Workforce Development Board of Madera County

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) The WIOA enacted in 2015 is a Federal Act designed to strengthen and improve our nations public workforce system and help get Americans, such as veterans, low income, unemployed, youth, and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy.

Community Benefit Support: Other program services include the Wells Fargo Foundation grant, Kaiser Community Services grant. The Wells Fargo funding provides Hi-Set classes, including a laptop for remote learning, for those participants needing to obtain their GED in order for them to continue into training and/or become employed. Kaiser Community funding assist individuals needing to obtain legal status and right to work documents. Individuals are also assisted with other needs such as training, support services, employment and community referrals.

Community Corrections: Madera County Department of Corrections (MCDC) probation and juvenile detention facility Career counseling, career development workshops and assessments are provided on site at the MCDC to improve the vocational aptitude of offenders, both adult and youth while in custody and while on probation, to increase the likelihood of their secured employment and to reduce recidivism. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and Prison to Employment - Prison to employment funding allows local AJCC programs to assist State institutionalized residents nearing parole with skills and needs assessment, labor market data, referrals to appropriate community resources, development of a job search portfolio, and job readiness. Upon release, parolees are then connected to local AJCC centers, where career counselors review their portfolio and skills assessment and are able to connect individuals to job training and/or job placement. The direct partnership between rehabilitative programs within CDCR and the state workforce system will help to improve labor market outcomes and reduce recidivism.