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—
- b. State Operating Systems and Policies
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.
Current Narrative:
As outlined in Workforce Services Directive WSD19-04, program operators are required to provide priority of service to veterans and eligible spouses for all WIOA and Wagner-Peyser funded activities, including technology–assisted activities. Priority of service means that veterans and eligible spouses are entitled to take precedence over non-covered persons in obtaining employment, training, and placement services.
In implementing priority of service, program operators must ensure veterans and eligible spouses receive basic career services and individualized career services before other non-covered individuals. Additionally, they must ensure veterans and eligible spouses receive first priority on waiting lists for training slots, and are enrolled in training prior to non-covered persons. However, once a non-covered participant is enrolled in a workshop or training class, priority of service is not intended to allow a veteran or eligible spouse to bump the non-covered participant from that class or service.
Program operators must ensure that all sub recipients of DOL funds apply priority of service. This means that pertinent language should be included in contracts, sub grants, solicitations for proposals, memorandums of understanding, and other service provision agreements.
The state conducts annual monitoring of Local Boards to ensure they are in compliance with WIOA eligibility requirements, this includes implementation of veterans priority of service policies. Local Boards are also required to monitor their service providers to ensure compliance with veteran’s priority of services requirements. Veteran Program Managers, JVSG staff, and USDOL-VETS are available to provide technical assistance when requested.
Applying Priority of Service
The application of priority of service varies depending on the eligibility requirements of the particular program. There are four basic categories of DOL-funded programs: universal access programs, programs that require participants to meet specified eligibility criteria, programs with statutory priorities, and programs with discretionary priorities. A detailed description of how priority of service applies to these basic types of programs is outlined in Workforce Services Directive WSD19-04.
Local Policy and Procedures
Program Operators must establish policy and procedures for implementing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses within existing service delivery strategies. Local policies must ensure that veteran and eligible spouses are identified at the point of entry and given an opportunity to take full advantage of priority of service. These policies must ensure that veterans and eligible spouses are aware of their entitlement to priority of service, the full array of employment, training, and placement services available under priority of service, and any applicable eligibility requirements for those programs and/or services. Additionally, program operators must ensure that written copies of local priority of service policies are maintained at all service delivery points and, to the extent practicable, posted in a way that makes it possible for members of the general public to easily access them.
Referral Process
Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists are integrated into the AJCC service delivery model. In this model, veterans are initially identified through self-attestation during registration for service. On a priority of service basis, an AJCC staff member determines the eligible person’s purpose for registering.
Once the veteran or other eligible person is identified, the Veteran Service Navigator conducts an initial assessment. This initial assessment uses a customized intake questionnaire to help determine if the veteran or other eligible person has a significant barrier to employment (SBE) or if they are a member of another special priority group. If a determination is made that the client is a veteran with a SBE or other special criteria, they are referred to the DVOP specialist for further assessment and individualized career services. Those veterans determined not to possess a SBE are provided career services and training as needed by the AJCC staff on a priority of service basis.