SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA PRIVATE INDUSTRY COUNCIL INC

WORKFORCE INNOVATION & OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA): WIOA IS FUNDED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH CAREER ASSESSMENT, TRAINING AND EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS LEADING TO THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY.1. ADULT SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WHO FACE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. THE ADULT PROGRAM PRIORITIZES INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH LOW INCOMES, AND VETERANS WITHIN THESE GROUPS. FOR EACH CUSTOMER, THE OVERARCHING GOAL IS EMPLOYMENT OR ENHANCEMENT WITHIN HIS OR HER OCCUPATION. CAREER SPECIALISTS WORK WITH THE ADULT PROGRAM CUSTOMERS TO INCREASE THEIR EARNINGS, OBTAIN AND RETAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND DIVERSIFY THEIR OCCUPATIONAL SKILL SETS.TO QUALIFY FOR ADULT SERVICES, AN INDIVIDUAL MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE AND MEET LOCAL PRIORITY GROUPS AND FEDERALLY ESTABLISHED INCOME GUIDELINES. WHEN ELIGIBLE JOB SEEKERS FIRST ENROLL IN THE ADULT PROGRAM, THEY PARTICIPATE IN A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF SKILL LEVELS, APTITUDES, AND ABILITIES. NEXT, CUSTOMERS HAVE ACCESS TO A VARIETY OF SERVICES AND SUPPORT AS NEEDED TO ATTAIN THEIR EMPLOYMENT GOALS. THESE SERVICES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: - JOB POSTINGS VIA MNINNESOTAWORKS.NET - TRANSPORTATION - TRAINING FOR SKILLS NECESSARY FOR IN-DEMAND JOBS - CLASSROOM TRAINING - ON-THE-JOB TRAINING - VOCATIONAL AND PERSONAL COUNSELING - LABOR MARKET INFORMATION - SUPPORT SERVICES - RESOURCE AREAS AND TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT - REFERRALS TO OTHER AGENCIES2. DISLOCATED WORKER PROGRAM (WIOA AND STATE) IS DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR JOB DUE TO NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND INCLUDE: - INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER ANNOUNCING A LAYOFF OR HAVE ALREADY BEEN PERMANENTLY LAID OFF - INDIVIDUALS WHO WORKED FOR A BUSINESS THAT IS CLOSING OR HAS CLOSED - FARMERS WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING OR HAVE LOST THEIR FARM - BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOSING OR HAVE LOST THEIR BUSINESS DUE TO ECONOMIC CONDITIONSDISLOCATED WORKER SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST DISLOCATED WORKERS IN GETTING BACK TO WORK AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT SUCH AS: - A DECLINE IN THE MARKET DEMAND FOR CERTAIN SKILLS - AGE OR LENGTH OF WORK EXPERIENCE - NEED FOR FORMAL TRAINING OR EDUCATION; AND/OR - LACK OF JOBS WITH EARNINGS AT A LEVEL COMPARABLE TO THEIR PREVIOUS POSITIONS (RETRAINING IS PROVIDED AS NEEDED TO TRANSITION TO EMPLOYMENT)SERVICES ARE CUSTOM TAILORED TO MEET AN INDIVIDUAL WORKER'S SPECIFIC NEEDS. WORKING ONE-ON-ONE WITH A CAREER SPECIALIST, THE CUSTOMER WILL DEVELOP A PLAN FOR EMPLOYMENT THAT INCLUDES: - CAREER PLANNING AND COUNSELING - JOB SEARCH AND PLACEMENT SERVICES - COUNSELOR-APPROVED TRAINING - OTHER SUPPORT SERVICESSERVICES OFFERED THROUGH THE ADULT OR DISLOCATED WORKER PROGRAMS INCLUDE: - SKILL TRAINING IN READING, MATH, JOB AND LIFE SKILLS - POST HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE - GOAL SETTING - CAREER COUNSELING AND EXPLORATION - TESTS AND ASSESSMENTS TO FIND INTEREST LEVELS AND SKILLS - REFERRALS TO OTHER SERVICE AGENCIES THAT MAY BE OF ASSISTANCE TO AN INDIVIDUAL - PAID WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS - JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE - ASSISTANCE WITH RESUMES, JOB APPLICATIONS, AND INTERVIEW PREPARATIONS - ON-THE-JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES - EMPLOYMENT AND JOB SEARCH WORKSHOPS3. YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS: WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP TO ENSURE THAT ALL YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT ADULTS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE WIOA YOUTH, MINNESOTA YOUTH PROGRAM, YOUTH INTERVENTION PROGRAM, COMPETITIVE GRANTS, AND FOUNDATION GIFTS.AVAILABLE SERVICES INCLUDE: - PAID WORK EXPERIENCE - JOB KEEPING AND SEEKING ASSISTANCE - CAREER EXPLORATION AND ASSISTANCE - POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE - CAREER PATHWAY TRAINING

WELFARE-TO-WORK (W-T-W) PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: MINNESOTA FAMILY INVESTMENT PROGRAM (MFIP), DIVERSIONARY WORK PROGRAM (DWP), AND SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP).