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2 Year Modification

Plan: Arkansas PYs 2018-2019
Combined Plan C

Section: Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program

Narrative: e.

Published
Located in:
  • Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants

    The Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants (JVSG) are mandatory, formula-based staffing grants to (including DC, PR, VI and Guam). The JVSG is funded annually in accordance with a funding formula defined in the statute (38 U.S.C. 4102A (c) (2) (B) and regulation and operates on a fiscal year (not program year) basis, however, performance metrics are collected and reported (VETS-200 Series Reports) quarterly (using four “rolling quarters”) on a Program Year basis (as with the ETA- 9002 Series). Currently, VETS JVSG operates on a five-year (FY 2015-2019), multi-year grant approval cycle modified and funded annually.

    In accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 4102A(b)(5) and § 4102A(c), the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training (ASVET) makes grant funds available for use in each State to support Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVER) staff. As a condition to receive funding, 38 U.S.C. § 4102A(c)(2) requires States to submit an application for a grant that contains a State Plan narrative, which includes:

e. The Populations of Veterans to Be Served, Including Any Additional Populations Designated by the Secretary as Eligible for Services, and Any Additional Populations Specifically Targeted by the State Workforce Agency for Services from One-stop Delivery System Partners (e.g., Native American Veterans; Veterans in Remote Rural Counties or Parishes);

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2016-2017

Current Narrative:

Veterans and eligible persons with significant barriers to employment (SBE), economically or educationally disadvantaged, recently separated, homeless, including domestic violence and other dangerous or life threating conditions, offenders and veterans between the ages 18-24, identified in VPL04-14 as the target groups for services by Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists. The state will focus efforts to increase services and outreach to the target populations as identified in guidance.

The State will take steps to ensure that veterans with significant barriers receive intensive services by DVOP specialists. During the initial assessment, if a veteran self-attest to meeting one or more of the SBE criteria, Arkansas Workforce Center (AWC) staff will refer the individual to a DVOP specialist for intensive case management services.

To promote the hiring and retention of veterans, we are actively reaching out to both two and four-year institutions of higher education to provide direct assistance in placing veterans that obtain credentials and to increase awareness of the range of services available through the AWCs. This strategy, combined with the Career Readiness Certificate program and the Microsoft IT Academy, is designed to provide veterans intensive services and occupational and computer skills training to help veterans be more competitive and appealing to potential employers. These tools will also provide veterans with an advantage when pursuing educational and training credentials.

The Arkansas JobLink System (AJL,) the state management information system, provides detailed performance reports. This database is used to monitor and track the number of Veterans and types of services provided virtually and/or through staff assisted services. Based on the data provided by AJL we are able to measure at both the local and state level the effectiveness of our outreach to the targeted veteran population. The information is also used to calculate the incentive awards for DVOPs, LVERs, and AWC staff that provide exceptional service and meet performance measures.

Targeted veterans are identified as the following:

  • Special disabled or disabled veteran, as those terms are defined in 38 U.S.C. §4211(1) and (3); Special disabled and disabled veterans are those
    • who are entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs; or
    • were discharged or released from active duty because of a service connected disability
  • Homeless, as defined in Section 103(a)and (b) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a) and (b), as amended;
  • A recently separated service member, as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 4211(6) who has been employed for 27 or more weeks in the previous 12 months;
  • An offender, as defined by WIOA Section 101(27), who is currently incarcerated or has been released from incarceration
  • Lacking a high school diploma or equivalent certificate; or
  • Low-income (as defined by WIOA at Sec. 101(25)(B).

VPL 01-09 encourages that a DVOP specialist be out-stationed to serve as the Intensive Services Coordinator (ISC) for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) clients referred to AW Cs for job placement assistance. A physical presence at the facilities increases coordination with VR&E staff. The ISC refers VR&E clients to programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Vocational Rehabilitation under United States Code (38 U.S.C.), Chapter 31, and other federal and state programs that provide services and activities to assist the veteran in determining an employment or training plan, to include apprenticeship and on the job training (OJT) to enhance employment potential.

Arkansas does not have designated tribal lands and does not have a specific strategy for outreach to Native American veterans.