Adult and Dislocated Worker

There are many situations that can occur to an employee to cause that person to qualify as a Dislocated Worker under the Workforce Investment Act.  Possibly that worker has been laid off from a long-term job and has very little hope of returning to that employer or industry.  He or she could have been an unpaid caregiver to the family and dependent upon someone else's income.  Self-employed workers who have faced natural disasters or local economic downturns also qualify for help under this program.  

• "Adult" is defined as an individual 18 years or older

• A Dislocated Worker is one who –

  Has been terminated or laid off
  (or has received notice of a termination or lay off)
  and
  is eligible for unemployment or have exhausted unemployment benefits

A Dislocated Worker:

1. May have worked for and extended time in a job that did not provide unemployment insurance benefits
2. May be unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation
3. Could have lost a job or received a notice of layoff due to a closure or substantial layoff – or received a notice of general layoff within 180 days
4. May have been self employed, like a farmer, rancher, or fisherman, yet because of local economic conditions or a natural disaster, that source of employment has ended
5. is a displaced homemaker

WIA funds are appropriated through the Employment and Training Division to provide core, intensive and training services through Oklahoma’s Workforce Investment System.

Most people who walk into a Workforce Oklahoma Center are in search of information. They want to know where the job openings are, what kinds of training is available to them, create a resume, etc. These are "Core

Services", available to everyone through the Workforce Oklahoma Centers, usually with limited assistance. Our full-service, comprehensive centers have Career Resource Centers, an area set aside for self-help, or limited assistance, much like a community library. We provide computers and software for you to prepare a resume, for instance, with books and videos nearby to guide you. If you find that you need additional help, a staff member is always available to you.

Core services may include:

• Employment information, including job vacancy listings, skills necessary to obtain employment in specific jobs, and earnings and skill requirements for occupations in the local, regional and national labor markets.
• Information regarding filing claims for unemployment compensation.
• Eligibility determination for services requiring criteria-tested eligibility.
• Outreach and orientation to Workforce Center services
• Information on eligible training providers
• Information on supportive services, including transportation, childcare and referral to such services, as appropriate
• Welfare-to-Work activities and financial aid for training and education not funded under WIA
• Job Search and placement assistance and, where appropriate, career counseling
• Initial assessment of skill levels, aptitudes and supportive service needs.
• Follow-up services

Intensive Services may be provided when initial assessment determines the individual is unable to obtain or retain employment by receiving only the core services.

Intensive Services may include:

• Diagnostic testing and in-depth interviewing to identify employment barriers and employment goals.
• An individual employment plan to identify employment goals and an appropriate combination of services for the person to achieve those goals.
• Group counseling
• Individual counseling and career planning
• Case management for customers seeking training services
• Short-term skill-building individually or in a group setting including, but not limited to: Punctuality, professional conduct, communication skills, personal maintenance, etc.

Training Services may be available when the interview, evaluation or assessment and case management have determined that the individual is unable to obtain or retain employment with only intensive services.

Training Services may include:

• Occupation skill training
• On-the-job training
• Programs that combine workplace training with related instruction that could include cooperative education programs.
• Training programs operated by private businesses
• Skill upgrading and retraining
• Entrepreneurial training
• Job readiness training
• Adult education and literacy activities provided in combination with other skill training services listed above
• Customized training conducted with a commitment from an employer or group of employers to hire those who successfully complete the training.

To find out more about this program, please contact Jackie Younge, (405) 557-5314