United States Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment & Training Service Lane Dyer State Director North Carolina

Briefing Objectives Understand the no-cost USDOL/VETS employment services available to employers and veterans Provide information and resources that help veterans and transitioning service members go to work

Priority of Service All programs funded in whole or in part by USDOL will offer Priority of Service to Veterans Veterans receive services ahead of other eligible clients Veterans receive services instead of other eligible clients.

VETS’ Mission We prepare America’s veterans, service members and their spouses for meaningful careers We provide them with employment resources and expertise We promote their employment opportunities We protect their employment rights

Transition Assistance DOLEW – Department of Labor Employment Workshop: annually in NC 3 days of instruction designed to prepare transitioning service members to seek civilian employment Development of Interview Skills Development of an actual ready-to-apply resume

Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) Staffing Grant to NC DWS (and all states) Pays for employment specialist staff as outlined in Title 38 U.S.C. Chapter 41 and 42 Supplements USDOL workforce funds (Wagner-Peyser and WIOA) Designed to serve those veterans with barriers to employment

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) Competitive grants that provide resources to assist homeless veterans in finding employment Often operated in conjunction with other homeless veteran programs Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry Volunteers of America of the Carolinas

USERRA Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

Basic USERRA Protections Discrimination/Retaliation prohibited – Initial hiring – Promotions – Retention in employment – Employment benefits (seniority v. non-seniority) Benefits during service – Health plan continuation of coverage – Benefits after reinstatement: Includes Health plan, pension benefits, seniority

USERRA Reemployment Eligibility 5 Criteria For USERRA protections, the employee must: Be absent from civilian employment due to service Provide advance notice to employer Have 5 years or less service (w/ exceptions) Submit timely application for reemployment Have no disqualifying discharge

VETS Outreach Facilitate partnerships between veteran program service providers Present to groups interested in knowing more about USDOL services to veterans Provide oversight, monitoring and technical assistance to grantees and veteran service organizations

NC WORKS Veteran Services Staff All NCWORKS Career Center staff assist veterans with workforce services Specialized veteran program staff conduct employer outreach on behalf of veterans and offer additional, intensive services to help veterans overcome barriers to employment 54 DVOP (Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialists) 23 LVER (Local Veterans Employment Representatives)

DVOP Specialists Providing Intensive Services DVOP Specialists provide intensive services to veterans with significant barriers to employment. Intensive services assist veterans in mitigating their barriers and transitioning into the civilian workforce Intensive service rates for veterans increased from 20% to 90% in the last three years. VETS has set aggressive targets to increase intensive services to 90% by end of PY 2016.

SBE Categories An eligible veteran or eligible spouse is determined to have a SBE if he or she attests to belonging to at least one of the six criteria below: 1. A Special Disabled or Disabled Veteran, as those terms are defined in 38 U.S.C § 4211(1) 2.Homeless, as defined in Section 103(a) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C (a)); 3.A recently-separated service member, as defined in 38 U.S.C § 4211(6), who at any point in the previous 12 months has been unemployed for 27 or more weeks; 4.An offender, as defined by WIOA Section 3 (38), who has been released from incarceration; 5.Lacking a high school diploma or equivalent certificate; or 6.Low-income (as defined by WIOA Section 3 ( 36)).

DVOP specialists may also provide services to the following: Veterans or transitioning service members ages Transitioning service members in need of enhanced services. Wounded Warriors in military treatment facilities and their family caregivers. Service members who receive a “warm handover”, or who produce a DD-2958 signed by their commander documenting that they have not met Career Readiness Standards. Active duty service members voluntarily or involuntarily separated through a Service reduction-in-for

LVER Responsibility to Employers Making presentations to business groups, HR associations and apprenticeship committees Consulting with individual employers to promote the hiring of specific veterans Collaborating with employers and other service providers in the planning and implementation of job club workshops and job fairs Educating federal contractors about ways NCWORKS Career Centers can help them comply with regulatory requirements

LVER Responsibility to Veterans Outreach and Engagement to advocate the hiring of veterans in each community Work with DVOPS staff and other center staff to provide opportunities to specific veterans. Meet with veterans to better understand and meet employment needs but does not provide direct staff- assisted services Provide veteran program specific training to center staff

OTHER RESOURCES

Apprenticeships

NC4VETS or NC4-VETS

QUESTIONS?

Workshop Presenter Archie Barrow Director Veterans Employment Services NC Department of Commerce NCWORKS

Workshop Presenter Lane Dyer Director, North Carolina Veterans Employment and Training Service (USDOL/VETS) (919)