WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) & SUPPLEMENTAL YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAM (SYSP)

The vision of the Kiowa Tribe’s WIOA/SYSP programs are to provide quality employment and training services to our tribal clients who are unemployed and/or low-income in our six (6) county jurisdiction of Caddo, Kiowa, Tillman, Jackson, Greer and Harmon Counties to help them become successful in the workforce. 

This program has been designed to assist with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) that are interested in economic self-sufficiency through employment and job training programs for our tribal clients.  This WIOA program is designed to support employment and training activities in order to develop more fully the occupational skills; make individuals more competitive in the workforce; and promote social development in accordance with the values of our communities.  These programs are administered to meet federal guidelines, but also it tries to be consistent with the traditional cultural values and beliefs of the people they are designed to serve. 

This program assists with adult work experience, on-the-job training, direct assistance and short-term training program(s) to our adult participants who qualify.  As for our youth, we offer short-term training for them in the summer, various incentives, and we also have a year-round program that they can qualify for too.  Our future goals consist of a computer lab for our clients to update resumes’, fill out job applications, job searches, etc. and in cooperation with other programs and other tribal entities to have the tribe’s first Summer Intern Program for Future Tribal Leaders to inspire our youth. 

Our final goal is to provide the necessary job experience needed to become successful in the workforce to our clients, and encompass our culture and traditions to live in both words.