Youth

WorkOne helps young people prepare for career success.

We help young people, ages 16 to 24, assess their skills and navigate a job search that gets them on a career path toward their goals.

We Offer:

• Career Guidance
• Earn $$$ While You Learn
• Work-Based Learning
• Training Opportunities
• Adult Literacy

All WorkOne services are free.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 enacted a youth program serving eligible low-income youth, ages 16-24, who face barriers to employment. WorkOne offices throughout Northwest Indiana provide WIOA services to at-risk youth.

Young Adult Services:

• Career Pathway: Youth staff work with Adult Education students transitioning to post-secondary education. This program assists in career exploration, applying to post-secondary institutions, and financial aid resources through a series of workshops. Successful participants in Career Pathway receive scholarships and transition to post-secondary education when completed.
• Work-Based Learning: Many youths lack a work history as well as the skills needed for successful employment. A youth is placed at a work site for temporary employment. During work-based learning, a youth learns more about an actual work environment while gaining job skills by participating in the work site’s programs. These programs can include work experience, internships, pre-apprenticeships, or on-the-job training (OJT).
• Occupational Skills Training: Many youths lack occupational skills needed to move forward in their career. Young people can train in a variety of in-demand occupations.
• Job Search Assistance: Youth staff work with you to improve job search techniques to gain employment.

Goals of the WIOA Youth Program:

• For those youth in high school or post-secondary training to complete their education and obtain a diploma, certification, or degree.
• Placement into employment or post-secondary education.
• To increase skills gained during and after the program in the follow-up phase.
• To provide 12 months of follow-up services.

Resources

JobWorks serving Jasper, Newton, Pulaski, and Starke Counties:

• JobWorks, Inc. provides services for out-of-school youth in Jasper, Newton, Pulaski, and Starke Counties. They also provide services to youth enrolled at Center of Workforce Innovations Adult Education locations. Finally, they operate the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) programming for in-school youth at various high schools.

Goodwill Industries of Michiana:

• Provides services for out-of-school youth in Gary, Hammond, LaPorte, Michigan City, and Portage WorkOne locations and operates the Out-of-School JAG program at the Gary WorkOne office.

Find a Job:

• Looking for a job locally or statewide? Indiana Career Connect (ICC) is Indiana’s premier source.

Training & Education:

• When you are young, getting a decent job or just figuring out what you want to do with your future can be challenging.

Young Adult Toolkit:

Northwest Indiana WorkOne Youth Career Advisors and their providers are ready to help in making sure you have the tools you need.

• For those youth in high school or post-secondary training to complete their education and obtain a diploma, certification, or degree.
• Placement into employment or post-secondary education.
• To increase skills gained during and after the program in the follow-up phase.
• To provide 12 months of follow-up services.