WIA (work force investment act) Program
Participant Policies and Procedures
All participants must read and sign the Participant Policies and Procedures before entering the WIA Program. A copy will be given to the participant and one placed in their personnel file.
ACADEMICS
The purpose of the Work Force Investment Act (WIA) is for employment readiness training. All services are open entry/open exit. Education classes offered on-site include Adult Basic Education and General Education Preparedness (GED). Vocational Training includes Business Education Workshop. Support Services offered are Career Search/Job Development, Resume Writing, Interview Skills.
In order to enroll in Vocational Training classes you must have a High School Diploma or a GED Certificate.
WORK EXPERIENCE
The purpose of the Work Experience Program is to offer participants on-the-job training in an area of career development. Participant will be placed in positions by the Job Developer or Program Manager that offer appropriate training opportunities for participants. Participants are required to comply with all employment regulations and policies of said employer they are placed with. Participant must have a high school diploma or be making significant progress on G.E.D. testing to be eligible for these positions.
ATTENDANCE AND COURSE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
Participants are expected to attend all scheduled classes. Classes are Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; individual class days/hours are scheduled by the instructor and subject to change.
Attendance is recorded through the use of timecards, which indicate participant's presence. No participant may punch in or out for another participant. All absences are recorded and records kept determining attendance. Participants failing to maintain satisfactory attendance may be terminated from the program. Continued tardiness is not acceptable and may be grounds for dismissing participants, granted the instructor or supervisor regarding excessive tardiness has issued a warning. Work experience participants may be docked an hour's payment if they fail to clock in withing the first quarter hour of schedule work.
ABSENCES
Excused absences are granted for personal illness of an immediate family member. All participants must call in on the day of the absence before the start of their scheduled attendance time. If an absence continues beyond one day, the participant must keep us advised of the date of their anticipated return. Any absence of two (2) or more days may require verification from a doctor. Participants who are receiving transportation from Ya-Ka-Ama must inform the driver upon their return from illness/absence. Personal appointments should be scheduled outside your class/work hours. If they cannot be avoided you must inform your instructor/employer before your appointment. Failure to do so may result in and Unexcused absence.
Absences are classified as follows:
Excused: illness, appointments (prior notification required), qualified emergencies. NO EXCEPTIONS.
Leave of Absence: time off for personal reasons, fill out a Leave of Absence form.
Unexcused Absence: all other days or parts of days when participant is not in class/work.
Three unexcused absences are grounds for termination from the WIA Program.
VAN POLICIES
The driver will pick up participants at 9:00 a.m. at the Santa Rosa Transit Mall, or Sonoma County Indian Health. Participants may schedule another location with driver approval so long as this is within the normal transportation route. You must schedule your transportation with the driver, and failure to notify the driver of changes before scheduled pick-up times may result in loss of transportation privileges. When return from absences is is your responsibility to notify the driver. Smoking and consuming edibles in the van is not tolerated under any circumstance. Disorderly conduct may result in a loss of transportation privileges, and a warning will be given to any participant who annoys the driver or passengers, or causes disruptions of any kind. The driver is in charge of windows and the radio and will respect participants' requests. Any participant whose personal hygiene causes him/her to be objectionable will be returned home and will be allowed to return to the van only after counseling on personal hygiene has been given. Work Experience and/or paid employees do not qualify for van privileges. If you have transportation problems, you should consult with coworkers to remedy problem.
HOLIDAYS
New Years Day
Presidents' Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Indian Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving & following day
Christmas Day
Land Dedication Day
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
If you feel you have been mistreated in some way, or discriminated against, the following outlines the steps to be taken for filing grievances.
- Present grievance to the instructor, or your immediate superior. It is the duty of the instructor to meet with you within 24 hours of being asked to do so. Should the grievance fail of solution at this point, proceed to step two.
- The grievance is presented to the committee comprised of the Program Manager and one other administrative staff member. It is the duty of the administration to make time for this meeting within one week of notice. If a solution is not reached at this time, proceed to the following steps.
- Executive Director will hear grievance within one week, and address grievance.
- Grievance committee comprised of Board Members will hear the grievance withing thirty (30) days. if a solution has not been reached, proceed.
- At the next regular meeting, the full board will hear the grievance. If a solution still has not been reached at this point, participant may utilize their right to the Department of Labor. The staff at Ya-Ka-Ama is obligated to give whatever assistance or advice necessary to accommodate a resolution.
At all meetings associated with given grievance, the aggrieved party has the right to be accompanied by a witness, representative, spokesperson of their choice. Copies of meeting notes and decision relative to the meeting will be kept in the participants personnel file.
I have read and understand the above Policies and Procedures. I understand that termination from the program may result in not adhering to these Policies and Procedures.
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Student Signature and Date
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Ya-Ka-Ama Representative and Date