The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) states in Section 134(d)(4)(E), that in the event funds allocated to a local area for adult employment and training activities are
limited, priority for intensive and training services funded with Title I WIA adult funds must be given to recipients of public assistance and other low-income individuals.
Due to the relatively low federal funding allocation, WIA funding for adult services is generally limited. Therefore, the State and both Conventional WIA Areas and
sub-areas within the Ohio Option Area must establish criteria for local areas to determine the availability of funds and the process by which any priority will be applied. In keeping
with its commitment to local decision making, the State is delegating the responsibility for establishing a priority of service policy for adult services to the local level within the
guidelines established in the law and this guidance letter.
First, local areas need to determine if funds to serve the eligible adult population are limited and to describe the process used to make that determination. Local areas
should take into consideration the availability of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds, Prevention Retention Contingency funds, and other public and private sources of
employment and training funding. Other factors to consider in this determination might include current labor market information concerning the local workforce, historical levels of JTPA
service, past expenditure rates, patterns for employment and training programs, and current population and demographic trends for the local area.
The local board must take into consideration the approximate cost for those participants who will be "grandfathered" into WIA from JTPA programs. Funding must be planned
or set aside to allow JTPA participants to remain in WIA until the completion of activities in their individual service strategy (ISS). Arrangements must be made between local boards
and JTPA administrative entities to share information concerning the number of participants to be "grandfathered" and the approximate cost of the participants' continued service beyond
June 30, 2000 until completion.
Second, a local area must give priority for adult intensive and training services to recipients of public assistance (defined as cash assistance) and other low-income
individuals unless the local area has determined that funds are not limited. The priority service requirement is only applicable for the adult program and does not apply to the
dislocated worker program. However, a local area may wish to consider the process which will be used to determine which applicants will receive services when funding for dislocated
workers is limited.
A local area should develop a service priority system that takes into account low-income status and/or receipt of public assistance first and barriers to employment
second. Barriers to employment may include, but are not limited to, basic skills deficiencies, lack of a high school degree or a general equivalency diploma (GED), lack of computer
skills, employability or life skills deficiencies, disabilities, involvement with the justice system, lack of health care coverage, and single parent status. A system may be based on
the assignment of points for specific criteria or barriers weighted based on local situations, labor market circumstances, and philosophy of service. Local areas are encouraged to
develop and explore other criteria and situations unique to their local conditions.
Ohio Revised Code, 5903.11, requires that veterans be given preference for federally funded employment and training programs. Therefore, where points are equal, an
applicant who is a veteran would receive priority over an applicant who is a non-veteran.
