Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Wagner-Peyser Program (Employment Services)
All Program-Specific Requirements provided for the WIOA core programs in this section must be addressed for either a Unified or Combined State Plan.
b. Explain how the State will provide information and meaningful assistance to individuals requesting assistance in filing a claim for unemployment compensation through one-stop centers, as required by WIOA as a career service
Current Narrative:
Due the rural nature of Arkansas and the employee turnover due to the pandemic, keeping well trained UI staff in each and every local office, is challenging. Due to the variation in the numbers of claims in different offices, for example Mena (very rural) may only have 1 claim in a week, while Little Rock, may have 400.
To enable the ability to maintain well-trained and seasoned staff to provide quality UI assistance consistently to all Arkansas claimants, we are utilizing a service center approach. Claimants call the UI service center from anywhere in the state, and are able to speak with a well-trained UI merit staff member, who specializes UI claims, and therefore is able to provide a higher quality of service reducing the contact required with staff.
This has the additional benefit of reducing trips to the local office. This is especially meaningful in our rural areas, and the expense associated with the travel times; in some instances over an hour.