WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Pursuant to 38 U.S. Code (U.S.C.) 4215, all ETA workforce programs provide priority of service to veterans and certain spouses of veterans who qualify as “covered persons.”  A “covered person” is defined in 20 CFR 1010.110 as a “veteran or an eligible spouse.”  It further defines “eligible spouse” as the “spouse” of any of the following:

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 the priority, is listed in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than 90 days:
   1. Missing in action.
   2. Captured in the line of duty by a hostile force.
   3. Forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power.
3. Any veteran who has total disability status resulting from a service-connected disability, as evaluated by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
4. Any veteran who died while a disability, as indicated above in #3, was in existence.

Groups given priority for the use of WIOA Adult formula funding for individualized career services and training services are listed in order below.

• First, veterans and eligible spouses who are also included in WIOA’s priority groups (recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, or individuals who are basic skills deficient) receive first priority for services funded with the WIOA Adult formula funds for individualized career services and training services.
   
• Second, non-covered persons (that is, individuals who are not veterans or eligible spouses) who are recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, or individuals who are basic skills deficient.
   
• 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 local Workforce Development Board (WDB).
   
• Last, to non-covered persons outside the groups given priority under WIOA.

Priority of service is in effect at all times, not just when funds are limited.  Priority is given to veterans and eligible spouses who are also funded, and the groups given statutory priority for 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 of services with the WIOA Adult formula funds.  The statutory requirement applies to WIOA Adult program funds for individualized career and training services.  Funds allocated for the Dislocated Worker program are not subject to this requirement.

Priority of Service is monitored as part of the state’s WIOA programmatic reviews.  Assuring veterans Priority of Service is an MWA function.   The JVSG staff provide training and other technical assistance related to Priority of Service; however, they are not part of the monitoring.  The goal of programmatic reviews is to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, and ensure that established policies, procedures, and systems of the One-Stop centers achieve quality program outcomes that meet the requirements and objectives of the WIOA and federal and state regulations.  This program review is in addition to the WIOA fiscal compliance monitoring, and thereby ensures the state will meet program design, as required by the WIOA.  Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives staff reviews how Priority of Service is being implemented within each of the Michigan Works! Agencies (MWAs) in their respective regions and offer guidance on how/where to improve Priority of Service efforts if necessary. 

The JVSG prohibits “universal referrals” which means referring every veteran entering the One-Stop centers to a Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist.   As part of implementing Priority of Service for veterans and eligible spouses, it is the responsibility of the Michigan Works! Service Center, Employment Services/Wagner-Peyser staff to actively identify eligible veterans and spouses at the point of entry with the Military Service Questionnaire, and to formally refer them to a Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist while continuing to provide all other appropriate services and programs in accordance with priority of service requirements. 

This notification must include all of the following:

• As a veteran or eligible spouse, the customer is entitled to receive Priority of Service.
• As a veteran or eligible spouse, the customer may be eligible to receive additional personalized employment services from a Veterans’ Career Advisor (VCA).
• Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist services are in addition to other
  One-Stop services.

If a veteran or eligible spouse is interested in pursuing Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist services and/or veteran career services, in addition to employment services, the MWA staff must immediately provide that customer with a copy of the Military Service Questionnaire.  It is intended that the Military Service Questionnaire be completed immediately by the customer, and promptly returned to MWA staff.

When the Military Service Questionnaire is provided to the customer, the MWA staff must notify the customer of all of the following:

• The information is being requested on a voluntary basis.
   
• Completing the form is a requirement for Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist staff services.

• The information will be kept confidential.

• Refusal to provide the information will not subject the customer to any adverse treatment, but they may not be eligible for Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist services.

• The information will be used only in accordance with the law.

• Where to return the completed form.

The MWA staff will immediately review all completed application forms to determine Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program eligibility.  All veterans or spouses found to be eligible for the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program will be formally referred to the appropriate Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist.

All customers referred to a Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist are required to have an active Wagner-Peyser registration in the One-Stop Management Information System (OSMIS).  If it is necessary to create a registration, this must be done by MWA staff since Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists are statutorily prohibited from completing this activity.  The MWA staff must enter the service “Referral to Veterans Career Advisor” in the OSMIS, in addition to any other services provided.

This referral consists of :

1. Entering an appropriate “Referral to Supportive Service” activity in OSMIS, and

2.   Providing the completed Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program application form to the appropriate Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist.  The Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist will then contact the customer to begin providing services or schedule an appointment to begin providing services

For all veterans or spouses found not to be eligible for the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program, the Michigan Works! Service Center staff will continue to provide the customer with all other appropriate services and programs as with any other customer, in accordance with the requirements of Priority of Service.  It is acceptable and encouraged that eligible veterans and spouses be co-enrolled in any and all appropriate programs simultaneously enrolled in the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program.

The JVSG is a fully integrated partner in our MWA One-Stop centers.  All veterans and spouses of veterans seeking services at our One-Stop centers will receive appropriate services from all One-Stop partners as would any other job seeker, but with Priority of Service for veterans and eligible spouses applied.  Prior to receiving services from the JVSG, a veteran or spouse of a veteran is first assessed by a non-JVSG One-Stop worker prior to referral.

The Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) is a fully integrated partner in our Michigan Works! One-Stop service centers.  All veterans and spouses of veterans seeking services at our One-Stop service centers will receive appropriate services from all One-Stop partners as would any other job seeker, but with Priority of Service for veterans and eligible spouses applied.  Prior to receiving services from the JVSG program, a veteran or spouse of a veteran is first assessed by a non-JVSG One-Stop worker prior to referral.  The JVSG program provides funding to support Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists, who in turn provide individualized career services exclusively to program-eligible veterans and spouses who possess a significant barrier to employment and/or are part of a population group identified as eligible.  The purpose is to assist the client in becoming job ready so they can secure employment utilizing the public workforce system.  Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialists are integrated with and rely on their MWA One-Stop partners to assist their job ready clients to secure appropriate employment.  The JVSG program also provides support for special initiatives such as the Incarcerated Veterans’ Workshop and Native American Veteran Outreach.