NextGen(Youth) Workforce: Building Futures for Young Professionals Today

WorkSource Atlanta Regional's NextGen program provides year-round workforce training and education programs for people 16-24 years old who live in Cherokee, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties. To qualify, participants must meet eligibility guidelines and face significant barriers to education and employment. The program is funded by the Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board (WIOA) and delivered through contracted providers in each county. The Atlanta Regional Workforce Development Board (ARWDB) NextGen Committee oversees the NextGen Program. The committee brings expertise in youth policy, supporting the ARWDB in developing and recommending youth employment and training strategies.

NextGen Program Mission Statement

The mission of the NextGen Program is to ensure that every participant (youth and young adult) receives optimal quality employment and training services through evidence-based and integrated service delivery programs.

Contents of Page

1. Eligibility Requirements
2. NextGen Programs in Your County
3. Special Projects
4. Success Stories
5. Youth Grievance and Complaint Procedures

Eligibility Requirements

General Eligibility Determination Process

• Participants must be between the ages of 16-24
• WIOA School Status must be determined
• WIOA Target Population (Barriers to Education and Employment)

WIOA School Status Requirement

To be eligible to participate in WIOA activities, an individual shall, at the time of enrollment (when eligibility determination is made), be an out-of-school youth (OSY) or in-school youth (ISY).

Out-of-school Youth (OSY) - Individual NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL, defined by State law.

• Compulsory school age but not attending 
• Received High School Diploma or GED
• High School Dropout 
• Received Post-secondary diploma 

In-School – Secondary education and Post Secondary education, and High school equivalency programs NOT Providers of adult education under Title II of WIOA: YouthBuild or Job Corps

WIOA Target Population (Barriers to Education/Employment)

• Offender
• Homeless or Runaway
• Pregnant or Parenting
• Foster Care or Aged out of Foster Care
• Out-of-Home Displacement
• Compulsory school age, but not attending 
• High School Dropout
• Disabled
• Requires Additional Assistance
• High School Diploma/GED recipient that is Low-income and Basic Skill Deficient (BSD) or an English Language Learner

NextGen Programs in Your County

To find other Career Resource Centers in the Metro Atlanta area, visit WORKSOURCE METROATL

To find WorkSource programs in Georgia, visit The Technical College System of Georgia's Office Workforce Development

Special Projects

Pathways to the Digital Economy (PADE) Initiative

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), in partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia Foundation, has received a $200,000 contribution from Google to launch Pathways to the Digital Economy (PADE) — a new initiative designed to help young adults across metro Atlanta build in-demand digital skills and explore career paths in tech.

Interested in learning more? Contact us at [email protected].

PADE Press Release (PDF, 180 KB)

PADE Youth Flyer (PDF, 2 MB)

PADE Employer Flyer (PDF, 130 KB)

PADE Employer Interest Form  (PDF, 254 KB)

Success Stories

To view the Success stories of individuals who have completed the program, click the link below.

https://atlworks.org/find-career-training/success-stories/

Youth Grievance and Complaint Procedures

If you believe you have been harmed by a violation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or regulations of this program, you have the right to file a grievance/complaint as well as request information and assistance with filing a complaint.

Youth Grievance Procedures (PDF, 1011 KB)

For more information about NextGen, send an email to: [email protected].

The NextGen Program is an Equal Opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.