WIOA State Plan Common Elements

As outlined in Section (II)(a)(2) State Workforce Development Activities, the Jobs for Veterans State Grant program is operated by the Idaho Department of Labor (IDOL), which also administers all Title I-B and Title III programs, as well as Unemployment Insurance and Trade Adjustment Assistance programs. More information about the specific activities and services available through these programs are outlined in the Activities Analysis. Because these programs are administered by the same agency, the department has policies in place that ensure consistency in providing appropriate priority of service for veterans across all of these programs. This also ensures effective referrals and co-enrollment where appropriate. A copy of the department’s Priority of Service Policy can be found as an appendix to the state's 2020 Draft Plan on the Council's website at https://wdc.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2020/03/ID-PY20-23-WIOA-Combined-State-Plan-Appendices.pdf.

Wagner-Peyser and Veteran State Plans both outline veterans’ priority of service and are also highlighted in the WIOA Title I-B Eligibility Technical Assistance Guide (TAG) for career planning staff throughout the state. Updates to the Wagner-Peyser and Veteran State Plans are included in this Combined State Plan under “Program Specific Requirements.”

The Idaho Department of Labor requires all American Job Center (AJC) managers attend the annual state veterans’ training where a significant amount of time is spent discussing priority of service for veterans and eligible spouses. Additionally, in an effort to ensure all program staff understand veterans’ priority of service, the state developed an online training module for department staff. All Idaho AJC staff are required to view this training module. Since 2014, this module has been included in the department’s New Employee Orientation, to include most administrative staff in addition to AJC staff.

Implementation and monitoring of the state’s Priority of Service Policy

American Job Center staff are frequently reminded that Priority of Service (POS) for covered persons is mandated for any services funded entirely, or in part, by the USDOL. The most basic Priority of Service measure is extended to covered persons by notifying them that they are entitled to priority of service. Signage in Idaho’s AJCs informs covered persons that they have Priority of Service before non-covered persons and encourages them to identify themselves as veterans in the automated system and to office staff. This is also noted on the covered person’s registration. AJCs have incorporated a questionnaire into the front desk duties. This questionnaire is given to covered persons and helps the consultant determine the appropriate service and service provider. (See bulleted list below).

Managers and career planners conduct team “staffings” to determine how to best utilize available funding and select those appropriate for training under the WIOA Title I-B programs and other programs that have eligibility criteria. Historically, Idaho has not encountered any issues with providing priority to covered persons in these programs. However, if resources become scarce and more competitive, covered persons will be accepted before qualified non-veterans as noted earlier in this WIOA State Plan which states:

^{…in a few programs such as the WIOA-funded Adult and Youth programs, veterans priority will compete with existing statutory priorities that favor certain population groups and must be taken into account when applying the priority. A covered person (veterans are considered covered persons) is entitled to and will be given priority over non-covered persons for the receipt of employment, training and placement services if the person otherwise meets the eligibility requirements.}

Joint AJC office reviews, conducted by the state VETS coordinator and USDOL/VETS staff, provide quality control and ensure that Priority of Service processes and procedures are implemented. VET staff review the entire AJC office veterans’ operations, analyzing data on services and outcomes for veterans and interviewing AJC staff.  The team provides a written report that evaluates the office’s strengths and weaknesses and its implementation of priority of service measures.

Monthly veteran program meetings with local management and veteran staff are conducted on a statewide basis to review processes and identify necessary improvements in which Priority of Service is discussed. If necessary, process improvement or corrective action plans are developed.

Additionally, the state’s Recently Registered Veterans report is reviewed.  When an eligible person is identified the DVOP sends an introductory email listing IDOL’s services, and the eligible person is encouraged to contact the DVOP for additional services. Otherwise, an ES staff member would contact them. The covered persons receive various informational handouts, resume assistance, job search strategies, and information on community resources.  They are also provided a review of the veteran section of the IDOL web page showing a list of veterans’ services offered by IDOL.  If a covered person does not qualify for DVOP services, an Employment Services staff member will review the covered person’s IdahoWorks registration.

In addition to the items listed on the previous page, the state has taken these additional steps to ensure priority of service for covered persons:

• Idaho has designated Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVERs) to provide Priority of Service training in their local American Job Centers as often as needed. LVERs will also provide training to smaller offices that do not have a Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG)-funded staff member.

• Signage is posted in all American Job Centers asking veterans to identify themselves to any local office staff.

• Front desk staff are instructed to ask the covered person to complete an intake form that lists all the Significant Barriers to Employment (SBEs) recognized by USDOL VETS.  Completion of this form helps to determine eligibility for DVOP services or if a referral to an Employment Services consultant is appropriate.

• All American Job Centers have pamphlets outlining the department’s promise to covered persons, including Priority of Service, how the state administers this preference, and other useful information.

• WIOA Quarterly Continuous Improvement Reports assess the number of veterans served in the WIOA Title IB Programs.

• Recently separated veterans are the first priority in the referral of UI claimants for the RESEA program.