A Quick Guide
to
Youth Councils
In North Carolina

as established by
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998

North Carolina Department of Commerce
Division of Employment and Training

Youth Councils in North Carolina…..Start Here

What is the Workforce Investment Act?

Briefly, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is the nation’s principal workforce development legislation, replacing the Job Training Partnership Act. It provides funds to address the employment and training needs of adults, dislocated workers and youth. In North Carolina, programs are delivered through a network of twenty-five Local Areas, each with a business-led policy and oversight board called a Workforce Development Board (WDB). Board members are appointed by local elected officials.

The youth program is designed to create local youth systems that are closely linked to the labor market and provide youth with a set of year-round comprehensive service strategies based on the youth’s individualized assessment. The youth program blends youth development activities with traditional employment and training activities.

What is a Youth Council?

The Youth Council is a new feature of the workforce development system mandated by the Workforce Investment Act. It provides a unique opportunity for the local community to create, through a common vision, a system of activities and services that will enable youth to be successful in education and the workplace, and to become leaders in their community. Twenty-five Youth Councils across North Carolina are working to establish local youth development systems and to make youth policy recommendations to local Workforce Development Boards.

What does the Youth Council do?

The Youth Council identifies both duplication and gaps in the services and activities offered to area youth, works to address the needs of the youth population as a whole, and emphasizes the importance of continuity of service in appropriately meeting the complex needs of both in-school and out-of-school youth.

The Youth Council is actively engaged in planning and managing WIA youth funds received in their Local Area, as well as:

• Building community awareness and demonstrating leadership by addressing key development, education and employment issues affecting youth;
• Facilitating the coordination of youth activities in the community; and
• Influencing and leveraging other community youth funds and services.

Is there a mechanism for youth input?

Absolutely. The input of youth is a vital component in the development of a system that most directly affects them. Efforts will be ongoing to ensure their active participation, as well as that of parents.

Who are the members of the Youth Council?

Youth Council members are members of the community who have a special interest or expertise in youth policy. The membership of the Youth Council must include individuals who represent:

• The local Workforce Development Board and who have special interest or expertise in youth policy;
• Service agencies, such as juvenile justice and local law enforcement agencies;
• Local public housing authorities;
• Parents of eligible youth seeking assistance under WIA;
• Organizations that have experience relating to youth activities;
• Job Corps Centers, if a Center is located in the Local Area; and
• Other individuals, including former participants.

While the Act requires certain representation, it also leaves considerable discretion to determine the appropriate additional members needed to create a Youth Council that best represents the community and one that will be successful in accomplishing the goals of the Youth Council. For example, many Youth Councils include youth members as well as representatives from business and education. There is no mandated size, but the typical Youth Council has 20-25 members, appointed by the Workforce Development Board, with input from local elected officials.

What are the Youth Council’s roles and responsibilities?

The Youth Council provides expertise in youth policy to enable the Workforce Development Board to:

• Create a strategic plan using labor market information and other community data;
• Craft the parameters for a Request for Proposals to direct how local WIA youth services are to be delivered, select WIA youth service providers, and conduct oversight;
• Broaden the youth employment and training focus in the community to incorporate a youth development perspective; and
• Promote and market goals, activities and accomplishments of the Youth Council.

Accept the challenge!

Youth Council members are called upon to serve as advocates for Local Area youth and to ensure the provision and coordination of workforce training activities. For more information, visit www.ncdet.com or contact the North Carolina Division of Employment and Training at 1-800-562-6333.