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b. 4. Describe How the State Will Implement and Monitor the Priority for Public Assistance Recipients, Other Low-income Individuals, and Individuals Who Are Basic Skills Deficient in Accordance with the Requirements of WIOA Sec. 134(c)(3)(e), Which Applies to Individualized Career Services and Training Services Funding by the Adult Formula Program.

Current Narrative:

As mentioned in other sections, Alabama’s approach to economic and workforce development begins with a base principle to ensure that all populations, especially the basic skill deficient, economically disadvantaged, physically, mentally, and verbally challenged participants are provided the services to assist in attaining gainful employment. The Career Centers partners and the regional workforce development boards must put together local plans based on the requirements outlined in WIOA for each core partner and allowable additional partners. WIOA specifies that services for adults will be provided through One-Stop Career Centers. Service such as career guidance and workforce information may also be provided virtually. WIOA authorizes two types of service that are potentially available to job seekers:

1. Career Services - includes outreach, job search and placement assistance, provision of labor market information, comprehensive assessments, development of individual employment plans, counseling and career planning, and other services specified in Section 134(c)(2)(A).

2. Training Services - includes Occupational Skills Training, One-the-Job Training activities, Customized, Training, Individual Training Accounts, and other training services specified in Section 134(c)(3)(D).

Priority for both career and training services must be given recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient in accordance with the federal requirement.

The Alabama Workforce Development System will provide priority of services to veterans and eligible spouses, as specified in the Jobs for Veterans Act and its implementing regulations at 20CFR Part 101. When Veterans Priority is applied in conjunction with Priority of Services for WIOA Adult Program Participants, veterans and eligible spouses who are also recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skill deficient will receive first priority. The second priority would be recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals and individuals who are basic skills deficient who are not veterans or eligible spouses. Local Workforce Development Boards are required to develop and include in their local plan, policies that implement Priority of Services for WIOA Adult Program Participants for the One Stop Center and service delivery plan for the local training providers. The State Program Integrity Section is tasked with monitoring the LWDAs to ensure that Priority of Services policies are established and approved by local boards, as well as sample testing participant files for adherence to stated policies. The State Program Integrity Section will monitor each local area on an annual basis and conduct extensive reviews of local area policies and conduct sample testing of participant files to ensure LWDAs adhere to their respective policies, as well operate within compliance of WIOA regulations for Priority of Service and regulations for Jobs for Veterans. A description of how the State will implement and monitor the priority for public assistance recipients, other low-income individuals, or individuals who are basic skills deficient is provided in the Governor’s Workforce Innovation Directive (GWID) PY 2016-01, located on the Department’s website at Department of Commerce Made In Alabama website. (http://www.madeinalabama.com/divisions/workforce-development/governors-workforce-innovation-directive/.)