PURPOSE 

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title IB Youth Program provides services to out-of-school youth ages 16-24. The main thrust of the Youth Program is to increase the focus on career pathways, longer-term academic, and occupational learning opportunities and provide long-term comprehensive service strategies. 

Youth services are provided to out-of-school youth ages 16-24. The Youth Program is designed to prepare Arkansas’ youth to either enter post-secondary education, training, or employment upon completion of their secondary education. The aging of Arkansas’ workforce is an issue of concern and therefore this program can be an instrument toward meeting the future workforce demands. 

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible out-of-school youth may not be younger than 16 years old nor older than 24 years at the time of enrollment and meet the following eligibility requirements listed below. 

• Registered for Selective Service or valid exemption

• Be able to work in the United States 

• Provide a valid Social Security Number 

• Not attending school at time of enrollment

An individual that meets one of the following: 

1. An individual who is not attending any school and who has not received a secondary school diploma or its equivalent 

2. A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter session of school 

3. A high school graduate(or equivalent) who is low- income and who is also either basic skills deficient or an English language learner

4. An offender (or ex-offender) 

5. A homeless individual 

6. A runaway

7. An individual in foster care or who has aged out of foster care or who has attained 16 years of age and left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption or a child eligible for assistance under sec. 477 of the Social Security Act or in an out-of-home placement 

8. A pregnant woman or a parenting man or woman (custodial or non-custodial) 

9. An individual with a disability 

10. A low-income individual who requires additional assistance.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• Tutoring, study skills training and instruction, and dropout prevention services 

• Alternative secondary school services or dropout recovery services

• Paid and unpaid work experiences

• Occupational skill training

• Education offered concurrently with workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation

• Leadership development opportunities

• Supportive services 

• Adult mentoring

• Follow up services

• Comprehensive guidance and counseling

• Financial literacy education

• Entrepreneurial skills training

• Services that provide labor market and employment information about in-demand industry sectors

• Activities that help youth prepare for and transition to post-secondary education and training