Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

Local areas must establish a policy outlining the process by which priority of service will be applied.  Priority for individualized career and training services must be given to recipients of public assistance, other low-income individuals, and/or individuals who are basic skills deficient.  It is not necessary to determine that an adult is eligible in accordance with the priority of service until it is determined that the individual is in need of individualized career or training services.  Veterans and eligible spouses continue to receive priority of service. 

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.

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.  The goal of programmatic reviews is to provide technical assistance, as appropriate, and ensure that established policies, procedures, and systems of the Michigan Works! Agency achieves quality program outcomes that meet the requirements and objectives of the WIOA and federal and state regulations.