Policy Chapters and Sections

Required Career Services

Chapter: 4 Section: 1.3
Effective Date: 3/16/2022
Expiration Date: Continuing
Published Date: 3/16/2022 12:50:46 PM
Status: Current
Version: 1

Tags: One-Stop

  1. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) authorizes basic career services, individualized career services, and follow-up services.
    1. Local Workforce Innovation Boards (LWIBs) must ensure that coordination between partner programs providing basic and individualized career services:
      1. Is described in the Memorandum of Understanding as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) section of the policy manual which includes the Governor’s Guidelines (See the Governor’s Guidelines to State and Local Program Partners Negotiating Costs and Services Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 link on the References tab.);
        1. The list of career services required to be provided at the Illinois workNet Centers by partner program is included in the Governor’s Guidelines.
      2. Follows the guidance found in the One-Stop Delivery System Under WIOA section of the policy manual; and
      3. Strives to reach integration as outlined in the Service Integration section of the policy manual.
    2. Funds under the Title III Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Services program must be used to provide basic career services and may be used to provide individualized career services consistent with the Wagner-Peyser Act.   Basic career services provided by the Title III Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Services program are available to anyone who is legally entitled to work in the United States regardless of age or employment.
    3. Although WIOA distinguishes levels of service, this distinction is not intended to imply that there is a sequence of services between basic and individualized career services or training. These services can be provided in any order which allows the flexibility to target services to the needs of the customer.
    4. Career services under this approach provide local areas and service providers with the flexibility to target services that meet the needs of the customer, while still allowing for tracking of outcomes for reporting purposes.
  2. Basic Career Services
    1. Basic career services are universally accessible and must be made available to all individuals seeking employment and training services in at least one comprehensive Illinois workNet Center per local area. Generally, these services involve less staff time and involvement. These services must be provided by both the Title IB Adult and Dislocated Worker programs, as well as the Title III Wagner-Peyser Employment Service program per 20 CFR 652.206.
    2. Basic career services include:
      1. Determinations of whether the individuals are eligible to receive assistance under WIOA Title IB;
      2. The information and other services available through the local Illinois workNet Center through:
        1. Outreach;
        2. Intake (which may include worker profiling); and
        3. Orientation.
      3. Initial assessment of the following:
        1. Skill levels;
        2. Aptitudes;
        3. Abilities; and
        4. Supportive service needs.
      4. Employment assistance including:
        1. Job search;
        2. Placement assistance; and
        3. Where appropriate, career counseling.
      5. Provision of referrals to and coordination of activities with other programs and services, including programs and services within the one-stop delivery system;
      6. Provision of accurate employment statistics information relating to the local, regional, and national labor market areas, including:
        1. Job vacancy listings in such labor market areas;
        2. Information on job skills necessary to obtain the vacant jobs listed; and
        3. Information relating to local occupations in demand and the earnings and skill requirements for such occupations.
      7. Provision of performance information and program cost information for the following:
        1. Eligible providers of training services;
        2. Eligible providers of youth activities;
        3. Providers of adult education described in Title II;
        4. Providers of postsecondary vocational education activities and vocational education activities available to school dropouts; and
        5. Providers of vocational rehabilitation program activities.
      8. Provision of information regarding how the local area is performing on the local performance measures and any additional performance information concerning the one-stop delivery system.
      9. Provision of accurate information relating to the availability of and referral to supportive services, including (but not limited to):
        1. Childcare; and
        2. Transportation.
      10. Provision of information and meaningful assistance to individuals seeking assistance in filing a claim for unemployment compensation.
      11. Assistance in establishing eligibility for Programs of financial aid assistance for training and education programs that are not funded under WIOA and are available in the local area.
  3. Individualized Career Services
    1. Individualized career services to Title IB Adult and Dislocated Worker participants can only be provided after Illinois workNet Center staff determine that such services are required to retain or obtain employment, consistent with any applicable statutory priorities.
    2. The provision of individualized career services by the WIOA Title I Adult and Dislocated Worker programs must be based on the employment needs of the individual as determined jointly by the individual and the career planner and must be identified through an individual employment plan (IEP).
    3. Generally, individualized career services involve significant staff time since they must be customized to each individual’s needs.
    4. Individualized career services include:
      1. Comprehensive and specialized assessments of the skill levels and service needs of adults and dislocated workers, which may include:
        1. Diagnostic testing and use of other assessment tools; and
        2. In-depth interviewing and evaluation to identify employment barriers and appropriate employment goals;
      2. Development of an individual employment plan, to identify the employment goals, appropriate achievement objectives, and appropriate combination of services for the participant to achieve his or her employment goals, including the list of, and information about, the eligible training providers;
      3. Group counseling;
      4. Individual counseling;
      5. Career planning;
      6. Short-term pre-vocational services including development of learning skills, communication skills, interviewing skills, punctuality, personal maintenance skills, and professional conduct services to prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment or training;
      7. Internships and work experiences that are linked to careers;
      8. Workforce preparation activities;
      9. Financial literacy services;
      10. Out-of-area job search assistance and relocation assistance; and
      11. English language acquisition and integrated education and training programs.
  4. Follow-up Services
    1. Adults and dislocated worker participants who are placed in unsubsidized employment, must receive follow-up services for up to 12 months after the first day of employment. The state’s policy on follow-up services is detailed in the Follow-Up section of the policy manual. 
    2. LWIBs must establish a Follow-up Services policy that aligns with the state’s policy and defines what are considered to be appropriate follow-up services, as well as policies for identifying when to provide follow-up services to participants.