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Plan: Tennessee PYs 2020-2023
Combined Plan C

Section: WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Narrative: III. b. 7.

Published
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—

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.

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2018-2019

Current Narrative:

Veterans and other eligible persons, defined as covered persons, are ensured Priority of Service (POS) upon entering the Workforce System with the implementation of the following services:

  • Identified at the point of entry to programs & services
  • Made aware of priority of service
  • Made aware of full array of programs and services available to them
  • Take precedence over non-covered person in accessing and obtaining services

Covered person means any of the following individuals:

  1. A veteran
  2. The spouse of any of the following individuals:
    1. Any veteran who died of a service-connected disability
    2. Any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for assistance under this section, is listed, pursuant to section 556 of title 37 and regulations issued thereunder, by the secretary concerned in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than 90 days:
    3. Missing in action
    4. Captured in line of duty by hostile force
    5. Forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power
    6. Any veteran who has a total disability resulting from a service-connected disability.
    7. Any veteran who died while a disability so evaluated was in existence.
       
      POS is defined as:
  • The right to take precedence over non-covered persons – Depending on the type of service or resource being provided, taking precedence may mean:
  • Covered person gains access to services or resources earlier than the non-covered persons when resources are limited
  • Priority of Service applies to every qualified job training program funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Labor
  • The proposal states that those with the greatest need should receive priority of service in programs for which they are eligible.

All covered persons are to receive POS at any “point of entry”, which includes physical locations, such as AJCs, as well as websites and other virtual service delivery resources. They must also have access to adult and dislocated worker programs.

POS is the responsibility of each staff member within the AJC with oversight and compliance provided by the One-Stop Operator. Reports and on-site reviews ensure adherence to mandated legislative requirements.

JVSG staff work closely with all WIOA partners providing training on current issues that affect Veterans and other eligible persons. The spirit of assisting Veterans and providing priority of service is primarily a legal requirement, but also a moral imperative and meaningful way of doing business.

Priority of Service is monitored by the State Veterans Services Coordinator, who examines Local Board policies and procedures, reviews reports produced through Jobs4TN, conduct on-site monitoring and checks all websites developed with funding from impacted programs or grants to ensure priority of service is provided to Veterans.

WIOA Title I Adult program provides priority services for public assistance recipients, other low-income individuals, or individuals who are basic skills deficient. These participants would receive first priority for services in the order below:

  • First, to veterans and eligible spouses who also are included in the groups given statutory priority for WIOA adult formula funds. This means that veterans and eligible spouses who also are recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, or individuals who are basic skills deficient would receive first priority for services provided with WIOA adult formula funds.
  • Second, to non-covered persons (individuals who are not veterans or eligible spouses) who are included in the groups given priority for WIOA adult formula funds.
  • Third, to veterans and eligible spouses who are not included in WIOA’s priority groups.
  • Fourth, to any other populations identified by the Governor or Local Board for priority.Lastly, to non-covered persons outside the groups given priority under WIOA.
  • Lastly, to non-covered persons outside the groups given priority under WIOA.