Youth

WIOA Youth is a federally funded program built to empower youth and foster a modern workforce. WIOA Youth is for individuals between the ages of 14-24 years of age, and assists with a variety of barriers. The purpose of WIOA Youth is to help our youth, our future, to overcome barriers that hinder them from being successful. WIOA Youth program is in place to encourage responsibility, accountability, and self-sufficiency.

Program Services

Under Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, the WIOA Youth program provides funds to states and outlying areas. States provide local workforce development areas resources to deliver comprehensive youth services that focus on assisting out-of-school youth and in-school youth, with one or more barriers to employment, prepare for employment and postsecondary education opportunities; attain educational and/or skills training credentials; and secure employment with career/promotional opportunities.

The WIOA Youth program includes the following program elements: tutoring; alternative secondary school services; paid and unpaid work experiences, which include: summer and year round employment opportunities, pre-apprenticeship programs, internships and job shadowing, and on-the-job training; occupational skill training; education offered concurrently with workforce preparation and training; leadership development opportunities; supportive services; mentoring; follow-up services; comprehensive guidance and counseling; financial literacy education; entrepreneurial skills training; services that provide labor market and employment information; and postsecondary education and training preparation activities.

Eligibility/Target Population: Out-of-school youth (OSY) and in-school youth (ISY)

An OSY is an individual who is:
(a) Not attending any school (as defined under State law);
(b) Not younger than age 16 or older than age 24 at time of enrollment; and
(c) One or more of the following:
     (1) A school dropout;
     (2) A youth who is within the age of compulsory school attendance, but has not attended school for at least the most recent complete school year calendar quarter;
     (3) A recipient of a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent who is a low-income individual and is either basic skills deficient or an English language learner;
     (4) An offender;
     (5) A homeless individual, a homeless child or youth, or a runaway;
     (6) An individual in foster care or who has aged out of the foster care system or who has attained 16 years of age and left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption, a child eligible for assistance under sec. 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677), or in an out-of-home placement;
     (7) An individual who is pregnant or parenting;
     (8) An individual with a disability; or
     (9) A low-income individual who requires additional assistance to enter or complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment.

An ISY is an individual who is:
(a) Attending school (as defined by State law), including secondary and postsecondary school;
(b) Not younger than age 14 or (unless an individual with a disability who is attending school under State law) older than age 21 at time of enrollment;
(c) A low-income individual; and
(d) One or more of the following:
     (1) Basic skills deficient;
     (2) An English language learner;
     (3) An offender;
     (4) A homeless individual, a homeless child or youth, or a runaway;
     (5) An individual in foster care or who has aged out of the foster care system or who has attained 16 years of age and left foster care for kinship guardianship or adoption, a child eligible for assistance under sec. 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677), or in an out-of-home placement;
     (6) An individual who is pregnant or parenting;
     (7) An individual with a disability; or
     (8) An individual who requires additional assistance to complete an educational program or to secure or hold employment. 

Meet the Youth Team...

Vacant

WIOA Youth
Program Specialist 
(Claiborne & Webster)

902 Lee St. Minden, LA 71055

Phone: (318) 205-3113
Fax: (318) 371-3396

[email protected]

Vacant

WIOA Youth
Program Specialist
(DeSoto & Red River)

4000 Viking Drive
Suite B-1
Bossier City, LA 71111

Phone: (318) 963-1518
Fax: (318) 632-2099

[email protected]

Billie Hummel 

WIOA Youth
Eligibility Coordinator
(All Locations)

4000 Viking Drive Suite A-1 Bossier City, LA 71111

Phone: (318) 632-2022 ext: 119
Fax: (318) 632-2099

[email protected]

Natalie O'Rourke

Youth Business Services Representative (North) 

307 N. Homer Street
Suite 307
Ruston, LA 71270

Phone: (318) 517-7557
Fax: (318) 251-5060

[email protected]

Caleb Stacey

Youth Business Services Representative (South)

4000 Viking Drive
Suite B-1
Bossier City, LA 71111

Phone: (318) 963-1514
Fax: (318) 632-2099

[email protected]

Cedric Thompson

WIOA Youth
Program Specialist
(Bossier & Caddo)

4000 Viking Drive
Suite B-1
Bossier City, LA 71111

Phone: (318) 540-6985
Fax: (318) 632-2099

[email protected]

Vacant

WIOA Youth
Program Specialist
(Sabine & Natchitoches)

1125 W. Mississippi Ave.,
Suite F
Many, LA 71449

Phone: (318) 532-1733
Fax: (318) 256-3283

[email protected]

Vacant

WIOA Youth
Program Specialist
(Bienville & Lincoln)

307 N. Homer Street
Suite 307
Ruston, LA 71270

Phone: (318) 584-0161
Fax: (318) 251-5060

[email protected]

Pre-Screening Application

If you are interested in the WIOA Youth Program please complete the Pre-Screening Application, and a staff member will be in contact with you soon!

Pre-Screening Application

Equal opportunity employer/program  |  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities  |  TYY: 1-800-846-5277