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Education, Training, and WIA
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Reemployment Programs

	Education, Training, and WIA back to top
	What is WIA? What is a “One-Stop” Center? Does “One-Stop” mean customers only have to go one place for all of the workforce services they need? How do I find out where to go for workforce services in my community? Do all One-Stop Centers offer the same services? Does each of the 20 local workforce areas in Georgia have its own web site? Do One-Stop Centers serve persons with disabilities? Can I access workforce resources from my computer at home? What exactly is On-the-Job Training (OJT)? Can customers apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) online from home? At a One-Stop Workforce Center? Are the “rules” the same for all local workforce investment areas? Who is responsible for overseeing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) workforce system in Georgia? Can WIA pay for training? What is an Individual Training Account (ITA)? What training providers are eligible to receive Workforce Investment Act (WIA) training services under the Individual Training Account (ITA)? Although it is referred to as an ITA “Eligible Provider List,” isn’t it actually certified program(s) and courses of study that enable a provider to be listed? How do Community Based Organizations (CBOs) that training fit within the ITA eligible provider system? Are youth eligible to receive Individual Training Accounts (ITA)? If a training provider operates a number of different training sites in a number of different counties, where does the training provider send the application for certification? If a single course is all that is needed by an individual to either complete a program or obtain employment and they are not completing a whole program, does each course need to be certified and does this count as a completion or not? What is the benefit to providers of including their training program(s) on the Statewide Approved Training Program/Provider List? If a program is on the approved statewide list, is it guaranteed ITA customers? Who approves an ITA? What criteria are used to determine who does and who does not get an Individual Training Account (ITA)? Is it based only on economic need? What career direction is provided to customers? Is there a maximum ITA dollar amount? What is the HOPE scholarship and grant? Where can I find information on the various scholarships, grants, and loans available for college or technical school? What is the Jobs for Georgia's Graduates Program?

	Labor Market Information back to top
	What are the fastest growing occupations in Georgia? How can I get a copy of the GDOL publication, The Career Planner? Where can I get understandable information about population trends in Georgia?

	Laws and Regulations back to top
	What is JAN (Job Accommodation Network)?

	Occupational Information back to top
	What is the new O*NET System? Can you recommend some tools for helping individuals identify their skills for the purpose of developing a résumé?

	Professional Development back to top
	What is a good Workforce Investment System (WIS) resource for a workforce professional who wants to know the latest information, trends, and solutions?

	Programs back to top
	What is the TOPPSTEP program?

	Reemployment Programs back to top
	What is the status of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)?

	Education, Training, and WIA What is WIA? back to top WIA stands for the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, implemented in Georgia in July 2000. This federal legislation has helped Georgia move toward a comprehensive, customer-focused workforce investment system where Job Seeker and Employer customers alike can access a wide range of workforce-related tools and information they need to manage their work lives. Services are provided through a network of One-Stop Centers statewide. What is a “One-Stop” Center? back to top The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) requires that each service delivery area (there are 20 in Georgia) have at least one comprehensive or full-service One-Stop Center. A One-Stop Center is a place where employers and job seekers can access a wide range of workforce services. In Georgia, there are over 45 “full-service” One-Stop Centers, and most areas have several other locations for accessing workforce services also. A majority of the full-service locations are GDOL Career Centers, while others are separate facilities. Many different education, training, and employment-related services available in the community are also provided by a variety of partner agencies at the One-Stop Center or through referral. Does “One-Stop” mean customers only have to go one place for all of the workforce services they need? back to top At One-Stops, every effort is made to make it as easy and convenient as possible for Employer and Job Seeker customers to get the customized services they need. Many customers will be able to get everything they need from a single location, during a single visit or multiple visits. Other customers may need services that are not available onsite. In these situations, One-Stop staff will facilitate necessary linkages and referrals. How do I find out where to go for workforce services in my community? back to top There are 20 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) service areas in Georgia, and each area has at least one comprehensive or full-service One-Stop Workforce Center providing services. Most areas have several locations for accessing services. These service access points may include GDOL career centers, One-Stop Centers, technical colleges, Voc Rehab offices, Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) offices, or other community based organizations. Find Us Select GDOL Career Centers, GDOL Voc Rehab Offices, or One-Stop Centers, depending on your specific needs, and the county or city in which you are interested. Do all One-Stop Centers offer the same services? back to top While One-Stops offer many of the same services, there are differences among One-Stops services based on the needs of Employer and Job Seeker customers in the community. For example, while all One-Stops provide workforce resource areas with a variety of self-service options online or through books, videos, or pamphlets, a One-Stop Center may offer specialized services for Hispanic Employers and Job seekers, or youth. Contact the center in your community to learn about the specific services that are available. Does each of the 20 local workforce areas in Georgia have its own web site? back to top Most of the areas either have their own web site, or are a part of their administrative entity’s web site (for example, a city government or a Regional Development Center). Find a One-Stop Center Local area web sites are listed on the left-hand side of the drop-down box that appears once you have selected a county. Do One-Stop Centers serve persons with disabilities? back to top Yes. Georgia’s local One-Stops have been designed and equipped to ensure that all customers have access to the services and programs they need. One-Stops can ensure compliance with accessibility and reasonable accommodation provisions of the Workforce Investment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and the Georgia Accessibility Code. Additionally, One-Stops can provide adaptations to help customers with visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive or language impairments access services. Can I access workforce resources from my computer at home? back to top Yes, many excellent workforce resources for both Employers and Job Seekers are available online – starting with the wide range of services and links available through this Georgia Department of Labor web site. Some customers can get everything they need without ever coming into a One-Stop Center. Other customers begin their research and exploration of services at home, and then visit a One-Stop Center for staff assistance. Yet other customers prefer to visit their local One-Stop, or do not have access to a computer at home. Please note that initial Unemployment Insurance (UI) clams must be filed at a Georgia Department of Labor Career Center. What exactly is On-the-Job Training (OJT)? back to top In On-the-Job Training, participants are actually employed and trained by an employer. The employer is reimbursed up to 50 percent of the wage rate of the participant for a limited period of time, to help defray the costs of providing the training and additional supervision related to the training. In other words, OJT may help job seeker customers get their foot in the door with a new employer interested in taking advantage of this financial incentive. Can customers apply for Unemployment Insurance (UI) online from home? At a One-Stop Workforce Center? back to top Initial UI claims must be filed at a Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) career center (which in some cases may also be a full-service One-Stop Center). After the initial claim, weekly recertification can be done from any Internet accessible computer including from home, a public library, a One-Stop Center, a GDOL career center, or other location. Are the “rules” the same for all local workforce investment areas? back to top Although there are broad federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) guidelines that guide all 20 local areas in Georgia, there is also great flexibility for local areas to develop policies and procedures that meet the unique needs of their communities. Please contact the One-Stop Center or Administrator in your local workforce area to learn more about the particular local workforce system in which you are interested. Who is responsible for overseeing the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) workforce system in Georgia? back to top The Governor designated the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) as the state agency responsible for overseeing Georgia’s workforce system. Within GDOL, many divisions contribute toward supporting the system. Oversight is also provided by the Georgia Workforce Investment Board, local workforce boards, and Georgia’s Workforce Leadership Association. Please contact the Career Development Services Division (Workforce investment Act) or the local workforce area for additional information. GDOL Service Directory Can WIA pay for training? back to top Potential resources available to students in Georgia include Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds, Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE), Pell, assistance from entities serving specific populations (e.g., persons receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), older workers, youth) scholarships, and grants. A career advisor at a GDOL career center or other One-Stop Center can help you explore available resources, eligibility criteria, schools and programs, career options, and all of the other things you need to consider before making an application for training. The career advisor will also introduce you to the Individual Training Account (ITA) Eligible Provider/Program List that displays the training programs in Georgia eligible for WIA funding. What is an Individual Training Account (ITA)? back to top ITA stands for the Individual Training Account system, the primary way for Georgia’s adults and dislocated workers to access Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funded occupational training. An Individual Training Account (ITA) is essentially a voucher given to customers who need occupational skills training to become gainfully employed or reemployed. Supported by assessment and informed decision making, customers may use their ITAs to purchase training slots in any program on the eligible program/provider list. Since each of the 20 local workforce boards in Georgia may establish monetary, categorical, and time limits for such vouchers – there may be differences among areas. ITA Eligible Provider/Program List What training providers are eligible to receive Workforce Investment Act (WIA) training services under the Individual Training Account (ITA)? back to top Providers and their programs eligible to apply for approval/certification under the WIA include universities, colleges, community colleges, technical institutes, some proprietary schools, apprenticeship programs, public and private training providers - including entities such as vocational-technical schools, community and faith-based organizations, private training companies, labor organizations, employer organizations, and private individuals. Although it is referred to as an ITA “Eligible Provider List,” isn’t it actually certified program(s) and courses of study that enable a provider to be listed? back to top Yes. Application and inclusion on the list are based on approved individual courses of study, not the provider that operates them. Therefore, providers must submit information with their application addressing each program they would like included on the statewide Eligible Provider list. How do Community Based Organizations (CBOs) that training fit within the ITA eligible provider system? back to top Under WIA, CBOs and faith-based organizations are important partners in Georgia’s workforce system. They may be certified as eligible providers, along with all other providers of adult training services under WIA, by submitting an application to be placed on the statewide Eligible Program/Provider list. In some cases, if the entity is providing on-the-job or customized training, or meets criteria as a targeted hard-to-serve training provider, a different approval process is followed. Are youth eligible to receive Individual Training Accounts (ITA)? back to top Although there are some exceptions for older youth ages 18-21, the ITA system primarily serves adults. Youth ages 14-21 are eligible for a variety of services through WIA directly or through workforce partners, but such youth services are not generally provided through the ITA system. Most youth are served under contracts secured through a competitive procurement process. If a training provider operates a number of different training sites in a number of different counties, where does the training provider send the application for certification? back to top Training providers may submit an application for any program to any local workforce board. Training providers with multiple sites may submit a single application, but must describe unique information (for example, facility location, performance, cost, labor demand) for each separate training site by individual program. If a single course is all that is needed by an individual to either complete a program or obtain employment and they are not completing a whole program, does each course need to be certified and does this count as a completion or not? back to top A program of training includes one or more courses or classes that, upon successful completion, lead to a certificate, diploma, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree. Each course must be certified for inclusion on the statewide ITA list. What is the benefit to providers of including their training program(s) on the Statewide Approved Training Program/Provider List? back to top WIA customers approved for ITA funds can only select from programs on the statewide program/provider list. If a program is not on the list, customers cannot access WIA ITA funds to attend that program. Training programs in demand occupations with successful results will attract more customers. If a program is on the approved statewide list, is it guaranteed ITA customers? back to top No. Although ITA customers can select from the statewide approved training program/ provider list, there is no guarantee that all programs on the list will be selected. Who approves an ITA? back to top Depending upon local policy, the ITA may be approved by a customer’s career advisor, a committee, a representative of a local workforce board, or other mechanisms. This process will reflect what is determined locally to provide the appropriate balance between accountability for training funds and effective customer service. What criteria are used to determine who does and who does not get an Individual Training Account (ITA)? Is it based only on economic need? back to top No. Each local workforce board (there are 20 in Georgia) defines local criteria for providing ITAs based on critical local workforce needs. For example, criteria may be set related to economic development priorities, occupations in demand in the area, and expected wage levels - so long as the criteria are reasonable and uniformly applied. What career direction is provided to customers? back to top Local workforce staff may inform customers and facilitate career decisions. The ultimate training decision, however, rests with the customer within defined local policies and parameters. The career advisor’s role is to provide customers with guidance and feedback from assessment that can help them understand their needs and choices prior to selection of a training program/provider. Is there a maximum ITA dollar amount? back to top Yes. ITA accounts are the responsibility of local workforce boards, which may establish total and categorical caps, length of time, mechanisms for payment, and other criteria. What is the HOPE scholarship and grant? back to top Information on the HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Scholarship Program, including eligibility requirements, academic requirements, award amounts, and the application process can be found at the Georgia Student Finance Commission web site. Georgia Student Finance Commission Where can I find information on the various scholarships, grants, and loans available for college or technical school? back to top There are several sources of information on the various types of financial assistance available to college and technical college students. The Georgia Career Information System (GCIS) is a subscription-based system, developed and maintained by Georgia State University, which contains all types of occupational, career and educational and training information. It has a comprehensive database of financial aid resources. You can access the system at many local school systems or at any GDOL Career Center. For additional information, check out the web sites below. America's Career InfoNet – Scholarship Search. The Georgia Student Finance Commission What is the Jobs for Georgia's Graduates Program? back to top Jobs for Georgia's Graduates (JGG) is a school-to-work transition program designed to provide high school students with preemployment training, work skills, motivational activities, and job development services. The program is a partnership among local schools, businesses, communities, and the Georgia Department of Labor. JGG is affiliated with the Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), the nation's largest school-to-work system, serving 70,000 youth in 26 states. JAG's mission is to keep young people in school through graduation and provide work-based learning experiences that will lead to career advancement opportunities, or to enroll in a postsecondary institution that leads to a rewarding career. There are 38 schools in Georgia with a JGG program; some have the 5-year model where students begin in the 9th grade and others have the senior model for students in the 12th grade only. More information on the JAG model can be found at the link below. Jobs for America's Graduates

	Labor Market Information What are the fastest growing occupations in Georgia? back to top Occupational growth is defined using projections data. These data list the fastest growing jobs (percentage of growth), largest job growth (numerical growth), most annual openings, etc. Fastest growing occupations, defined as a percentage of new growth, also have a minimum of 100 annual openings. Occupations with a high percentage of growth, 100 or more openings per year and higher than average wages earn the distinction of being a “hot job”. Occupational projections are published in Georgia Workforce – Long-term Employment Trends and Georgia Area Workforce Trends (local workforce investment act areas). Georgia Workforce – Long-term Employment Trends How can I get a copy of the GDOL publication, The Career Planner? back to top The Career Planner, as well as many other GDOL labor market publications, can be downloaded in PDF format from this web site. A hard copy can be obtained by contacting the labor market information office in the Service Directory. Service Directory Current Publications Where can I get understandable information about population trends in Georgia? back to top The State Data and Research Center has a variety of economic and demographic data, including statistics from the Census of Population and State of Georgia publications. The Georgia Population Trends section of the Center's web site has a summary report detailing population growth during the decade. Georgia's population grew by 26.4 percent -- from 6,478,149 to 8,186,453 -- in the decade from 1990 to 2000. For more information go to the following web site: Atlanta Census Research Data Center (ACRDC)

	Laws and Regulations What is JAN (Job Accommodation Network)? back to top JAN, a service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, is a toll-free and Internet resource for anyone who has questions about job accommodations, or about the employment sections of the ADA. Trained consultants respond to questions and offer suggestions for additional resources. Check the web site below for more information. Job Accommodation Network

	Occupational Information What is the new O*NET System? back to top O*NET, the Occupational Information Network, is the USDOL-sponsored comprehensive database of worker attributes and job characteristics. It replaces the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) as the nation's primary source of occupational information, and provides a common language for defining and describing occupations. More information about O*NET and its many useful tools for professionals can be found at the following web site: O*NET Center Can you recommend some tools for helping individuals identify their skills for the purpose of developing a résumé? back to top In addition to the O*NET tools discussed in a previous FAQ, America's Career InfoNet has a Skills Profiler, which is a very good tool for identifying an individual's skills for specific occupations. It can be found at the following site: Skills Profiler

	Professional Development What is a good Workforce Investment System (WIS) resource for a workforce professional who wants to know the latest information, trends, and solutions? back to top The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) has a web space which contains resources, updates, and links to assist workforce professionals in serving the needs of workers and businesses. The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) has a Legislative News section noting developments on such topics as budget issues, guidelines, and Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization. USDOL Workforce NASWA News

	Programs What is the TOPPSTEP program? back to top TOPPSTEP stands for The Offender Parolee Probationer State Training Employment Program. The goal is to help offenders transition back into society through the provision of resource and support information, academic and vocational instruction, and job placement services. It is a partnership among the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Georgia Department of Labor. TOPPSTEP staff is located in GDOL Career Centers.

	Reemployment Programs What is the status of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? back to top NAFTA and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) were repealed and have been consolidated into one program by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002. The new act expands eligibility and increases timeliness for benefits. Workers whose employment was adversely affected as a result of increased imports from, or shifts in production to, foreign countries may apply for TAA. The program offers a variety of benefits and reemployment services, such as training, job search and relocation allowance, income support, and other services to assist workers prepare for and obtain suitable employment. See the following USDOL web site for more detailed information: Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)