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Veterans’ Program Services in the One-Stop Environment

Veterans’ Program Staff TrainingRoles, Responsibilities, Expectations

& Programs

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Training Objectives These are the objectives of this presentation:

Awareness of the Veterans’ Program MissionComprehension 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 SuccessAwareness of Additional Veteran Programs Awareness of the State’s Areas of concern

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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.

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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

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State’s Areas of Focus

Focus for the State Veterans’ Program:

Follow-up on referrals and Job Developments contactsCase management to veterans with barriers to employmentContacting EFM self-registered veterans Verifying veterans’ EFM registrationsDirect placement requirements by Regional Workforce

Boards (RWB)Reducing services to non-veterans by veteran

employment representativesYour feedback on challenges and issues related to

service delivery

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Roles and Responsibilities

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

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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.

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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: AssessmentCounseling Referral of veterans to supportive servicesReferral of veterans to job-focused and outcome-driven training, certification, etc.Job development services and employer visitsJob ReferralsMaintain up-to-date Network GuideOutreach

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DVOP Roles and ResponsibilitiesDVOP staff will conduct outreach to locate veterans with special needs at the following organizations and/or activities:

Vet Centers, VA Medical Centers and Outpatient ClinicsSatellite officesHVRP Projects: Tampa, Cocoa Beach and Tallahassee Homeless SheltersCommunity based and civic organizationsVeterans' Service OrganizationsVeteran Service Officers (VSO) offices

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DVOP Roles and ResponsibilitiesDVOP Outreach continued:

Workforce Partners and Service ProvidersVeterans’ Affairs Educational Coordinators Faith-Based Organizations Reserve and National Guard units Venues and locations where veterans congregateUniversities, Colleges and Community Colleges to solicit

Veterans Administration (VA) Work-Study Assistants

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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.

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LVER Roles and Responsibilities

LVER activities and services include:

Conduct Job Search WorkshopsProvide job development and job referralsProvide career and vocational guidanceProvide Labor Market Information (LMI)Refer veterans to supportive or remedial servicesProvide intensive services to newly/recently separated veterans

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LVER Roles and Responsibilities

LVER activities and services include (continued):

Conduct Transition Assistance Program (TAP) workshopsConduct Veterans' Program training for all One-Stop Career Center associates Develop and maintain updated (quarterly) Federal Contractor ListRefer veterans to job-focused and outcome-driven training, certification, etc.

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LVER Roles and Responsibilities

LVER Advocacy Role for Veterans:

Plan, conduct and participate in Job Fairs for veteransContact Unions, Apprenticeship Programs, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Units, etc. Contact employers to develop employment opportunities for veteransCoordinate with and participate in Business Services Sections outreach within the One-Stop Career Center

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LVER Roles and ResponsibilitiesLVER Advocacy Role for Veterans:

Facilitate and participate in Employer Mass Recruitments for new and expanding firmsFacilitate and maintain Employer Recruiting AgreementsConduct presentations on Florida’s Veterans' Program and services to veterans at the RWB meetingsContact Reserve and National Guard UnitsContact other venues and organizations providing services

to veterans.

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DVOP/LVER staff 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

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Additional Veteran ProgramsHomeless 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) REALifelinesVA work study program Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

http://www.floridajobs.org/workforce/Vet_EmpTrngInfo.html

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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 JacksonvilleOrlandoSt. Petersburg Ft. Lauderdale

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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 AFBHurlburt AFB Tyndall AFBMayport NAS Jacksonville NASPatrick AFB MacDill AFBU.S. Southern Command (Miami) Key West NSU.S. Coast Guard (Miami) Whiting Field

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Employ Florida Marketplace (EFM)Services Reminders:Veteran registration, including skill profileCase Management, create Individualized Employment Plan (IEP) Provide meaningful service (services with asterisks in EFM commence or extend participation of the veteran)Accurate and concise case notes in EFMResume builderVeteran File Search and Skills/Job matchingIdentify self-registered veteransClient messaging for effective communicationAlerts as reminders or triggers to veterans

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Summary We discussed the following objectives:

Awareness of the USDOL/VETS Jobs for Veterans Grant Comprehension of the roles and responsibilities of the LVER/DVOPUnderstanding of State strategies for successAwareness of additional veteran programsState areas of concern

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Shawn Forehand Paul FurbushState Veterans Programs Coordinator (850) 921-3867(850) 245-7424 Fax: (850) 921-3495shawn.forehand@deo.myflorida.com paul.furbush@deo.myflorida.com

Resources: DEO Veterans’ Workforce program Resources http://www.floridajobs.org/workforce/Vet_Resources.html

DOL Vets Veterans Program Letters http://www.dol.gov/vets/VPLS/VPLDirectory.htm

Student Veterans of Americahttp://www.studentveterans.org

Contact Information