Careersource Heartland

The Workforce innovation and opportunity act (wioa) is designed to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational rehabilitation programs, to empower individuals to obtain the skills needed to overcome barriers to employment and to obtain employment resulting in self-sufficiency. The wioa program provides services to three categories of individuals - adults, dislocated workers, and youth. The adult program provides employment and training services to help individuals 18 years of age and older find and qualify for meaningful employment. Employment and training services include job search, referral and placement services, skill evaluation and assistance, career services, case management, and job training. The dislocated worker program is designed to provide employment and training services to individuals who have been terminated or laid off from their job and are eligible for or have exhausted their reemployment benefits. In-school and out-of-school youth between the ages of 16 to 24 who meet income requirements and face one or more barriers to employment received services through Careersource Heartland and competitive contracts with south Florida state college. The in-school youth program provides support to eligible youth in need of additional services to complete high school and develop work readiness skills. The out-of-school youth program provides support and education for at-risk youth who are not enrolled in school at the time of registration, to promote general equivalency diploma (ged) obtainment, job training and employment.

Wagner-peyser (wp) is the labor exchange program that brings together individuals who are seeking employment and employers who are seeking employees. Careersource Heartland staff provides assistance to job seekers to find employment, assists employers in filling jobs, and facilitates the match between job seekers and employers. Services are available for use by all citizens and employers. Resources available for Workforce related activities include: computers with internet access to posted classified ads and other job openings, state and local business job applications, initial assessments of skill levels, aptitudes, and abilities, job search and placement assistance, labor market information, employability skills workshops, facsimile and copying services, workspace and phone access, videos on various employment topics, information on veteran services, information on migrant and seasonal farm worker program, and information on educational and training opportunities and financial resources. Services provided to veterans may include assessment, career services, referral to supportive services, referral to job-focused and outcome-driven training, job development services and employer visits, job referrals, and outreach. Careersource Heartland centers provide priority of service to veterans and eligible spouses. Priority of service to veterans is defined as the right to take precedence, in the receipt of services and resources, over non-covered persons. Non-covered persons are those determined to not be a veteran or an eligible spouse. Federal regulation requires that states ensure the provision of quality employment services to migrant and seasonal farm workers (msfws). The state of Florida assures compliance through the local Workforce development boards (lwdb), and including Careersource Heartland. Due to significant agricultural activity and large numbers of msfw applicants, Careersource Heartland has one career center designated as a significant msfw area in Florida (the hardee county one-stop career center). One-full time, year-round staff member conducts outreach activities to accomplish maximum penetration into the farm worker population. The outreach specialist informs msfws about services and employment opportunities, and provides referrals for support services, job placement, and job training.

The welfare transition program (wtp) enables welfare recipients to move from welfare to work by emphasizing self-sufficiency and personal responsibility. Recipients of temporary cash assistance must register for work and participate in assigned work activities. Careersource Heartland staff works with registered customers to help them gain employment through skills attainment, planning, and activities to overcome barriers.

The supplemental nutrition assistance program (snap) is designed to assist 'able-bodied adults without dependents (abawd)' receiving food stamps obtain employment. The program emphazises work, self-sufficiency and personal responsibility. Careersource Heartland administers the employment and training component by engaging participants in work activities until employment is achieved. Local grant funding provided assistance with staff training and with the organization's operational costs in response to the impact of the pandemic.