VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT (VR&E) SERVICE Association of Veterans Education Certifying Officials (AVECO) 2018 Conference Briefed by: Dr. Dorothy Williams Assistant Director for Rehabilitation Services June 19, 2018

Overview The mission of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) is to help Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment barriers prepare for, find, and maintain suitable careers, and …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 (Independent Living program). VR&E FY17 Field Authorization 1,376 As of March 2018 VR&E FTE Assigned, Nationally: o/a 77% are Counselors, or Employment Coordinators

VR&E Achievements 2017 132,218 total VR&E participants (down 3.6% since FY16, and first drop in 5 Years) Continued to reduce oldest cases during the FY; 17K discontinuations 15,528 positive outcomes (an 8.2% increase from FY16), including 10,460 Employment Rehabilitations (a 6.5% increase from FY16) 779 Education Rehabilitations and 889 Independent Living rehabilitations 2,814 Maximum Rehabilitation Gains/Employable (+22.4%) 586 Maximum Rehabilitation Gains/Employed (+12.7%)

Key Services Provided VR&E employs nearly 1,000 professional vocational rehabilitation counselors and delivers services through a network of nearly 350 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 142 out-based offices, 71 Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) installations, and 105 VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) schools/sites VSOC We currently collaborate with105 schools across the country to provide educational and vocational counseling and other on-site services to an available population of nearly 86,000 student Veterans on campus. IDES We have expanded early intervention counseling and other available services for wounded, ill, injured and other transitioning Servicemembers at 71 military installations

On-Campus Assistance through VSOC VSOC counselors provide: Adjustment counseling to resolve problems interfering with completion of education programs and entrance into employment Vocational testing Educational and career counseling (Chapter 36) Referrals to campus and community resources Support and assistance to all Veterans with VA benefits regardless of entitlement, benefit usage, or enrollment status Nearly 200 schools on Waiting List seeking a VSOC Counselor Criteria and existing site available on VA website Contact by phone at 202-461-9600 or VREOUTREACH.VBACO@va.gov to request information, get status on list.

Reasons for VSOC contacts in 2017

Educational and Career Counseling 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. 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's simple to apply. Veterans just need to log in to their eBenefits account at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov, or open and print VA Form 28-8832 with the instruction to submit.

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 VR&E will follow the lead of Education Service for consistency as much as possible. There are a number of sections that directly impact VR&E while others require further review before implementation. Sections that impact VR&E: Section 304: Increases the fee provided to institutions for each individual they certify up to $16. Section 307: Codifies the Veteran Success on Campus (VSOC) program. VR&E must provide a report to Congress on the VSOC program within 180 days, and each year after. Section 402: Extends eligibility period for certain members of the Reserve Component who have been recalled to active duty while participating in VR&E program. Section 501 : VA payments based on basic allowance for housing (BAH) rates are no longer protected from the BAH rate reductions. This went into effect for individuals who first use their entitlement on our after on January 1, 2018. VR&E Service issued guidance on January 19, 2018 regarding this section of the law.

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 Sections requiring further examination: Section 107:  Changes the way in which EDU calculates the monthly housing allowance. The amendment starts with initial enrollment on or after August 1, 2018. VR&E Service is working with Office of General Counsel (OGC) to determine whether to adopt changes as it relates to the VR&E program. Section 109 : Restores entitlement to Veterans for schools that close unexpectedly. This created a new section of the law, 38 USC 3699, and CH31 was not included in the law. VR&E Service has developed a legislative proposal for FY2020 to see if we can be added. However, Section 109 also amended 38 USC 3680, which does impact VR&E by allowing us to make subsistence allowance payments for up to 4 weeks per 12 month period if the school closes temporarily under an Executive Order or due to an emergency situation.  Section 309 : Allows greater flexibility to School Certifying Official (SCO) if the first day of a course does not start on the first day of an academic term. We will need to update our guidance on this issue.

VR&E Transformation – To Date, Moving Forward Health/Healthcare with VHA, DOD VR&E Transformation Regulation/VHA Directive for Healthcare for VR&E Clients CAPRI Electronic Referrals VA Video Connect Tele-counseling Joint Legacy Viewer (DOD-VA) Mental Health Collaboration Digital/Paperless - Update Business Processes (Ongoing) New Case Mgmt. System with Direct Connections & Integrations to include VA Once IPPS (e-Invoicing) Remote Entitlement Pilot Admin Hubs, FBE, Centralized Mail Technology Enablers Signature Pads, Dragon Dictation, VA Video Connect Tele-counseling Text Messaging

Conclusion and Way Ahead VR&E Participants will Continue to Grow Balance Workload/ Caseload (CH31, VSOC, IDES, IL, Other) Utilizations of National Service Contract Management Consistency of VR&E Service Delivery Complete Development, Pilot, and Deploy New Case Management System (VRE-CMS) The burden on the Veteran, and ensure more accurate information sharing Enterprise-Wide Other initiatives to become digital /paperless decrease Complete Limited IDES/VSOC Realignment (FY18) 5 IDES to VSOC Counselors; 1 Realignment; 3 Hybrid VSOC/VRCs-Pilot Continue to support the VSOC Program while balancing Chapter 31 workload/caseload

Additional Information and Resources Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Information www.VETS.Gov Chapter 36 Educational/Vocational Counseling Application: VA Form 28-8832: https://www.vets.gov/education/tools-programs/education-career-counseling/ VR&E YouTube Videos VR&E’s 5 Tracks to Employment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWjc8aYPqqg&feature=youtu.be VR&E Career Day: My Dad, My Hero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASPqtJWJ-KU VR&E Rolling Up My Sleeves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykc6Q3PHfDw VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWLClB5TX_k & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bSkspOd_uo

Thanks! For all you do for the VR&E Team, and Veterans. Q&A Thanks! For all you do for the VR&E Team, and Veterans.