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:
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:
Under this grant, Colorado will staff a combination of full-time DVOP specialists, LVERs, and Consolidated Veteran Services Representatives (CVSR, consolidated DVOP/LVER) as supported by the current Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) funding.
This staffing arrangement allows individualized career 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 individualized career services to eligible veterans and eligible spouses with significant barriers to employment and any other additional population authorized identified by the Assistant Secretary.
The individualized career 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.
- Case files document consistent, regular contact with the participant and other partners, as applicable.
Additionally, outreach to locate eligible populations is a required duty of the DVOP specialist as outlined in VPL 03-14. As such, DVOP specialists conducting outreach will begin assisting eligible veterans first within their assigned AJC and then at the outreach locations they visit or are assigned through virtual services as needed throughout the State. At the outreach locations, individuals identified as not meeting eligibility for DVOP services will be provided a point of contact for assistance at the nearest AJC by other AJC staff. The DVOP specialists will conduct outreach activities within various organizations that provide services to Veterans allowing us to identify from within the Veteran population they serve, those who are eligible for DVOP services. The sole purpose of these outreach activities is to identify eligible SBE veterans and other eligible populations who, without the receipt of individualized career services, would not be able to obtain employment on their own.
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 07-19. Reasonable attempts are made to include best practices and success stories, special projects, and other LVER and DVOP activities.
The consolidated position is responsible for the roles and responsibilities of both a DVOP and LVER.