1 Veterans’ Program Services in the One-Stop Environment Veterans’ Program Staff Training Roles, Responsibilities, Expectations & Programs

2 Training Objectives These are the objectives of this presentation:  Awareness of the Veterans’ Program Mission  Comprehension of Veterans’ Staff Roles & Responsibilities  Awareness of U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service(USDOL/VETS) Expectations  Understanding of State Strategies for Success  Awareness of Additional Veteran Programs  Awareness of the State’s Areas of concern

3 Florida’s Veterans Program Mission The mission of the Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Veterans’ Program: To promote and maximize the employment of Florida's veterans, especially veterans with barriers to employment, utilizing the complete menu of One-Stop Career Center resources.

4 USDOL/VETS Overview  The USDOL/VETS offers a noncompetitive Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program to eligible veterans  USDOL/VETS offers competitive grants for veterans with special needs  Veterans’ program monitoring and training through service reporting, desk audit tool, and Technical Assistance Visit to provide guidance

5 State’s Areas of Focus Focus for the State Veterans’ Program:  Follow-up on referrals and Job Developments contacts  Case management to veterans with barriers to employment employment  Contacting EFM self-registered veterans  Verifying veterans’ EFM registrations  Direct placement requirements by Regional Workforce Boards (RWB)  Reducing services to non-veterans by veteran employment representatives  Your feedback on challenges and issues related to service delivery

6 Roles and Responsibilities There are two types of veterans employment representatives. They are:  Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER)  Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist

7 DVOP Roles and Responsibilities Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) staff focus on providing intensive services to veterans with priority to Special Disabled, Disabled veterans and other eligible veterans. DVOP staff will facilitate services to veterans with barriers to employment and with special workforce needs through case management.

8 DVOP Roles and Responsibilities DVOP activities and services to prepare disabled veterans for employment, match them with support services and reduce or eliminate barriers to employment include:  Assessment  Counseling  Referral of veterans to supportive services  Referral of veterans to job-focused and outcome-driven training, certification, etc.  Job development services and employer visits  Job Referrals  Maintain up-to-date Network Guide  Outreach

9 DVOP Roles and Responsibilities DVOP staff will conduct outreach to locate veterans with special needs at the following organizations and/or activities:  Vet Centers, VA Medical Centers and Outpatient Clinics  Satellite offices  HVRP Projects: Tampa, Cocoa Beach and Tallahassee  Homeless Shelters  Community based and civic organizations  Veterans' Service Organizations  Veteran Service Officers (VSO) offices

10 DVOP Roles and Responsibilities DVOP Outreach continued:  Workforce Partners and Service Providers  Veterans’ Affairs Educational Coordinators  Faith-Based Organizations  Reserve and National Guard units  Venues and locations where veterans congregate  Universities, Colleges and Community Colleges to solicit Veterans Administration (VA) Work-Study Assistants

11 LVER Roles and Responsibilities Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) will ensure that veterans are provided the full range of priority workforce services in the One-Stop Career Center, providing functional oversight over the Veteran's Program. LVERs also serve as advocates for employment and training opportunities with businesses, industries and community organizations.

12 LVER Roles and Responsibilities LVER activities and services include:  Conduct Job Search Workshops  Provide job development and job referrals  Provide career and vocational guidance  Provide Labor Market Information (LMI)  Refer veterans to supportive or remedial services  Provide intensive services to newly/recently separated veterans veterans

13 LVER Roles and Responsibilities LVER activities and services include (continued):  Conduct Transition Assistance Program (TAP) workshops  Conduct Veterans' Program training for all One-Stop Career Center associates Career Center associates  Develop and maintain updated (quarterly) Federal Contractor List Contractor List  Refer veterans to job-focused and outcome-driven training, certification, etc. certification, etc.

14 LVER Roles and Responsibilities LVER Advocacy Role for Veterans:  Plan, conduct and participate in Job Fairs for veterans  Contact Unions, Apprenticeship Programs, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Units, etc.  Contact employers to develop employment opportunities for veterans  Coordinate with and participate in Business Services Sections outreach within the One-Stop Career Center

15 LVER Roles and Responsibilities LVER Advocacy Role for Veterans:  Facilitate and participate in Employer Mass Recruitments for new and expanding firms  Facilitate and maintain Employer Recruiting Agreements  Conduct presentations on Florida’s Veterans' Program and services to veterans at the RWB meetings  Contact Reserve and National Guard Units  Contact other venues and organizations providing services to veterans.

16 DVOP/LVER staff Training Required Training: Required Training: All DVOP and LVER staff will take the required courses at National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI) within 18 months of their initial appointment. In most cases, selection is based on date of hire. Courses offered:  Orientation to Veteran Services (on-line) ***  Veterans’ Benefits Online (voluntary enrollment)  Labor & Employment Specialist (LES) required for all staff  Case Management (CM) required for DVOPs  Transition Assistance Program (TAP) (for staff designated to facilitate TAP classes) Facilitator is required for TAP facilitators  Promoting Partnerships for Employment (PPE) required for LVERs *** Prerequisite to LES

17 Additional Veteran Programs  Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP)  Homeless Female & Family Veteran Reintegration Program (HFVRP)  Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program (VWIP)  Military Family Employment Advocacy (MFEA) program  VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program  Transitioning Incarcerated Veterans’ Program (TIVP)  REALifelines  VA work study program  Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

18 Additional Veteran Programs Five VR&E office locations in Florida:  Toni Washington, VR&E Lead DVOP, provides state-wide coordination of program reporting and awareness training on the VA’s VR&E program  Regional VR&E locations with VR&E DVOPs:  Pensacola  Jacksonville  Orlando  St. Petersburg  Ft. Lauderdale

19 Additional Veteran Programs TAP: Assists separating military members and their spouses in their transition to civilian society, at 12 TAP sites in Florida. Pensacola NAS Eglin AFB Hurlburt AFB Tyndall AFB Mayport NAS Jacksonville NAS Patrick AFB MacDill AFB U.S. Southern Command (Miami) Key West NS U.S. Coast Guard (Miami)Whiting Field

20 Employ Florida Marketplace (EFM) Services Reminders:  Veteran registration, including skill profile  Case Management, create Individualized Employment Plan (IEP) (IEP)  Provide meaningful service (services with asterisks in EFM commence or extend participation of the veteran) in EFM commence or extend participation of the veteran)  Accurate and concise case notes in EFM  Resume builder  Veteran File Search and Skills/Job matching  Identify self-registered veterans  Client messaging for effective communication  Alerts as reminders or triggers to veterans

21 Summary We discussed the following objectives:  Awareness of the USDOL/VETS Jobs for Veterans Grant  Comprehension of the roles and responsibilities of the LVER/DVOP  Understanding of State strategies for success  Awareness of additional veteran programs  State areas of concern

22 Shawn Forehand Paul Furbush State Veterans Programs Coordinator (850) (850) Fax: (850) DEO Veterans’ Workforce program Resources DOL Vets Veterans Program Letters Student Veterans of America Contact Information