1 Veterans Benefits Administration Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) 2016 Association of Veterans Education Certifying Officials (AVECO) Conference St. Louis, MO - July 21, 2016

2 Office of Economic Opportunity Strategic Goal #1: Promote employment opportunities for Veterans Strategic Goal #2: Enhance opportunities for Veterans to obtain knowledge and skills Strategic Goal #3: Provide opportunities for Veterans to obtain, retain and adapt a home Strategic Goal #4: Enable effective transition for Servicemembers Helping Veterans Attain Personal and Economic Success Education GI Bill Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Home Loan Guaranty Program Transition, Employment and Economic Impact

VR&E Mission Statement The Mission of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) is to help Veterans with service connected disabilities and an employment handicap prepare for, find, and maintain suitable employment For Veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E provides services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible 3

VR&E Services Provided  Help Veterans with service-related disabilities –Prepare for, achieve and maintain suitable employment –Gain independence in daily living  Vocational counseling and planning  Education or vocational training  Monthly living allowance in addition to disability compensation  Tools to accommodate program (e.g. auto mechanic tools, computers for technology/professional fields)  Job-seeking skills and assistance in finding employment  Independent living –Training in activities of daily living –Personal adjustment counseling and support services 4

VR&E Services (continued)  VR&E employs nearly 1,000 professional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors (VRC) and delivers services through a network of nearly 400 office locations  Our service delivery model works to support Veterans where they are located, and includes operations at 56 regional offices, the National Capital Region Benefits Office, approximately 165 out-based offices, 71 Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) installations, and 94 VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) schools/sites OUTREACH PROGRAMS  VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) – VA collaborated with 94 schools across the country to provide educational and vocational counseling and other on-site services to nearly 78,000 student Veterans on campus  Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) – VA expanded early intervention counseling and other available services for transitioning Servicemembers at 71 military installations 5

6 Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service Tracks to Employment Employment Tracks:  Reemployment  Rapid Access to Employment  Self-Employment  Employment Through Long-Term Services

VR&E Caseload: By Status – FY15 FY 15 VR&E Caseload 166,511 14,922 Service Interrupted Caseload from Corporate Data sources. 34,864 Did Not Pursue Plan

VR&E Longitudinal Study, Annual Report In 2008, Congress passed the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act to improve and enhance benefits for Veterans. A section of this legislation required VA to conduct a 20-year longitudinal study of Veteran who applied for and entered a plan of service in the VR&E program.longitudinal study Overall snapshot of findings to date: The majority of all participants for all cohorts reported moderate to high program satisfaction (~90%) Nearly 70% of discontinued participants reported moderate to high satisfaction with the program The majority of cohort members served in the Gulf war era. Women make up a larger percentage of the program participants (17 – 20 percent) than the overall Veteran population (9 percent). Almost one quarter or more of participants in each cohort have a primary rating of PTSD, which continues to increase. Successful completion of the program takes time. 15% of Veterans pursuing employment goals achieve rehabilitation in the first three years. This grows to 28% by the fifth year. The cohorts are similar demographically; however, the following were noted: –On average, cohort members have a service-connected disability rating of about 60% and when comparing cohort members with overall Veterans, –76% of the Veterans participating in the VR&E program in FY2015 had a serious employment handicap, which means there is significant impairment associated with their ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment that is consistent with their abilities, aptitudes, and interests 8

VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) The VetSuccess On Campus (VSOC) program's mission is to provide student Veterans seamless access to VA services; support their successful integration into college and university campuses; support their individualized educational goals, so they may persist, graduate, and improve their life circumstances; and successfully live and thrive in the career field and community of their choice VA has 79 professionally trained VSOC counselors on 94 campuses who can provide Chapter 36 services 9

EXPANDED RESOURCES VSOC Counselors will identify and share various community based resources to meet the needs of student Veterans ENSURING OUTCOMES VSOC Counselor will assist in the collection of program evaluation & outcomes on: 1. Reduction in the # of Veterans on Probation Status 2. Persistence Rate (school year to school year) 3. Graduation Rates ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES VSOC Counselor will ensure student Veterans are informed about special federal internships, NPWE, etc. opportunities. CAMPUS ACCESS AND SUPPORT VSOC Counselor ensures seamless access to campus resources and services by sharing best practices and working closely with the campuses Veteran Centers ENHANCED VHA REFERRALS & ENROLLMENTS VSOC Counselor will assist student Veterans’ enrollment to VHA services to ensure all medical needs are addressed ACCESS TO TIMELY AND EVIDENCE- BASED MENTAL HEALTH CARE VSOC Counselor will ensure student Veterans receive mental health care on- campus, at the nearest VA medical center, Vet Center, or campus and community counseling center SEAMLESS ACCESS TO VA HEALTHCARE VSOC Counselor ensures Veterans will have access to timely VA healthcare through their local site SEAMLESS ACCESS TO VBA BENEFITS VSOC Counselor is the bridge that connects Veterans to access and information to VBA Benefits through their local Regional Office 4 OUTREACH & OVERSIGHT VSOC Counselor is the VA POC on campus to conduct the career and adjustment counseling services for a successful vocational outcome Student Veteran Outputs for VSOC 10

Educational and Career Counseling Program (Chapter 36) 11 VA’s education and career counseling program, or Chapter 36 benefits offer a wide range of educational and vocational counseling services to Servicemembers, Veterans, and dependents who are eligible for one of the VA’s educational benefit programs.  These services are designed to provide Servicemembers and Veterans with personalized counseling and support to help guide career paths, ensure the most effective use of VA benefits, and achieve educational and career goals. Eligibility:  Transitioning Servicemembers within 6 months prior to discharge  Veterans within one year following discharge from active duty  Any Servicemember/Veteran currently eligible for a VA education benefit  All current VA education beneficiaries

Educational and Career Counseling Benefit (Chapter 36) (con’t) 12 Services for Servicemembers/Veterans:  Career Choice - understand the best career options for them based on their interests and capabilities  Educational Counseling – guidance on reducing the effect of environmental and institutional barriers that impede academic success  Benefits Coaching - guidance on the effective use of their VA benefits and/or other resources to achieve their education and career goals  Personalized Support - adjustment counseling and personalized support to help remove any barriers to success It's simple to apply. Veterans just need to log in to their eBenefits account at or open and print VA Form with the instruction to submit. Form

VR&E TeleCounseling Deployment VR&E has collaborated with the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Telehealth program to effectively use secure video TeleConferencing technology to supplement face-to-face counseling with VR&E program participants.  VR&E Service deployed Phase I of TeleCounseling in March 2015  TeleCounseling will reduce the need for VR&E staff and Veterans to travel to scheduled appointments, and will provide an alternative to rural Veterans  VR&E staff will have the ability to schedule and conduct secure TeleCounseling sessions with VR&E program participants The anticipated FY17 Phase II deployment will include utilization of TeleCounseling in the delivery of benefits under Chapter 36, VSOC, and the IDES programs. 13

VR&E Payments and Invoicing VA must adhere to the Prompt Payment Rule (5 CFR (b)) that ensures Federal agencies pay vendors in a timely manner. Please Note: the 10% handling charge is allowable on the amount of authorized supplies only and is not taxable.5 CFR (b)) To ensure consistency across VR&E Offices regarding invoicing requirements and payments, detailed guidance has been disseminated to our Finance divisions and VR&E field offices. Invoices at a minimum must include: Name of vendor, invoice date, invoice number, Vendor point of contact (name, title, and telephone number), Veteran’s name with clearly delineated costs per Veteran, description of service (tuition, fees, supplies, etc.), date or time period services/goods were provided to Veteran. 14

VR&E Payments and Invoicing To address these concerns, VR&E Service continues to take the following actions: Ensure compliance with guidance to the field with policy for invoicing and payments released on July 27, 2015 A discussion with a prominent book and supply vendor to identify potential solutions to invoicing concerns Continued collaboration with VA Education Service on business requirements on new systems to alleviate some invoicing concerns Clarification of the prompt payment act and other school/training guidance in VR&E policy Ongoing communication with VBA field leadership in tandem with the Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations 15

Additional Information and Resources Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Information  Informational overview documents (PDF)  VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program:  Chapter 36 Educational/Vocational Counseling Application: VA Form : VR&E YouTube Videos  VR&E’s 5 Tracks to Employment:  VR&E Career Day: My Dad, My Hero:  VR&E Rolling Up My Sleeves:  VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program: &  VetSuccess on Campus: Mr. Curtis L. Coy, VA Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Opportunity: 16