIOA Eligibility Chart provides a simple overview of the criteria for eligibility.  All customers enrolled on or after July 1, 2015 must meet all WIOA requirements.

One of the changes affects youth.  Beginning July 1, there is an additional way to determine Low Income.  Youth who reside in high poverty census tracts will be considered low income.  We developed a desk aid that (1) identifies the census tracts we identified as high poverty census tracts, (2) provides a link to  a website where staff can enter a customer's address and identify the census tract where the customer resides, and (3) maps the general areas in each county where the high poverty census tracts are located.  You can find this information at the High Poverty Census Tracts desk aid.

Financial Aid Application

We updated the Financial Aid Application.  You can find the new form on the Workforce Solutions web site.

TWIST Fund Codes

This is the information we have regarding new TWIST fund codes for WIOA.

WIOA Adult = Fund Code 10
WIOA Dislocated Worker = Fund Code 20
WIOA Youth = Fund Code 30

Continually Evolving

This information is the best we have at this time.  We can guarantee frequent updates and changes as we progress through this first year.  We will bring these updates and changes to you as we receive them.

Action

Please make sure all staff members at every level are aware of the information provided here.

Questions

Staff should first ask questions of their managers or supervisors.  Direct questions for Board staff through the electronic Issuance Q&A.

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