Located in:
- Program-specific Requirements for Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities under Title I-B
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following with respect to activities carried out under subtitle B—
b. 4. Describe how the State will implement and monitor the priority for public assistance recipients, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient in accordance with the requirements of WIOA sec. 134(c)(3)(E), which applies to individualized career services and training services funded by the Adult Formula program
Current Narrative:
Local areas must establish the criteria and the process by which priority of service will be applied. Priority for individualized career and training services must be given to recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and/or individuals who are basic skills deficient. It is not necessary to determine that an adult is eligible in accordance with the priority of service until it is determined that the individual is in need of individualized career or training services. Veterans and eligible spouses continue to receive priority of service.
When programs are statutorily required to provide priority for a particular group of individuals, priority must be provided in the following order:
- First, to veterans and eligible spouses who are also funded in the groups given statutory priority for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult formula funds. This means that veterans and eligible spouses who are also recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, or individuals who are basic skills deficient would receive first priority for services funded with the WIOA Adult formula funds for individualized career services and training services.
- Second, to non-covered persons (that is, individuals who are not veterans or eligible spouses) who are included in the WIOA’s priority groups.
- Third, to veterans and eligible spouses who are not included in the WIOA’s priority groups.
- Fourth, to priority populations established by the Governor and/or the local Workforce Development Board.
- Last, to non-covered persons outside the groups given priority under the WIOA.
The statutory requirement applies to Adult program funds for individualized career and training services. Funds allocated for the Dislocated Worker program are not subject to this requirement. The State Board will be reviewing and approving a policy to provide the framework for the local boards in the next weeks. All new policies have to be in place on July 1st, 2020.
Priority of Service is monitored as part of the state’s WIOA programmatic reviews. The goal of programmatic reviews is to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, and ensure that established policies, procedures, and systems achieves quality program outcomes that meet the requirements and objectives of the WIOA and federal and state regulations.
Request: Puerto Rico must describe the implementation and monitoring for priority of service for public assistance, other low-income individuals who are BSD in the Adult program. Puerto Rico’s plan indicates priority is given to Veterans.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires priority to be given to public assistance recipients, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient, when providing individualized career services and training services using WIOA Title I Adult program funds. WIOA provides a focus on serving individuals with barriers to employment, and this priority in the law intends to ensure access to these populations on a priority basis across all titles. In the initial evaluation process for WIOA participants, they are asked to report whether they are receiving public assistance, whether the participant has a low-income level, and whether they have deficient basic skills level through assessment tests conducted by AJC staff. The follow-up process for these participants is conducted to ensure that the service priority is met. The DEDC is in the process of doing the monitoring instrument to ensure compliance with the priority of service policy for eligible participants. The tool will provide a review of overall eligibility as well as the priority of service based on the requirements of the state policy. Also, the monitoring instrument will verify that all local areas have established written policies and procedures to ensure that priority of service to participants is met. Currently, AJC staff in Puerto Rico keep the eligibility document for priority services in the participant's file.