Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a description of the State operating systems and policies that will support the implementation of the State strategy described in section II Strategic Elements. This includes—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
III. b. 7. Priority of Service for Veterans
Describe how the State will implement and monitor the priority of service provisions for veterans in accordance with the requirements of the Jobs for Veterans Act, codified at section 4215 of 38 U.S.C., which applies to all employment and training programs funded in whole or in part by the Department of Labor. States should also describe the referral process for veterans determined to have a significant barrier to employment to receive services from the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist.
Current Narrative:
In accordance with WIOA of 2014 (P.113-128) 20 CFR § 1010, veterans and their eligible spouses receive Veterans’ Priority of Service (VPOS) and are referred to as “covered persons.” A veteran is to include a person who was former military, naval, or air service personnel and was discharged, or otherwise released, by virtue of conditions barring dishonorable. An active service member includes full-time duty within the National Guard or Reserve, outside of full-time duty for training programs. The stipulations for an eligible spouse to receive VPOS is one of the following: spouse of a surviving veteran, spouse of any veteran who has died of a service-connected disability, spouse of any member of the armed forces serving on active duty is listed, at the time application, for a total of more than 90 days as (missing in Action, captured in the line of duty, or forcibly detained), spouse of a veteran who bears a total disability, or spouse of a veteran who died while a total disability was present as evaluated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The State will ensure that covered persons are made aware of status and priority of service is executed in WIOA Titles I and III. In order to secure that potential VPOS candidates are made aware of upon point of entry, office staff members have particular measures in place. One measure is the requirement of an ESA-1184B, Veterans’ Priority of Service to be visible upon entry.Another measure is for office staff members to provide VPOS brochures (ESA-1184A). Lastly, person’s would be identified by means of direct inquiry. Afterwards, the potential VPOS candidate would fill out the VPOS Assessment Form (ESA1193A) and place it in the collection point (labeled basket). In order to deliver VPOS services through the internet, all VPOS will be directed to the Arizona Job Connection (AJC) website. However, VPOS candidate will be informed of Arizona’s Be Connected Program as an element of support.
ARIZONA@WORK staff provide qualified veterans or eligible spouses with VPOS, which is priority over a non-veteran or non-eligible spouse for any labor exchange services, basic career, individualized career or training services with additional factors such as suitability in training services prioritization. Policies for VPOS implementation at ARIZONA@WORK job centers are included in this State and LWDB local plans.
Front desk staff at ARIZONA@WORK job centers follow VPOS at point of entry and identify Veteran status; staff will also conduct an assessment of significant barriers to employment (SBE) (ESA-1348A) with all veterans and other eligibles per current VPLs 03-14, 03-14 Ch. 1, 03-14 Ch.2, and 03-19. Veterans identified with SBEs will be referred to specialized veteran staff, such as a DVOP, to receive Individualized Career Services (Case Management) through JVSG.
Strategies will be implemented for VPOS in ARIZONA@WORK business service teams. ARIZONA@WORK Business Service Representatives (BSR) will apply VPOS in prioritizing and connecting Veteran job seekers to employers filling positions. The BSR teams also provide opportunities to employers to better support their Veteran workforce through the Arizona Supportive Veteran Employers Program (AVSE) and the Veterans Medallion Program (VETS).
Additionally, Title III staff are ensuring Veterans are receiving the highest quality of service. Arizona has implemented Arizona Job Connection (AJC)across all Title III staffed ARIZONA@WORK job centers as the primary database for staff providing services to Veterans. Additionally, Be Connected is utilized as a resource navigation tool and has been recognized as a national best practice as an upstream prevention model for veterans and military families.
Staff at ARIZONA@WORK Job Centers are trained on VPOS. In addition, the JVSG program Veterans Regional Coordinators (VRC) and review VPOS across ARIZONA@WORK and provide technical assistance if needed.