Metrolina Native American Association 

Metrolina Native American Association, Inc.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

    The Metrolina Native American Association, Inc. (MNAA) Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program serves low income, unemployed and underemployed Native Americans residing in ten surrounding counties (Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union) located in the state of North Carolina. 

    MNAA is a state recognized urban Indian organization and is funded by the Department of Labor Workforce Investment Act, Section 166 Indian and Native American Programs.  Since its inception in 1979, the MNAA has been at the forefront of providing and promoting cultural enrichment classes/events, economic development assistance, health education, self-sufficiency and self determination for the Native Americans living throughout the ten-county urban and rural areas referred to as the Metrolina service area.

Vision – Metrolina Native American Association - An Urban Indian Center in a community that is culturally sensitive to American Indians, promotes sharing, identifies gaps in services and resource allocations, and commits to initiating and providing culturally proficient social service programs that honor and respect American Indian practices, values, and beliefs.

Mission – The creation of a system in which the Metrolina service area shall be able to recruit and retain a workforce of highly skilled and trained American Indians, who are self-sufficient, by sustaining collaborations and partnerships with regional educational institutions, employment agencies, community organization, social service organization, and employers to assure Metrolina Native American Association WIA participants gain employment that affords progressive career advancement.

    The WIA program is responsible for providing and creating employment and vocational training opportunities which increase the occupational skills attainment as well as employment, retention, and earnings of Native American participants in the Metrolina service area through collabortively efforts and long term relationships with various vocational and educational institutions, employer partners, and various employment and social service agencies.                

    MNAA utilizes a first come-first serve process for access to services. Native American applicants must be of documental descent from a federally recognized tribe and must have documents with the clients name on it. Applicants with documental descent with the clients name on it from State recognized tribes that have been traditionally served and were grandfathered into the WIA system are also eligible for program services.

    Veterans, and their spouses, who are otherwise eligible for services will be given top priority for assistance and efforts will be taken to coordinate their casemanagement with the appropriate veterans’ affairs program in the Metrolina service area.

Key Strategies

Employment preparation and financial assistance (supportive services) to

disadvantaged Native Americans will be comprised of the following:

· Eligibility determination

· Case management

· Outreach services

· Academic counseling

· Career counseling

· Job Readiness assistance

· Basic Literacy Skills classes

· Post Secondary information and referrals

· School preparation assistance

 (H.S. Diploma or G.E.D.)

· Job referrals and other labor

market information

· Work experience training, and

· Linkages to other programs

 and services.