Page 10

North Carolina

7 Work-Based Training

WIOA strengthens the workforce system’s focus on work-based training strategies for adults and youth with barriers to employment, including on-the-job training, subsidized employment, and work experience. Some TANF agencies have recent experience with such programs for disadvantaged workers, and can assist WIOA agencies in implementing them. State and local planning efforts should identify areas where WIOA and TANF resources can be aligned to support and expand these efforts.

Employer Engagement

Local workforce boards must engage employers in order to ensure that workforce investment activities meet the needs of businesses. Importantly, WIOA emphasizes the creation and use of industry or sector partnerships, which bring together stakeholders connected to local industries to develop short and long-term workforce strategies in those industries. TANF programs should be included in local sector partnerships in order to engage employers and ensure that TANF participants can access emerging job opportunities.

North Carolina’s (TANF) Work First program is a required and active partner with WIOA. Collaborative meetings are held quarterly to develop and implement best practices.

 State and County TANF/Work First representatives participate in the planning of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) “unified plan” to identify career pathways for TANF/Work First participants. Career pathways includes a combination of education, training, credentials and career counseling that align with skill needs of state/ local industries.

 Support services needed by TANF/Work First participants to participate in career pathways through WIOA and/or the NC Community College System are included.

 TANF/Work First participants are considered a “priority of service” for WIOA. State and County TANF/Work First representatives work collaboratively with WIOA and NC Works Career Centers to develop and implement “priority of services” policies, referral procedures and disposition tracking.

 County TANF/Work First programs partner with local NC Works Career Centers to provide TANF/Work First participants with an array of services and labor market information offered through one-stop career services centers. State and County TANF/Work First representatives assist WIOA, Vocational Rehabilitation Services and NC Works Career Centers in planning work-based training strategies for TANF/Work First participants with barriers to employment (including on the job training, subsidized employment and work experience programs).

 State and County TANF/Work First representatives partner state and local workforce development boards to engage employers and stakeholders to develop workforce strategies to ensure that TANF/Work First participants have access to emerging job opportunities with local businesses and industry.  Increase cross-program (TANF/Work First & WIOA) knowledge and training among staff members.