Youth Program
Our Youth program can help both in-school and out-of-school youth, and our targeted occupational and industry approach ensures you have the opportunity to receive training for an in-demand industry right here in Northwest Arkansas. The Youth Program is intended to prepare Arkansas’ youth for postsecondary education, training, or employment upon completion of their secondary education.
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 Northwest 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:
- An individual who is not attending any school and who has not received a secondary school diploma or its equivalent
- 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
- A high school graduate(or equivalent) who is low- income and who is also either basic skills deficient or an English language learner
- An offender (or ex-offender)
- A homeless individual
- A runaway
- A low-income individual who requires additional assistance
- An individual with a disability
- 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
- A pregnant woman or a parenting man or woman (custodial or non-custodial)
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
Education offered concurrently with workforce preparation activities and training for a specific occupation
Occupational skill training
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
Workforce Success Stories
Malone’s Road to Success
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Ms. Brittany Malone inquired about the WIOA program after being out of work for a few years. She worked on temporary assignments, but nothing full-time and permanent. After an initial assessment, the Fayetteville Workforce Center staff deemed...
Small Business Success Story
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Parmelee Homestead Creations is a small family business, based in Bella Vista, that sells jam, jelly, sauce, and salsas. The business is growing rapidly, selling nearly 600 jars per week. Becky Parmelee has taken advantage of our human resource...
Unemployment to Open Opportunity for Success
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Carol Burgess experienced a lay off right before the pandemic started in March 2020. While filing for her unemployment benefits at the Workforce Center, she saw the poster of services available for Dislocated Workers through WIOA. Though scared,...
Forging a New Path After Successful Completion of CDL Training
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Mark Knepp was ready to embark on a new chapter in his life. First, he would need to overcome several barriers. Mark had a criminal history, was staying in a homeless shelter and lacked transportation. He sought assistance to attend CDL training...
Tessa’s Path to Becoming a Veterinary Assistant
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Tessa Anglin enrolled in the WIOA program as an Out of School Youth after being incarcerated. Through her own perseverance and supportive services provided through the WIOA training program and Petra Allied Health, she overcame many obstacles. ...
Three to Graduate from ASU Mountain Home PTA Program
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES These three young men, left to right, Lane Rogers (Adult), Brendan Casey (Adult) and Noah McSpadden (DLW) all started their college path in different areas but came together in the Physical Therapy Assistant program in Mountain Home through the...
WIOA Participant Reaches for the Stars
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES It is never too late in life to reach for the stars and find your dream job. Just ask Lynda who decided to change careers after her youngest child graduated. She left her employer after 12 years in pursuit of a new career in the entertainment...
Inspiring Story for Future Educator
Here is to another WIOA success story that is so inspiring! Sabrina is a single Mom to three. She took her first steps to further her career and better the lives of her family back in 2015 when she enrolled in the Business Administration/Emphasis in Management...
Off to the Races – Another WIOA Success Story!
April 22, 2019 - WIOA participant Nikita Fletcher has been accepted to the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC and will begin classes in August of 2019. This is an opportunity that few female mechanics receive, her goal is to complete the...