# Presentation: 772064

## USDOL – VETS Programs Overview

**Denver, Colorado**
**August 1, 2006**

## VETS Mission

- Providing ***Veterans***** *****and Transitioning Servicemembers***
** **with the resources and services to
-  ***succeed in the 21******st****** Century*** ***workforce***
-  by maximizing their _employment opportunities_, protecting their _employment rights_, and meeting _labor market demands_
-  with qualified Veterans.

**Notes:**
Secretary of Labor Chao has often said:  Our men and women in uniform were there for us when we needed them, and it is now our turn to be there for them.  We at Labor are committed to helping our veterans succeed in the 21st Century workforce, Chick’s 3 goals from confirmation hearing:  Better integrate the DV/LV – build on the success of the JVA implementation, Improve TAP, Continue the personal face to face assistance to seriously wounded and injured

## VETS Organization

**Notes:**
Let me introduce the other members of VETS who are here:

I introduce them for two reasons – First, so  you can see who does the real work in VETS – and second – so you can ask them the hard questions.

## VETS Employment Programs

- Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants
- HVRP Grantees
- IVTP Grantees
- VWIP Grantees
- Transition Assistance Program
- USERRA

## Jobs for Veterans Act

- Jobs for Veterans Act, P.L. 107-288, provides priority of service to veterans and spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services in any job training program directly funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Labor.

## Federal/State Staff Comparison

**DVOP/LVER State Staff**

**VETS N.O.**

**VETS Field**

**Notes:**
You knew that the work was being done by the DVOPs and LVERs 

Not including the assistance from other members of the Career Centers

From FY 2005 State Plans:
DVOPs:  	1,261
LVERs: 	1,073
Total: 	2,334  FTEs

## DVOP/LVER Staff FTE

- 				_DVOP_		_LVER_
- FY 2004		1,437		   957
- FY 2005		1,167		1,039
- FY 2006		1,193		1,031

## Nationwide Network

- Both DVOP and LVER staff are located in the State Workforce Agencies One Stop Career Centers nationwide.
- LVER staff facilitate the delivery of employment and training opportunities and services for veterans.
- DVOP specialists provide intensive services to individual veterans with barriers to employment.

## One-Stop Locations

- Over 3,000
- career centers
- nationwide

- $15 Billion Annual Investment
- Employers have direct access
- to these services

## Making the Connection

- Programs funded through Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service are designed to meet the needs of all veterans, and eligible persons, to make maximum use of available resources in meeting such needs.

## Making the Connection

- Grantees:
-  Provide supportive services
-  Employment focused
-  Coordinate with other service	providers

## Making the Connection

- DVOP & LVER Staff:
- Provide career guidance
- Coordinate supportive services
- Provide referrals to job openings and training
- Have access to automated employment outcome info

## DVOP/LVER Performance Outcomes

- 	Total Veteran Participants Served:  718,779
- (Source: VETS 200 C Qtr Ending March 2006)
- 					Disabled	Disabled
- Veteran	 Veteran	 Veteran	 Veteran
-    EER	    ERR	    EER	    ERR
-     62%	    81%	    58%	     80%
- (Source: ETA 9002 D Qtr Ending March 2006)

## Final Thoughts

- Partnerships to eliminate duplication, fragmentation or delay in delivery of assistance
- Coordinated efforts are crucial
- Open communication
- Focus on the strengths versus weaknesses of the partnership

## Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP)

- Currently authorized under 38 United States Code, Section 2021, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001.
- Section 2021 requires the Secretary of Labor to conduct, directly or through grant or contract, such programs as the Secretary determines appropriate to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force.
- Administered by the Assistant Secretary for USDOL VETS

## HVRP Objectives

-  (1) To provide services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force and;
- (2) To stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.

## HVRP Grant Categories

_**Urban**_ – 75 Most Populated U.S. Cities
_**Non-Urban**_ – Sites Not Listed as 75 Most Populated U.S. Cities
_**New Grantee**_ – Grantees that have not previously had a USDOL-VETS Grant
_**Intermediaries**__ - _sub-award a substantial portion of its grant award to eligible local grass roots organizations and collectively perform all of the services on behalf of homeless veterans.
_**Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program**_** – Pilot** program (7 grantees) to assist veterans within 18 months of release from incarceration who are “at high risk” transition into the workforce.

## FY 2006 HVRP  

**$21.7 Million FY 2006 HVRP Funds **
**Performance Period: 07/01/06 thru 06/30/07**
**$2 M - 7 Incarcerated Pilots **
**	****(15 Month Extension thru 6/30/07)**
**$2.1 M - 8 HVRP 2****nd**** Year Grants **
**$6.9 M - 30 HVRP 3****rd**** Year Grants**
**$7.4 M – 26 Urban 1****st**** Year Grants**
**$1.5 M – 8 Non-Urban 1****st**** Year Grants**
**$1.5 M – 8 New Grantee 1****st**** Year Grants**
**$325,000 Stand Down Event Grants (40)**
**$91K Nat’l HVRP Technical Assistance Grant to National Coalition for Homeless Veterans**
**88 Total HVRP Grants**

## Optional Year Funding 

**HVRP & VWIP SGAs usually indicate that grants awarded will have two (2) optional years of funding – for a total of 3 years of funding.**
**Optional year funding is awarded to existing grantees (prior to conducting a new competition) depending on:**
**	**
**Funding availability**
**VETS decision to award optional year funding**
**Grantee satisfactory performance.**

## HVRP Funds & Activities

|  | FY2004 | FY 2005* | FY 2006*  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Funding Level | $18.888M | $20.832 M  | $21.780 M |
| Participants | 12,516 | 14,154 | 12,809 |
| Entered Employ | 8,087 | 9,746 | 8,948 |
| Entered Employ % | 65.0% | 68.9% | 69.9% |
| Cost Per Participant | $1,509 | $1,472 | $1,700 |
| Cost Per Placement | $2,336 | $2,137 | $2,434 |
| Avg Hrlyl Wage  | $9.55 | $9.77 | $9.04  |
| 90-Day Retention | 72% | 77% | 75% |
| 180-Day Retention | 57% | 58% | 58.5% |
| * Planned Performance  |  |  |  |

## HVRPSignificant Accomplishments

- Exceeded goals for entered employment
- Began targeting “chronic” homeless veterans and capturing data on services provided
- Provided on-the-spot technical assistance and training for grantees by GOTRs
- Sponsored a grantee training conference
- Initiated a retention rate goal and electronic performance tracking
- Initiated process for capturing and sharing best practices

## Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP)

**“****Pilot” Program authorized under 38 United States Code, Section 2022, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001.**

## Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP) 

- Is a partnership between the Department of Labor and Department of Veterans Affairs in the development, support, and operation of at least six (6) demonstration projects designed to support incarcerated veterans at high risk of homelessness.

## IVTP Objective

- Pilot IVTP Grantees provide direct services through a case management approach while networking with federal, state, and local resources and veteran support programs to reintegrate previously incarcerated veterans into the workforce.
**Assistance provided within 18 Months of separation from incarceration.**

## IVTP Funds Expended 

**All seven (7) Competitive IVTP Grants were awarded by USDOL - VETS with Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) funds – as IVTP Participants are at “high risk” of homelessness.**
**$1.6 M in FY 2004 – 1****st**** Year**
**$1.6 M in FY 2005 – 2****nd**** Year**
**$2M in FY 2006 – 15 month Extensions**
**All seven (7) IVTP Competitive Grants awarded thru June 30, 200**_**7**_**. **

## Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program (VWIP)

**Authorized under Public Law #105-220, WIA Section 168**
- _Employment & Training Programs that meet the needs of veterans:_
**with service-connected disabilities;**
**Veterans who have significant barriers to employment; **
**veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, and**
**recently separated veterans (48 months). **

## VWIP Objectives

- To provide services to assist in reintegrating veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force.
- To stimulate the development of effective delivery systems that will address the complex employment problems facing veterans.

## VWIP Funding & Performance

|  | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Funding Level | $7,550,000 | $7,377,000 | $7,505,000 | $8,482,000 | $7,425,000 |
| Participants | 4373 | 3,728 | 3,505 | 3,585 | 3,821 |
| Entered Employments | 2872 | 2,561 | 2,691 | 2,759 | 2,689 |
| Entered Employment Rate | 65.7% | 68.7% | 76.8% | 77.0% | 70.4% |
| Cost Per Participant | $1,727 | $1,979 | $2,141 | $1,549 | $1,454 |
| Cost Per Placement | $2,629 | $2,881 | $2,789 | $2,013 | $2,066 |
| Avg Wage @ Placement | $11.42 | $12.67 | $12.58 | $12.58 | 11.83 |
| 90-Day Retention | N/A | N/A | 74.6% | 74.5% | 75% |
| 180-Day Retention | N/A | N/A | 62.7% | 56.70% | 69% |
| * Actual activity thru the period ending 03/31/06. |  |  |  |  |  |
| ** Planned activity thru the period ending 06/30/07. |  |  |  |  |  |

## VWIPSignificant Accomplishments

- Began targeting recently separated veterans especially those with service connected disabilities
- Focused on higher skill occupations in high demand industries, such as healthcare
- Initiated focus on leveraging and partnering with the VA, DoD and SWAs to maximize results
- Initiated electronic performance tracking
- Participants entered employment at an average hourly wage in excess of $12.00 per hour

## Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Overview	

- 2 1⁄2 – 3 Day Transition Assistance Employment Workshop.
- 2005 Domestic TAP class attendees: 130,622; Overseas: 10,098
- 2006 2st Qtr Domestic classes held: 1,788; Overseas: 309

- T-1.1-1

## Overseas TAP Locations

- Mainland Japan (7 sites)
- Okinawa Japan (5 sites)
- Germany (18 sites)
- Italy (5 sites)
- United Kingdom (6 sites)
- Guam (2 sites)
- Korea (7 sites)
- Belgium/Benelux (3 sites)

## TAP - Support and Assistance

- DoD: Pre-separation counseling, DoD Job search, DoD Transportal
- DOL: USERRA, Fed Employment (Veterans Pref., Special appointments)
- VA: DTAP, VA Eligibility, Medical, Home loans etc.

- T-I-3

## TAP - Homelessness (HVRP/VWIP)

- Brief overview provided to all TAP participants of HVRP and VWIP support services available to assist in reintegrating veterans and homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force.

- T-I-3

## TAP Key Modules

- Personal Appraisal
- Job Search Strategies
- Interview Skills
- Reviewing Job Offers

- T-I-3

**Notes:**
Personal Appraisal:
Getting Ready for civilian life
Determine your work preference
Identify Strengths and challenges from military experience
Analyze your work related values

Job Search Strategies:
Goal Setting
Research Companies
Job Search Assistance
Job Search On-Line
Analyze Want Ads
Create an Effective Resume
Write cover letters

Interview Skills:
Understanding the Interview Process
Prepare for Interviews
Listening Skills
Answering and Asking questions during the interview
Follow up after the interview
Analyze why you did or did not get the job

Reviewing Job Offers:
Evaluating Job Offers
Negotiate Job Offers
Communicate Your decision to the employer

## TAP - Small Business Assistance

- Federal Contracting Assistance
- Growing Your Business
- SBA Websites: _[www.sba.gov/VETS](http://www.sba.gov/VETS)_ (Focus on Veterans and Disabled Veterans)
- _[www.sba.gov/reservists](http://www.sba.gov/reservists)_ (Focus on self employed Reserve and National Guard).

- T-I-3

## USERRA

- The **U**niformed **S**ervices **E**mployment and **R**eemployment **R**ights **A**ct of 1994 codified at Title 38 U.S.C., Section 43.

## USERRA

- USERRA is intended to minimize the disadvantages to an individual that can occur when that person needs to be absent from his or her civilian employment in order to serve in the uniformed services.

## USERRA Responsibilities 

- USDOL - VETS provides assistance to persons experiencing problems with their civilian employment related to military service or status and provides information about USERRA to employers.

## Who is Eligible for USERRA?

- USERRA potentially covers every individual in the country who serves in or has served in the uniformed services and applies to all employers in the public and private sectors including Federal employers.

## Intent of USERRA

- The law seeks to ensure those that who serve their country can retain their civilian employment and benefits, and can seek employment free from discrimination because of their military service.

## Disabled Veterans

- USERRA provides enhanced protection to disabled veterans, requiring employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate the disability.

## The USERRA Advisor

- The USERRA Advisor is an on-line interactive resource that provides information about the Act.  Developed by USDOL-VETS, the Advisor has been designed to answer some of the most common questions about the law.
- _[www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/userra](http://www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/userra)__ _

## Additional Information

- For more information on U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service programs, please visit our web site at:
- 			_[www.dol.gov/vets](http://www.dol.gov/vets)_