Workforce Investment Act

RECOMMENDATIONS

Appropriate $3 billion in FY 2011 for the Workforce Investment Act Youth Activities program.

Reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act. The program should be extended through 2015 and its authorization level should be increased. Improvements should be made to ensure homeless youth access to WIA services, including by removing parent consent and financial eligibility barriers to participation.

U.S. Senators—Co-sponsor the Youth Jobs Act of 2010 (S. 2923). Co-Sponsor the Reengaging Americans in Serious Education by Uniting Programs Act (S. 1608). Originate a Dear Colleague sign-on letter to Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations leaders recommending $3 billion in FY 2011 for the WIA Youth Activities program. Include a recommendation of $3 billion in FY11 for the WIA Youth Activities program in the Senator’s annual Program Request letter to Appropriations leaders.

U.S. Representatives—Introduce a companion bill to the Youth Jobs Act of 2010 (S. 2923).  Co-Sponsor the Reengaging Americans in Serious Education by Uniting Programs Act (H.R. 3982).

Originate a Dear Colleague sign-on letter to Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations leaders recommending $3 billion in FY 2011 for the WIA Youth Activities program. Include a recommendation of $3 billion in FY11 for the WIA Youth Activities program in the Representative’s annual Program Request letter to Appropriations leaders

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ISSUE STATUS

(visit www.nn4youth.org periodically for status updates)

The President’s FY 2011 Budget Request includes $1.025 billion for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) youth activities, a $100.93 million increase over FY 2010.  Job Corps operations would decrease by $1.762 million from its FY 2010 level to $1.572 billion in FY 2011. YouthBuild would see an increase of $17.5 million over the FY 2010 level to $120 million.

The Workforce Investment Act is overdue for reauthorization.  Youth advocates and homeless advocates have each developed comprehensive sets of recommendations for WIA reauthorization.  Recommendations of particular importance to the National Network for Youth and that should be contained in a reauthorized WIA law, include:

• Allow minor youth to participate in WIA programs without presenting parental consent.
• Allow eligibility for hard-to-employ youth, including homeless youth and expectant and parenting youth, regardless of income level.
• Modify performance measurement requirements to take into account the challenges associated with serving hard-to-employ youth, including homeless youth.
• Increase the percentage of WIA youth activity funds to be directed to out-of-school youth.
• Maintain youth councils for system planning and coordination.
• Raise the age of eligibility for WIA youth services to age 24.
• Increase the authorization level for WIA programs.  

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) has introduced the Youth Jobs Act of 2010 (S. 2923). The legislation authorizes $1.5 billion in new funds for summer and year-round employment and training for youth and young adults ages 14 through 24.

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI) have introduced the Reengaging Americans in Serious Education by Uniting Programs Act (S. 1608/H.R. 3982). The RAISE UP Act directs the Secretary of Labor to award competitive, renewable, five-year grants to eligible partnerships to assist them in providing disadvantaged youth with the support needed to: (1) attain a secondary school diploma; (2) attain a postsecondary credential, including those offered by institutions of higher education, industry groups, or registered apprenticeship programs; and (3) secure and succeed in a family-supporting career.

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WHY THIS MATTERS

Youth Are the First to Lose Jobs in Tough Times. Youth and young adults are the subpopulation of Americans most seriously harmed by the current economic recession.  They then have to fight to climb out of unemployment and into productivity.

Youth Can Fill Domestic Workforce Shortages, if Sufficiently Prepared for Those Jobs.  Many businesses face severe skills gaps and are seeking help preparing and finding qualified workers. But many young people, even those who may be employed in entry-level jobs, do not possess the academic, work-readiness, or vocational competencies sought by employers, due to their age and lack of “life experience.”

Workforce Services for Youth are Intensive and Costly.  Workforce services for youth entail far more than job readiness training and job placement.  Because of their developmental stage, youth require comprehensive, intensive employment and training programs that involve the following:

• Job skill training, including classroom training, on-the-job training, and apprenticeships.
• Training in life skills and work-related values;
• Exploration of life options, including career paths that are non-traditional for a youth’s gender, race, culture and/or social class;
  • Meaningful connections between youth and their peers, adults, and communities;
  • Opportunities for youth to assume leadership roles and develop responsibility, self-reliance, initiative and the desire and ability to participate in decisions affecting their lives;
  • Opportunities that take into account the life circumstances of youth, such as housing, health, and transportation; and
  • Connections to postsecondary education and training opportunities.

Youth Workforce Funding Levels are Insufficient.  Despite the sensibility of investing in our nation’s future workforce, Congress has repeatedly missed the mark in funding of youth employment programs. Insufficient spending in youth workforce program harms young people, the communities in which they live, and the nation as a whole.  Many communities struggle with limited resources to forge local youth councils required by the Workforce Investment Act to plan the delivery of more effective, comprehensive youth services. Adequate federal funding for youth employment programs is needed to ensure that young people are prepared to become productive citizens, pursue higher education, and meet the demands of increasingly high-skilled workplaces. Increased funding will also help to promote economic recovery and growth by ensuring that businesses can get the skilled workers they need.

Job Corps Links Workforce Services to Precious Residential Services.  The Job Corps program offers youth in the highest risk situations – youth with unstable living arrangements – an opportunity to focus on educational attainment and job skill development within stable residential settings.  This is an extremely important component for youth in runaway and homeless in situations, youth exiting foster care, youth existing juvenile justice institutions, and expectant and parenting youth.

YouthBuild Offers a Creative Youth and Community Development Opportunity. The YouthBuild program enhances a community’s supply of low-income housing, while fostering the development of essential construction skills and educational attainment by low-income, out-of-school youth. YouthBuild enables young people to participate in a positive developmental opportunity while also satisfying their community’s need to produce additional affordable housing stock.

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BACKGROUND

The Workforce Investment Act, first enacted in 1998, redesigned the workforce development system and promoted a new vision for youth employment. Under the WIA, Governors designate local workforce investment areas and oversee local workforce investment boards. Youth councils are set up as a subgroup of the local boards to guide the development and operation of programs for youth. WIA expired in 2003 and is due for reauthorization.

The WIA Youth Activities program provides comprehensive workforce services to eligible youth, ages 14 to 21, in local communities. WIA grantees provide assistance to youth in achieving academic and employment success, training opportunities, mentoring opportunities, support services, and incentives for recognition and achievement.

The Job Corps program provides grants to states and communities to develop comprehensive residential education and job training program for youth in high-risk situations, ages 16-24. Job Corps programs provide youth with the academic, vocational and social skills training they need to gain independence and get quality, long-term jobs or further their education.

The YouthBuild program provides grants to public and nonprofit organizations to assist youth in high-risk situations between the ages of 16 to 24 to learn housing construction skills and to complete their high school education.