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Youth Councils in North Carolina ..... Start Here <br /> <br />What is the Workforce Investment Act? <br /> <br />Briefly, the Workforce Investment Act (WlA) is the nation's principal workforce developmem <br />legislation, replacing the Job Training Partnership Act. It provides funds to address the employment <br />and training needs of adults, dislocated workers and youth. In North Carolina, programs are delivered <br />through a network of twenty-five Local Areas, each With a business-led policy and oversight board <br />called a Workforce Development Board (WDB). Board members are appointed by local elected <br />officials. <br /> <br />The youth program is designed to create local youth systems that are closely linked to the labor market <br />mad provide youth with a set of year-round comprehensive service strategies based on the youth's <br />individuahzed assessment. The youth program blends youth development activities with traditional <br />employment and training activities. <br /> <br />Ilqtat is a Youth Council? <br /> <br />The Youth Council is a new feature of the workforce development system mandated by the Workforce <br />Investment Act.- It provides a unique opportunity for the local community to create, through a con'anon <br />vision, a system of activities and services that will enable youth to be successful in education and the <br />workplace, and to become leaders in their community. Twenty-five Youth Councils across North <br />Carolina are working to establish local youth development systems and to make youth policy <br />reconunendations to local Workforce Development Boards. <br /> <br />What does the Youth Council do? <br /> <br />The Youth Council identifies both duplication and gaps in the services and activities offered to area <br />youth, works to address the needs of the youth population as a whole, and emphasizes the importance of <br />continuity of service in appropriately meeting the complex needs of both in-school and out-of-school. <br />youth. <br /> <br />The Youth Council is actively engaged in planning and managing WIA youth fmads received in their <br />Local Area, as well .as: <br />~ Building community awareness and demonstrating leadership by addressing key development, <br /> education and employment issues affecting youth; <br />~ Facilitating the coordination of youth activities in the community; and <br />,~ Influencing and leveraging other community youth funds and services. <br /> <br />Is there a mechanism for youth input? <br /> <br />Absolutely. The input of youth is a vital component in the development of a system that most directly <br />affects them. Efforts will be ongoing to ensure their active participation, as well as that of parents. <br /> <br /> <br />