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Reemploying Veterans

Gordon J. Burke, Jr., Director Office of Operations, Grants and Transition Programs Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor Presenters: Patrick Hecker, Jobs for Veterans State Grant Program Lead Joel H. Delofsky, Jobs for Veterans National Lead Center Coordinator For

“Reemployment Works” Summit

January 28, 2009 10:45 AM Eastern Time

2009

Vision and Mission of the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)

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Vision: Veterans succeeding in the 21st century workforce.

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Mission: “To provide veterans and service members with the resources and services to succeed in the 21st century workforce by maximizing their employment opportunities, protecting their employment rights and meeting labor-market demands with qualified veterans.”

http://www.dol.gov/vets/aboutvets/mission/mission.htm

Overview of VETS’ Activities

• • • • • • • • • Grants Administration and Monitoring Ensuring Priority of Service Federal Contractor Affirmative Action National Hire Veterans Committee Promotion Veterans’ Preference in Federal Employment Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Investigation and Resolution REALifelines Coordination and Assistance Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Workshops National Veterans’ Training Institute Classes 3

Overview of VETS’ Programs

• • • • • • • • • • • • Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants (DVOP/LVER) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Priority of Service REALifelines/”Operation Wounded Warrior” Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Federal Agency & Contractor Program Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Projects Incarcerated Veterans Training Program Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI) “Hire Vets First” Program Dark Blue color= VETS’ Grants Light Blue color= Programs Maroon Color= Special Initiatives 4

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) • Protects Veterans’, Activated Reserve and National Guard retain civilian jobs and benefits • Guarantees job, seniority, pay and status • First avenue for reemployment, if former employer available • Complaints may be filed • Problem Avoidance and Resolution • Mobilization and “Demob” Briefings • Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) assist identify issues and VETS investigates • Violation Resolution: voluntary or litigation http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra/userra_fs.htm

Reemploying Veterans through the Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants • Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialists and Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) staff • Funded by US Department of Labor (DOL)/Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS’) grant • Approximately $165 million = 2,000 staff in Fiscal Year 2008 • • State/County merit system employees Services to veterans and eligible persons, exclusively • Network with other service providers in State workforce centers or One-Stop Career Centers http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/empserv/employment_services_fs.htm

Transition Assistance (TAP) and Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) Workshops TO 7

TAP/DTAP Workshops

• • • • • Reduce reliance on unemployment compensation for ex servicemembers (UCX) benefits • Shown to reduce period of transition by up to eight weeks Available world-wide to separating military members/families TAP Facilitators • Include DVOP specialists, LVER staff, VETS’ staff and other designated staff • Are trained by the National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI) TAP workshop subjects areas include: • Job Search / Readiness • • Labor Market information Training Opportunities • Veterans’ Benefits especially for disability retirements Alternative (Post Separation) TAP Workshops http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/tap/tap_fs.htm

Reemployment Tool Kit: Priority of Service

• Priority of Service in all DOL funded employment and training programs: – “a veteran shall be given priority over a non-veteran for receipt of employment, training and placement services in job training programs if the veteran meets the program’s eligibility requirements.” • • Title 38, United States Code, Section 4215 Title 20, Part 1010, Code of Fed. Regulations http://www.doleta.gov/programs/VETS/ 9

Performance Accountability

• • Evaluated Annually • Statewide Services to Veterans • DVOP/LVER program To ensure: • veterans receive priority of service; and, • grant funds are expended per grant requirements.

• Negotiated outcome measures • State Agency and Grant-funded staff performance.

http://www.dol.gov/vets/vetoutcomes/index.htm

Self-Help Modalities

VETERANS, SERVICEMEMBERS AND FAMILIES What is Veterans Preference? USERRA Questions? Where can I find help with employment?

What should I know about licensing and certification?

EMPLOYERS How do I find qualified veterans?

What does USERRA require?

What is required of Federal contractors?

30-day Notice for VETS-100 and 100A SERVICE PROVIDERS What grants are available?

2008 HVRP Urban and Non-Urban SGA What are the requirements for priority of service?

• • USDOL/VETS Website: http://www.dol.gov/vets E-VETS Resource Advisor: http://www.dol.gov/elaws/evets.htm

• On-Line TAP (e-TAP): http://www.dol.gov/vets/tap/F-TAPSupplement CreateanEffectiveResume8.9.07.pdf

• Other DOL On-line tools: • America’s Career Info Net (e.g.,resume) http://www.acinet.org

Reemploying Veterans with Barriers

• • Returning Servicemembers may present some significant physical or psychological barriers to employment • Examples: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); Substance Abuse; Loss of sight, hearing or one or more extremities http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/vets/vets20081157.htm

Available Supporting Interventions • • • • • • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Psychological Counseling Substance Abuse Interventions Military Hospital Recovery, Prosthetic or related assistance Computer Assistance Program (Department of Defense) Case management and intensive services (JVSG) VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment 12

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VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)

One Stop Career Centers (OSCCs) are able to refer veterans to the VA who appear to need assistance to overcome barriers and become job-ready Following comprehensive assessment, the Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors will make entitlement determinations and develop a rehabilitation plan for one of five tracks: – Reemployment with previous employer – – Rapid employment services for new employment Self-employment – Employment through long-term services – Independent living services VR&E staff members and DVOP specialists or other designated OSCC staff persons will partner to provide cooperative and comprehensive service to Title 38, U.S.C. Chapter 31 eligible participants at every stage during the rehabilitation process The VA Employment Coordinator in concert with the DVOP specialist provide job search assistance or perform targeted job development with employers If training is required, subsistence allowances may be available Since entering into the VA/DOL agreement in 1995, thousands of veterans with disabilities have benefited from the resulting cooperation and coordination between the two Federal agencies and State Workforce Agency/OSCC partners providing Job Search assistance www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm

Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines)

“If you have been wounded or injured serving this nation, real people are going to meet you face-to face with the personalized help that you may need to recover and to succeed in a career that you love.”

Secretary Elaine L. Chao To the soldiers and families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, October 4, 2004 14

REALifelines/Operation Wounded Warrior

• Helps • wounded and injured service members, certain other veterans and their families • • Provides • valuable online resources • contacts for one-on-one employment assistance Intent • to help transition into the civilian workforce through Federal work experience…with paid accommodations . http://www.dol.gov/vets/REALifelines/index.htm

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/realifelines.htm

Phone Contact Points for Wounded and Injured Service Members •

VETS’ REALifelines lead: 1-202-693-4724

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Military One Source 1-800-342-9647

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Employers may contact one of the nearly 2,000 One-Stop Career Centers nationwide for assistance in connecting to and recruiting veterans.

1-877-US2-JOBS

Veterans’ Preference in Federal Agency Hiring

• • • • 5 Point Veterans’ Preference 10 Point Preference – Certain Disabled Veterans Non-competitive Appointments • Veterans Recruitment Appointments (VRA) • Veterans’ Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) • VEOA Appointment; 30% or more disabled veterans VETS investigates allegations of improper application of Veterans’ Preference by federal agencies under VEOA.

http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/vetspref/veterans_preference_fs.htm

Federal Contractor Program

• • • Contracts totaling $100,000 or more contain employer affirmative action provision Affirmative Action to Hire and Promote: • • • Disabled Veterans Campaign Veterans Recently Separated Veterans Must report new hires to VETS and must list job openings with: • • nearest One-Stop Career Center, or employment-service delivery system • http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/fcp/federal_contractor_program_fs.htm

VETS’ Competitive Grants

• Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Projects • Urban, Rural, Stand Downs • Approximately $25 million annually http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/hvrp/homeless_veterans_fs.htm

• • Incarcerated Veterans’ Training Program VETS Home Page link IVTP Briefing • Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program • VWIP authorized by WIA, Section 163 • Approximately $7 Million annually http://www.dol.gov/vets/programs/vwip/vwip_fs.htm

Business-based National

Hire Veterans Committee

• Raise Employer Awareness of the Training and Skills of all Veterans. • Members represent Business, Workforce, Veterans, Military Service, Organized Labor and government • Promotes advantages of hiring veterans to private employers.

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Hire a Veteran

” Month (50 State Proclamations)

www.HireVetsFirst.gov

National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI):

VETS Resource Connection

• • • The NVTI in Denver is contracted to train those Fed/State staff who assist veterans.

Creates Automated Self-Help tools, videos The