Serving More High-Need Adults: “Priority of Service” Provision in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Anna Cielinski, Senior Policy Analyst, CLASP Amy Martinez, South Central Workforce Council, Yakima, WA Debby Kratky, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, Fort Worth, TX
Priority of Service under WIOA • For receipt of career and training services provided through WIOA Title I Adult funds, priority is to be given to: – Recipients of public assistance, – Other low-income individuals, and – Individuals who are basic skills deficient. 2
Priority of Service Under WIA • Priority was for recipients of public assistance and other low-income individuals • Only went into effect if local areas determined that funds were limited • Many determined that funding was not limited, so the priority did not apply 3
Priority of Service in Statute Workforce Innovation and Workforce Investment Act Opportunity Act of 2014 of 1998 Sec. 134(c)(3)(E) Priority.--With respect Sec. 134(d)(4)(E) Priority.--In the event to funds allocated to a local area for that funds allocated to a local area for adult employment and training adult employment and training activities under paragraph (2)(A) or (3) activities under paragraph (2)(A) or (3) of section 133(b), priority shall be of section 133(b) are limited, priority given to recipients of public assistance, shall be given to recipients of public other low-income individuals, and assistance and other low-income individuals who are basic skills individuals for intensive services and deficient for receipt of career services training services. described in paragraph (2)(A)(xii) and training services. 4
WIOA Proposed Regulations • Some positive steps toward serving more high- need adults • Some potentially problematic language 5
Proposed regulations that would strengthen the priority • As under WIA, the WIOA draft regulations require States and local areas to establish criteria for providing this priority. • New under WIOA, local plans are required to include the process by which priority of service must be applied by the one-stop operator. 6
Proposed regulations that could weaken the priority • The Local Board and the Governor may establish a process that also gives priority to other eligible individuals, provided that it is consistent with priority of service for veterans. 7
CLASP’s Recommendations 1. Clearly define “priority of service”; clarify local implementation 2. Clarify interaction of “basic skills deficient” and “ priority of service,” to remove potential loophole 3. Clarify the rule for designating “other eligible individuals” for priority of service, to ensure that targeted high-need individuals and Veterans come first in priority 4. Priority of service for targeted high-need adults should be just as robust and detailed as priority of service for veterans. 5. Set benchmarks for increased percentages of targeted high- need individuals who receive services from WIOA Title I Adult funds; tie discretionary grant funding to progress on this goal. 8
We are seeking your input on CLASP’s recommendations For instance: • DOL should base implementation of priority of service for targeted high-need adults on the pattern of the existing, robust and detailed rules/guidance regarding priority of service for veterans. 9
DOL Already Knows How To Do This Upon passage of the Jobs for Veterans Act of 2002, the DOL’s final rule and guidance provided immediate clarification and extensive implementation support for implementing the veterans’ priority of service, including : • Requiring states to address priority of service in comprehensive state plan • Requiring states to develop policies governing state, regional, local boards and one stops • Policies to identify eligible individuals at point of entry • Identifying how eligible individuals would be informed • Requiring all local plans to articulate policies and protocols • Requiring policies to be made publically available and accessible • Defining in detail what it means to provide priority of service • Requiring federal monitoring of this provision in the final rule • Requiring reporting on priority of service as part of annual report. 10
Question for participants • Chat box: What do you think of CLASP’s potential recommendation to implement the priority for high-need adults in the same way as the priority for veterans? • Let us know while we hear from our presenters from the field. 11
Presenters • Amy Martinez, South Central Workforce Council, Yakima, WA • Debby Kratky, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, Fort Worth, TX 12
South Central Workforce Council Washington State Local Workforce Investment Board
Adult Education Levels County Adult Read Adults Read below 6 th Below 2 nd Grade level Grade Level Kittitas 36% 14% Klickitat 49% 21% Skamania 44% 15% Yakima 52% 23%
Poverty and Public Assistance Skaman Yakim Poverty Rates Kittitas Klickitat ia a Washing Families County County County County ton State All Families 10.3% 13.7% 6.2% 16.8% 8.2% Single Female Families with 57.3% 57.4% 33.8% 51.0% 34.4% Children under 18 Families with 17.7% 29.7% 10.7% 25.2% 13.1% Children under 18
Local Priority of Service Policy The South Central Workforce Council has set TANF populations as a priority since the days of JTPA legislation This priority was changed by the board during WIA to include low income individuals.
Limited Funding Determination The South Central Workforce Council has determined that WIA Adult funds are limited. This determination is further supported by the board’s Strategic Plan and census data that demonstrates the eligible population.
Demographics of the WIA Adult Program The following demographics represent the current WIA Adult program case load (as of 01/2015): 5% are Veterans or their eligible spouses on public assistance or low income 95% are on public assistance or low income 12% have a disability 10% on public assistance 15% basic skills deficient 25% ex-offenders Note: more than one of the above barriers can be represented in each population
Local Priority of Service Policy FIRST PRIORITY: Shall be given to program-eligible Covered persons (veterans and eligible spouses) who are low-income individuals or recipients of public assistance.
Local Priority of Service Policy SECOND PRIORITY: Shall be given to recipients of public assistance and other low income individuals that are defined as an individual who: Receives, or is a member of a family that receives, cash payments under a Federal, State, or local income-based public assistance program.
Local Priority of Service Policy Received an income/is a member of a family that received a total family income for the 6-month period prior to program enrollment that does not exceed the income guidelines.
Local Priority of Service Policy Is a member of a household that receives or has been determined within the 6 month period prior to enrollment to be eligible to receive food benefits (SNAP); or Qualifies as a homeless individual, a defined in the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act; or Is an individual with a disability whose own income meets the requirement of a program described in section 1 or 2 above .
Local Priority of Service Policy THIRD PRIORITY (State requirement): Shall be given to program-eligible Covered persons (veterans and eligible spouses) who are not low- income and are not recipients of public assistance.
Local Priority of Service Policy FOURTH PRIORITY: shall be given to individuals who meet one of the following conditions: Their family is not yet self-sufficient (www.thecalculator.org), or Unemployed or underemployed and are pursuing training in local high demand occupational clusters as approved by the Board.
Questions? amy.martinez@co.yakima.wa.us
Priority of Service The key to success in performance and collaboration
Understanding Our Role • The new regulations are clear, the services provided with WIOA funds can be a pathway to the middle class for low income adults , including public assistance recipients , and individuals who are basic skills deficient. . • These new regulations are also clear about who should be providing these services: requiring that programs and providers collocate, coordinate, and integrate activities and information so that the system as a whole is cohesive and accessible.
Priority of Service Customers Make Performance Measures Work • A little over two years ago, ex- offenders Gloria Hulsey, 50, and Kenneth Wiley, 60, were walking out of prison for the first time in years. Gloria had been in twice for dealing methamphetamines, and Kenneth had been in for 37 years for robbery and murder…. “People hear about your background, and they slam the door in your face. They judge you. I tried for a year and gave up,” Gloria said. • Both Gloria and Kenneth celebrated two years of freedom this year. Gloria got a second job on her own selling advertisements for the Thrifty Nickel and has stayed sober longer than she has since 21 years old. She got her children back and is watching them finish their last years of school.”
Recommend
More recommend
