Individuals who qualify for the WIA program receive services to help them become self-sufficient. These services include:
Listed below are the three categories and eligibility criteria for clients that may qualify for WIA services:
Dislocated Workers: - Individuals, 18 years and older, that have lost their employment due to a permanent layoff, plant closure, fired, or displaced homemaker. Household income is not an eligibility factor.
Youth - Individuals ages 14 through 21, who are a member of a household that receives public assistance:
Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or meets income eligibility criteria AND who have a youth barrier. Youth Barriers: Basic skills deficient, pregnant/parenting, school dropout, youth with disabilities, offender, homeless or runaway, or need additional assistance to complete an education program or
to secure and retain employment.
Adults - Individuals, age 18 or older, who are a member of a household that receives public assistance: Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or meets income eligibility criteria.
Individuals who are currently receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) AND who are referred for CAP services by the Family Support Division (FSD) are eligible. The Career Assistance program works with individuals receiving TANF to help them become job ready.
Individuals receive a complete assessment and orientation to help them explore career choices and aptitudes. Staff provide case management services to the individuals to assist them in overcoming barriers that may prevent them from obtaining or keeping employment. Each participant is required to be in acceptable activities for a specific number of hours each week. Participants who are in an acceptable work or school related activity, where travel is involved, may receive a travel allowance payment. This payment is called a Transportation Related Expense and is $5.00 to $10.00 per day depending upon the distance traveled. Participants may also receive up to $350.00 per year to help with Work Related Expenses (i.e. uniforms, steel toed shoes, etc.). Tuition assistance for approved programs and schools may also be available.
The Employment and Training department is also awarded grant money each year to operate special projects
for the C-WIB. Current projects include:
Skills, Tasks and Results Training (START) - Workforce Development Initiative designed to offer enhanced access to education, training and employment opportunities in the lodging and hospitality industry.
Skills Gap Initiative
Rural Medical Employment Development & Career Awareness Program (MEDCAP) - This project will offer enhanced access to education and employment opportunities in the nursing profession, by assisting low income clients residing in rural communities with career awareness, access to educational funds and job placement assistance for employment in the rural health care industry.
Incumbent Worker Skills Shortage - Provide a solution to a stated need by offering effective, low cost supervisor/management training to Central Region employees.
Career Center Enhancement - This grant will enhance two Career Centers in our 8 county area to redirect the center's focus from individual programs service delivery to a team approach designed to fully integrate service provision and tracking systems.
Guard at Home - This program is funded through federal workforce funds and is designed to help the spouses of Missouri Guard and Reserve Troops who have been activated.
Employment and training programs are available in all 8 counties, however in Columbia, Jefferson City and Mexico, CMCA operates Career Centers. Missouri Career Centers are "one-stop-shops" for all employment and training needs. CMCA and the Division of Workforce Development will work together to enhance service integration. Information regarding the services available at the Career Centers can be found at the Division of Workforce Development.