EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING ASSOCIATION OF DANE COUNTY INC

WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT - IN JULY OF 2015, THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) REPLACED THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT. WIOA SEEKS TO MORE FULLY INTEGRATE WISCONSIN'S WORKFORCE AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS TO BETTER SERVE EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS IN OUR COUNTY.IN SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN, THE WORKSMART NETWORK PROVIDES WIOA PROGRAMMING THAT ARE DESIGNED TO HELP BUSINESSES DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO MEET THEIR HIRING NEEDS AND TO HELP JOB SEEKERS OBTAIN THE WORK RELATED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. THROUGH WEEKLY INFORMATION SESSIONS WORKSMART STAFF MEET WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN JOB PLACEMENT AND TRAINING ASSISTANCE FOR HIGH WAGE, HIGH DEMAND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION. SOME OF THE SPECIFIC RESOURCES OUR STAFF UTILIZE TO ASSIST JOB SEEKERS INCLUDE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, PAID WORK EXPERIENCEM JOB PLACEMENT AND JOB RETENTION ASSISTANCE, INDUSTRY FOCUSED SHORT TERM TRAINING ACTIVITIES (IE WELDING, COMPUTER BASICS, INDUSTRIAL FOUNDATIONS) AND LONG TERM TRAINING ACTIVITIES (ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN HIGH DEMAND CAREERS).WORKSMART IS ADMINISTERED BY THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD OF SOUTHCENTRAL WISCONSIN. THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ASSOCIATION (EATA) IS THE LOCAL BOARD'S LARGEST CONTRACTED SERVICE PROVIDER. EATA PROVIDES WIOA SERVICES TO EMPLOYERS, DISLOCATED WORKERS AND LOW INCOME ADULTS IN THE SOUTHCENTRAL WISCONSIN REGION.WIOA ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTSDISLOCATED WORKER- LAID-OFF, COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS CLOSING, DOWN SIZING.- PREVIOUSLY SELF-EMPLOYED- LEGALLY ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE U.S.ADULT PROGRAM- MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER- INCOME ELIGIBLE- LEGALLY ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE U.S.OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH-MUST BE 16 24 YEARS OF AGE-MUST BE ELIGIBLE TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-MUST HAVE BARRIERS THAT MEET PROGRAM GUIDELINES-MUST BE REGISTERED FOR SELECTIVE SERVICE IF APPROPRIATE

WINDOWS TO WORK -WINDOWS TO WORK (WTW) PROVIDES RE-ENTRY TOOLS, SUPPORT AND CAREER COACHING SERVICES TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS BEGINNING 3-12 MONTHS PRIOR TO RELEASE AND FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR POST-RELEASE. WHILE THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARDS MANAGE THE PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE STATE, EATA ADMINISTERS THE WINDOWS TO WORK PROGRAM AT OAKHILL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS MUST ENROLL WHILE IN THE INSTITUTION.THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS INDIVIDUAL'S CRIMINOGENIC NEEDS THAT CAN LEAD TO RECIDIVISM INCLUDING: EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, ANTI-SOCIAL COGNITION, ANTI-SOCIAL PERSONALITY AND ANTI-SOCIAL COMPANIONS. THE PROGRAM'S GOALS ARE TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM FOR PARTICIPANTS AFTER THEIR RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION, INCREASE EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASE LENGTHS OF EMPLOYMENT RETENTION AND INCREASE WAGES.WHILE INCARCERATED PARTICIPANTS COMPLETE A 12-WEEK PROGRAM TO PREPARE FOR THEIR RELEASE. THE WINDOWS TO WORK PROGRAM CURRICULUM CONSISTS OF COGNITIVE INTERVENTION, GENERAL WORK SKILLS AND EXPECTATIONS, COMMUNITY RESOURCES ASSISTANCE WITH APPLICATIONS AND RESUMES AND JOB SEEKING. ONCE RELEASED THE PARTICIPANT WORKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH THEIR WINDOWS TO WORK COACH WHILE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT AND/OR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO HAS A FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE COMPONENT TO ASSIST WITH TRANSITIONING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MAY BE PROVIDED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND CAN BE UTILIZED FOR WORK-RELATED CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND EDUCATION.