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  • 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—

III. b. 7. Priority of Service for Veterans

  • A. Describe how the State will implement the priority of service provisions for covered persons 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.

  • B. Describe how the State will monitor priority of service provisions for veterans.

  • C. Describe the triage and referral process for eligible veterans and other populations determined eligible to receive services from the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist/Consolidated Position.

Current Narrative:

(A) Describe how the State will implement the priority of service provisions for covered persons 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.

Priority of service for veterans is implemented by WFWV in accordance with Title 38 part III Ch. 42. 4215 via AJCs located throughout the state, by using clear and concise guidelines, and by trained staff knowledgeable with state guidelines. To ensure access to services for covered persons, the state has established formal guidance regarding priority of service that all Wagner-Peyser and WFWV staff must follow which includes determination of veteran’s status and eligibility. WIOA guidance notice 4-16 referencing Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act of 2014 section 3(63) (A), 38 U.S.C 4215, and 20 CFR 1010 provides this guidance.

Covered persons can obtain information concerning priority of service through WFWV’s website, flyers posted in AJCs, banners, and in person from appropriate staff in work groups, from unemployment compensation groups, during the job seeker enrollment process, and during the provision of services. WFWV provides staff information, training, and assistance regarding available employment programs, training opportunities, services, eligibility requirements, and veteran’s priority of service.

WFWV provides a covered person’s priority of service under all state and federally funded employment and training programs. "Veterans priority of service" means that an otherwise covered person shall be given priority over non-veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services provided under that program, notwithstanding any other provision of the law. When services are limited due to available funding, priority of service should be applied. For example, if there are only sufficient funds to provide services to one individual and a veteran is in the pool, the veteran must receive priority.

All WFWV staff, including managers, are trained on implementation of priority of service and integrating it into the service delivery process. Eligibility for priority of service is identified within the state’s MIS by symbols that indicate a covered person has been verified by staff or the covered person has self-attested concerning eligibility status. These symbols serve to easily identify individuals who may be eligible for priority of service. Eligible veterans and eligible persons who have a Significant Barrier to Employment (SBE) or are a member of an additional population designated by USDOL VETS in accordance with Veterans' Program Letter (VPL) 03-19 and need Individualized Career Services (ICS) are referred to Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists.

(B) Describe how the State will monitor priority of service provisions for veterans

Priority of service is monitored quarterly at the state level via the ETA-9173 Performance Report for JVSG. A review of total participants served is compared to eligible veterans and analyzed for accuracy. Once every three years a comprehensive audit by DOL staff will be conducted to ensure that management receives information and that they are made aware of the operations and actions taken to provide priority of service to covered persons as written by law. West Virginia’s Director of Veterans Employment and Training works with the State Veterans Coordinator to ensure that priority of service is administered in accordance with the law. Additional oversight of the provision of priority of service is provided by DOL’s Employment and Training Administration. 

(C) Describe the triage and referral process for eligible veterans and other populations determined eligible to receive services from the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program’s Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist/Consolidated Position.

West Virginia strategically positions adequate staff, including Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVERs), throughout the state to meet JVSG performance goals and program expectations. DVOP specialists facilitate the provision of Individualized Career Services (ICS) to as many eligible veterans and eligible persons as possible. ICS particularly focuses on those veterans and eligible persons who are educationally or economically disadvantaged, lack access to public transportation or to broadband internet, and those who have been identified as having at least one Significant Barrier to Employment (SBE) and/or a veteran who is a member of an additional population designated by USDOL VETS and in accordance with Veterans' Program Letter (VPL) 03-19. DVOP specialists provide ICS through the case management framework which includes a comprehensive initial assessment, the development of a plan that establishes short and long-term goals leading to suitable employment, and consistent contact pre- and post-employment. All services to eligible veterans are documented in the state's MIS. DVOP specialists use outreach activities to cultivate relationships with AJC partners and service providers, which provides them with access to beneficial resources for the veterans they serve. Outreach efforts also promote enrollment into the state's MIS, leading to referrals of eligible veterans and persons to the DVOP specialists.

There are two ways for a covered person to identify themselves as such. The first is at the AJC in person. This is done by Wagner-Peyser Staff asking “Are you a Veteran or the Spouse of a Veteran?”. Wagner-Peyser staff are the first point of contact in the AJCs for eligible veterans and eligible persons. If a covered person is identified this way Wagner-Peyser staff enroll eligible veterans and eligible persons into the WDS if necessary, where they receive priority of service. The enrollment process is utilized to identify and determine veterans’ eligibility. The second way a covered person may be identified is through self enrollment through the WFWV website. Both processes are self attested. If our intake system is unavailable, staff will use the DOL approved Eligibility Triage Form (04-2021) to refer covered persons to the DVOPS.

Veterans who are identified with a Significant Barrier to Employment (SBE) should be referred to the DVOP specialist for service. The referral is conducted through the WFWV case management system. Wagner-Peyser staff will assess the covered person, if SBE’s are identified the system will offer the option to refer to DVOPS. The DVOP specialist will conduct a comprehensive assessment, and they will place eligible veterans or persons into case management and create a Veterans Development Plan. The DVOP specialist will provide consistent contact and information about a wide range of resources available. 

LVERs are assigned to AJCs throughout West Virginia, which present the best opportunity to address the needs of employers in an effort to place veterans in available positions. LVERs identify the unique needs of employers and collaborate with AJC staff, including DVOP specialists, to formulate plans to place veterans in apprenticeships or training opportunities to meet skills gaps identified through their employer outreach activities.

Identify employers interested in hiring veterans by utilizing the HVMP database and online platforms, collaborate with military transition programs, attend veteran-focused job fairs and networking events, reach out to veteran service organizations, explore corporate veteran hiring programs, leverage professional networking platforms like LinkedIn, and seek recommendations from fellow veterans or military contacts.

Promoting job fairs for veterans and eligible persons and actively advocating and creating awareness for employment events that offer targeted opportunities and a supportive environment, ensuring priority of service and meaningful employment opportunities for those who have served or meet specific eligibility criteria.

Consolidated position Staff serve a dual role as DVOP specialist and LVER, focusing on the rural areas of the state to provide services to both employers and SBE veterans/eligible persons. They conduct employer outreach, job searches, and establish job search groups. After they have removed all barriers to employment through individualized career services, consolidated staff coordinate with AJC apprenticeship, OJT programs and local business engagement team staff to match veterans with job opportunities. Consolidated staff also provide training to other AJC staff to ensure programmatic compliance in serving the needs of veterans seeking our assistance.