Located in:
- Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants
(OMB Control Number: 1225-0086)
The Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants (JVSG) are mandatory, formula-based staffing grants to States (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 quarterly on a Program Year basis (as with the ETA-9002 Series). Currently, VETS JVSG operates on a 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:
a. How the State intends to provide employment, training and job placement services to veterans and eligible persons under the JVSG;
Current Narrative:
The JVSG program, in and of itself, does not constitute the entirety of Arkansas’s veterans’ services. Rather, the program is a partner within Arkansas’s Workforce Development system. The JVSG is required by law to provide services to veterans and other eligible persons. The JVSG-funded DVOPs, LVERs, and Consolidated Position (CP) staff who serves in a dual role as a DVOP specialist and LVER, fill a role in the overall program of services to veterans and other eligible persons. The DVOPs, LVERs, and CP are dedicated to their primary statutory responsibilities as defined by Veterans’ Program Letters (VPL). The DVOPs focus on providing Basic and Individualized Career Services through case management to veterans with significant barriers to employment (SBE) and other eligible persons. The LVERs coordinate with local business service teams and members of the community to advocate to employers on behalf of veterans and to develop job opportunities specifically for veterans. The Consolidated Position staff serve in a dual role as DVOP specialist and LVER. The LVERs train all Arkansas Workforce Center Staff to network for veterans and comply with priority of service requirements. In addition, JVSG staff collaborates with community partners in order to provide the additional services needed for the veteran community to obtain meaningful careers.
On a priority of service basis, workforce center staff member determines the eligible person’s purpose for registering. The intake staff member, serving as the “greeter” is usually the first person that a veteran or other eligible person interact with at an Arkansas Workforce Center (AWC). Once the veteran or other eligible person is identified, the Workforce Center Staff conducts an initial assessment. This initial assessment uses a customized veteran intake questionnaire to help determine if the veteran or other eligible person has an SBE or if they are a member of another special priority group. If a determination is made that the client is a veteran with an SBE or meets other special criteria, they are referred to the DVOP specialist or CP for further assessment and Individualized Career Services. Those veterans determined not to possess an SBE are provided career services.
These services include resume writing, computer skills, and interviewing techniques. If the Veteran or other covered person needs more specialized services, they may be referred to another service provider/program within the AWC. All Individualized Career Services and training is provided on a priority of service basis.