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:
b. The Duties Assigned to Dvop Specialists and Lver Staff by the State; Specifically Implementing Dvop and Lver Duties or Roles and Responsibilities as Outlined in 38 U.s.c. § 4103a and 4104. These Duties Must Be Consistent with Current Guidance;
Current Narrative:
The JVSG 5 Year State Plan states:
Under this grant Colorado will staff 29 fulltime permanent DVOP specialists and 9 LVER in FY 2016. This staffing arrangement allows intensive services and business engagement to be available in the areas of the state where the largest concentrations of veterans are seeking employment.
The primary duties of DVOPs are to provide intensive service to veterans with significant barriers to employment and any other veteran category identified by the Assistant Secretary. Case management continues to be an appropriate service delivery strategy or framework in which intensive services will be delivered.
The intensive services and the purpose for which they are used by the DVOP specialists are:
- Comprehensive Assessment (CA): Comprehensive and specialized assessments of the skill levels and services which may include diagnostic testing and use of other assessment tools and in depth interviewing and evaluation to identify employment barriers and appropriate employment goals.
- Counseling (CS): A client centered service that may involve personal, financial, life management, case management, career guidance and counseling. This service also includes referrals to other assistance, as well as, arranging for additional support services not previously acquired.
- Individual Employment Plan (IE): A formal written document outlining a course of action that will lead to the individual entering employment; to include short and/or long term goals to remove barriers to getting and keeping employment.
- Pre-Vocational Services (PV): Short-term pre-vocational services such as GED, ESL, remediation and workplace literacy.
The primary duties of LVERs are:
- Conduct outreach to employers in the area to assist veterans in gaining employment, including conducting seminars for employers and, in conjunction with employers, conducting job search workshops and establishing job search groups;
- Facilitating employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans in a State under the applicable State employment service delivery systems. Facilitate is defined as capacity building within all programs.
- Working with other service providers in order to promote veterans as highly skilled and experienced members of the workforce;
- Advocating for veterans employment and training opportunities with businesses, industry, and community-based organizations is also a primary duty;
- Conducting outreach that includes, but is not limited to, planning and participating in job fairs, promoting employment and training opportunities for veterans with business organizations, unions, and apprenticeship programs;
- Promoting credentialing and training opportunities for veterans with training providers and licensing agencies;
- Establishing and maintaining regular contact with employers to include federal contractors ;
- Active involvement with the AJC employer or business services/relations team;
- Coordinating the Regional Manager’s Report on Services to Veterans using the format found in VPL 07-05. Reasonable attempts are made to include best practices and success stories, special projects, and other LVER and DVOP activities.