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 for the Adult Priority of Service requirement in WIOA section 134 (c)(3)(E) that requires American Job Center staff, when using WIOA Adult program funds to provide individualized career services and training services, to give priority of service to recipients of public assistance, low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient (including English language learners).
Current Narrative:
West Virginia will ensure the priority of service for individualized career services and training services funded with Title I Adult funds During calendar year 2024, as part of the WVWDB policy initiative, a policy on Adult priority of service will be implemented. The policy will reflect West Virginia’s current practices, which include the following:
- First Priority: Veterans and eligible spouses (covered persons) who are low-income or recipients of public assistance or who are deficient in basic skills.
- Second Priority: Individuals (non-covered persons) who are low-income or recipients of public assistance or individuals who are basic skills deficient.
- Third Priority: Veterans and eligible spouses who are not low-income and are not recipients of public assistance or are deficient in basic skills.
- Fourth Priority: Individuals who do not meet the above priorities.
In addition to these statewide priorities of service, each LWDB has the flexibility to implement additional priorities for individuals after the four state priorities have been met.
Priority of service occurs after establishing eligibility for Adult services. Priority of service means that if funds and services are limited, individuals with a priority of service gain access to the services before individuals who do not meet a priority. LWDB staff must ensure individuals who qualify for priority of service receive individualized career and training services before other non-covered individuals and receive first priority on any waiting lists that are maintained for training slots. However, once a participant is enrolled in a workshop, training, or service, he or she may not be displaced by an individual qualified for priority of service.
Each LWDB documents priority in the State MIS/participant file. State MIS provides career planners with the appropriate data fields to record eligibility (data fields include, but are not limited to: Veteran status, eligible spouse, low income, public assistance, basic skills deficient, case notes) and either upload appropriate documents into State MIS or place them in the participant’s file.
WFWV provides oversight and monitoring of priority of service requirements. Strategies deployed by WFWV including: (1) onsite monitoring, including review of the Participant Individual Record Layout; (2) review of any other available federal report data elements and performance metrics to test for compliance with the priority of service; (3) cross-training provided for all LWDB staff, service provider staff, and relevant program staff; and (4) ongoing technical assistance that engages cross-agency personnel to ensure that different priority of service groups are served consistently and appropriately.
Although a new policy will be considered for approval soon, current WFWV WIOA Policy 2-16 Priority of Service Policy for Adult Title 1 Funding can be found at: https://workforcewv.org/images/files/PublicInfo/guidance-notices/WIOA_Policy_2-16_Priority_of_Service_Policy.pdf