On August 15th, US DOL announced a series of webinars to engage the public in implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The Act was signed into law by President Obama on July 22, 2014.

The full announcement can be found at http://wdr.doleta.gov/directives/attach/TEN/TEN_6-14.pdf

Employers, states and their representatives are encouraged to participate in these webinars. The time frame to sign up for a number of the webinars is short.

US DOL is using the webinars as a vehicle to receive input from stakeholders in the public workforce system as WIOA is implemented. The webinars by date and topic include.

August 21                            Strengthening the One Stop System

August 22                            Job-Driven Training for Adults and Dislocated Workers

August 25                            Integrated Performance Reporting and ETPL

August 26                            Consultation with Consumers, Advocacy Groups, and Direct Service Providers on Services for Individuals with Disabilities

August 28                            The Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Program

September 2                      Services to Individuals with Disabilities

September 5                      Services to Disconnected Youth

September 11                   Strategic Program Alignment and Unified Planning

September 12                   WIOA and Registered Apprenticeship

September 15                   The Indian and Native American Program

All webinars are scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. Eastern and last for 1 hour.

Granted the amount of time and format may make it difficult to have a policy discussion, however, it is an opportunity to make your suggestions and raise issues for consideration as the WIOA is implemented.

US DOL indicates that it will share the discussion questions for each webinar in advance on the Webinar registration page at http://www.doleta.gov/WIOA

To register to participate in one or more Webinars go to http://www.doleta.gov/WIOA.