The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) requires areas and workforce investment boards to create a team of community leaders to develop a regional vision for youth in communities. The Youth Council will improve educational attainment, prepare young people for success in the labor market, support young people and develop the potential youth possess to be good citizens and outstanding leaders.

Youth Councils provide an excellent opportunity to re-examine the way in which we prepare young people - tomorrow's workforce - for tomorrow's workplace. WIA takes into account the growing consensus that young people making the transition to working adulthood need both supports and opportunities that address the whole individual, not only training and skills programs. WIA also emphasizes how important it is for communities to work together to forge a youth development system.

Purpose of the Youth Council

The purpose of the Youth Council is to:

• Develop and recommend local youth employment and training policy and practice
• Broaden employment and training focus/policy in the community to incorporate a youth development perspective
• Establish linkages with other organizations serving youth in the local area
• Evaluate a range of issues that can impact young people's success in the labor market.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Youth Council (CFR 661.340)

• Develop parts of the local plan relating to eligible youth, as determined by the chair of the Local Workforce Investment Board
• Recommend eligible service providers to be awarded grants on a competitive basis to carry out youth activities under WIA, subject to approval of the LWIB
• Oversee the youth service planning process
• Determine youth and business service needs, gaps and duplications
• Design and develop a system of youth workforce development services
• Undertake collaborative planning for local youth workforce development activities
• Explore and leverage public and private resources
• Make funding recommendations to Board
• Develop collaborative RFPs for local youth services and service delivery
• Advocate on behalf of youth for appropriate and needed service interventions