The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, declared a nationwide public health emergency as a result of confirmed cases of the coronavirus.  This federal declaration enables the Secretary of Labor to award Disaster Recovery DWGs to help address the workforce-related impacts of this public health emergency (WIOA Act Section 170(a)(1)(B)).

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Below are several questions and answers that I hope will help you in your planning to address this public health emergency.

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1.)    For coronavirus, what types of disaster-relief employment are allowable?  

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• Under WIOA sec. 170, disaster-relief employment is limited to one of two categories: cleanup activities or humanitarian assistance.  Under a public health emergency declaration such as the  coronavirus, the types of disaster-relief employment allowable might include:

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  • Humanitarian assistance activities: WIOA’s allowance for disaster-relief employment to provide humanitarian assistance provides greatest range of potential disaster-relief employment activities for this public health emergency.  Disaster-relief employees may assist in addressing many needs created by this public health emergency and the prolonged social isolation that is necessary to curb it, such as:

    • Delivering medicine, food, or other supplies to older individuals and other individuals with respiratory conditions and other chronic medical disorders, with appropriate training and precautions.  Coronavirus infection has been the most harmful to these populations, and there may be heavy need for such services that traditional volunteer organizations cannot support alone.

    • Helping set up quarantine areas and providing assistance to quarantined individuals.

    • Organizing and coordinating recovery, quarantine, or other related activities.

• • Cleanup activities: WIOA requires that cleanup activities respond to the impacts of the disaster. While this activity is more typical for tornadoes, fires, and floods, some clean-up activities are relevant to coronavirus response. For instance, cleanup activities can include cleaning schools or sanitizing quarantine or treatment areas after their use. If research determines that coronavirus is more likely to spread under certain physical conditions, Disaster Recovery DWG funds could additionally be used to help remedy these conditions.

    • By law, disaster-relief employment activities may only respond to or mitigate the impact of the disaster, which means grantees may not use DWG-funded disaster-relief employees to perform work aimed at preventing future disasters.  We consider preventative measures—setting up quarantines, cleaning buildings—as mitigation activities because they avoid the further spread of the virus.  

2.)  Which entities are eligible to apply for a Disaster Recovery DWG under HHS Secretary Azar’s public health emergency declaration for coronavirus?

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• Entities eligible to apply for Disaster Recovery DWGs are:

  • States

  • Outlying areas

  • Indian Tribal Governments as defined in the Stafford Act (42 U.S.C. 5122(6)) 

• Secretary Azar’s declaration is “nationwide,” so any eligible entity in any location may apply. 

3.)  What activities must states carry out with Disaster Recovery DWGs under the coronavirus public health emergency declaration?

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• WIOA sec. 170(d) generally requires that Disaster Recovery DWGs include disaster-relief employment, with the option for grantees to also conduct employment and training activities (which may include career, training, and supportive services) for workers eligible to participate in Disaster DWG activities. 

4.)  Who can be served by Disaster Recovery DWGs under the coronavirus public health emergency declaration?

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• Eligible Disaster DWG participants for both disaster-relief employment and employment and training activities are: 

  • Dislocated workers

  • Workers laid-off as a result of the disaster, including:

    • workers who are laid off as a result of a quarantine, because they miss work to care for a family member, or because they cannot come to their regular workplace in order to follow socially distance requirements; and

    • workers laid off after a business closure related to disruptions caused by the outbreak and the efforts to contain it.

  • Self-employed individuals unemployed or underemployed because of the disaster

  • Long-term unemployed individuals

5.)  In addition to Disaster Recovery DWGs, can states apply for Employment Recovery DWGs in response to layoffs caused by cancellations or shutdowns caused by coronavirus?

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• Yes.  Any layoffs caused by the virus’ spread, or other economic causes, could be eligible for Employment Recovery DWGs.  WIOA limits Employment Recovery DWGs to providing only employment and training activities.

• As already allowed under WIOA statute and regulations, states can apply for Employment Recovery DWGs if the following events occur:

  • If there are 50 or more individuals laid off by one employer.

  •  If there are significant layoffs that significantly increase unemployment in a given community, even if the total layoffs are fewer than 50 individuals.  For example, a cancellation of a large event may qualify because several different businesses such as hotels, caterers, area restaurants may lay off workers as a result of the event’s cancellation.

If you have questions related to the DWG program in response to the coronavirus public health emergency declaration, please contact SEAEDD’s Workforce Development department.  Counties and cities who are interested must prepare a detailed budget and project description.