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Welcome to
The Muskingum County Opportunity Center

Need Directions?

Visit us at 503 Main Street   Zanesville Ohio 43701 or Call (740) 454-6211 Toll Free: 1-866-609-6262

 

To Download "MUSKINGUM COUNTY'S 5 YEAR PLAN . . . Click on the Link below.

 

 

Workforce Investment Act Information

 

On August 7, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). This piece of legislation supersedes the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA).

  JTPA was the legislation governing the Federal Employment and Training programs.

WIA was designed to reform the Federal Job Training programs and to create a new comprehensive workforce investment system.

The system is intended to be customer focused and to help Americans access the tools they need to manage their careers through information and high quality services. It was also designed to help U.S. companies find skilled workers.

  1. Streamlining of services (Through a "One Stop Delivery System")
  2. Empowering individuals (Through Individual Training Accounts for training)
  3. Universal Access (Any individual can access "Core Services")
  4. Increased Accountability (Through Performance Measures)
  5. Local Workforce Boards (Private Sector driven)
  6. State and local flexibility (Systems developed at the local level)
  7. Improved Youth programs (Linked closely w/local Labor market needs)

Ohio's Legislative response to the Federal law was to pass it's own version of a workforce development system, HB470 known as the "Ohio Option".

Muskingum County implemented the new WIA Legislation on July 1, 2000 as a member of a three county consortium.

On July 1,2001 Muskingum County chose to become a Workforce development Area of its own.

WIA Services are divided into three categories:

  1. Core Services are available to a universal customer.
  2. Intensive Services are offered to those customers meeting WIA eligibility criteria.
  3. Training Services are offered to customers meeting eligibility criteria and the training is in a "Demand Occupation" for the local area.

 

 

Explanation of services provided by the muskingum county opportunity center

 

CORE SERVICES

INTENSIVE SERVICES

TRAINING SERVICES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORE SERVICES:

<----------  Visit The "Job Seeker Services" page for more info on CORE Services...

Core Services will be offered to a universal population for those individuals who need little or no assistance in accessing these services and will be utilized in a self -directed way. There will be no eligibility requirements for the provision of Core Services and they will include but, are not limited to:

  1. Information on current job postings, skills necessary to obtain employment in specific jobs and demand occupations, as well as the wages, benefits and skill requirements for those occupations in the local, regional and national labor markets.
  2. Job search, placement access and assistance. Job counseling when appropriate.
  3. Initial assessment of skill levels, aptitudes, and abilities.
  4. Information regarding performance and cost on training providers.
  5. Information on filing claims for unemployment insurance benefits.
  6. Preliminary determination of eligibility for other benefits from partner agencies.
  7. Linkage and referrals to other partner agencies.
  8. Follow up services.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTENSIVE SERVICES:

Intensive Services will be provided when it is determined by initial assessment that the individual is unable to obtain/retain employment through core services. Intensive services are provided in accordance with local criteria as outlined in the MGM Consortium agreement priorities. Intensive services include but, are not limited to:

  1. Comprehensive or special assessments of skill levels and service needs which may include diagnostic testing and in-depth interviewing to identify employment barriers and employment goals.
  2. Development of an individual employment plan to identify employment goals and combination of services for the participant to achieve self -sufficiency.
  3. Counseling, (Individual or group)
  4. Career Planning
  5. Case Management/follow-up services
  6. Job Search skill training, including communication skills, personal skills, behavior skills, retention skills training.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRAINING SERVICES:

Training services will be available to those individuals who meet eligibility requirements as required by the funding source requirements. The need for training in a particular area must be documented in the individuals employment and/or self-sufficiency plan.

Customers will be given a training voucher not to exceed the amount set by the Workforce Policy Board. This voucher can be redeemed at any training facility on the list of training facilities certified by the State of Ohio.

Click for Downloadable file