Narrative: c.

The DVOP and CODL specialists provide individualized career services to both unemployed veterans and eligible persons with SBEs and those who require such services to obtain employment and employed participants with SBEs who require such services to obtain or retain employment, leading to self-sufficiency. The DVOP and CODL specialists have placed maximum emphasis on assisting veterans who are economically and/or educationally disadvantaged.

The DVOP and CODL facilitate the provision of direct services to eligible veterans and other eligible persons requiring individualized career services by providing career guidance, counseling, and additional assessments to identify training and employment needs, develop veteran employment plans or conduct job development, job search assistance and outreach activities to locate veterans who could benefit from DVOP or CODL services. DVOPs and CODLs maintain consistent contact with the veteran or eligible person while services are being provided, as well as during follow-up once employment is obtained.  

Serving Chapter 31 Veterans

When the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program refers a participant to the state’s designated Central Point of Contact, known as the Intensive Service Coordinator (ISC), the ISC determines the closest Missouri Job Center (MJC) to the veteran’s residence and forwards the referral to the job center supervisor. The supervisor assigns the referral to the appropriate DVOP or CODL staff member, who then contacts the VA case manager and informs them that they are assigned to work with the specific veteran. The DVOP or CODL contacts the veteran to describe the support and assistance available to them and invites them to come to the job center to discuss their job search as it relates to the training and education received.  Referrals to other supportive services may be made as needed to help the veteran overcome any additional SBEs identified by the DVOP.  DVOPs work with LVERs to find employment opportunities in the career fields identified as suitable by VR&E staff. The DVOP or CODL staff continues to maintain contact with the veteran for at least 60 days following placement in employment.

DVOP Specialists

All Missouri DVOP and CODL specialists receive extensive training in how to facilitate individualized career services for disabled veterans with barriers to employment through the National Veterans Training Institute (NVTI) within 18 months of their hire.  Additionally, all new hire DVOP and CODL Specialists receive training from the Veteran Training Coordinator, which includes the history of the Wagner-Peyser Act, Employment Services, and the JVSG program.  This training also includes local operations, as they relate to all active and current Veterans’ Program Letters (VPLs) and Chapters 41 and 42 of Title 38.  In addition, they will job shadow a current DVOP or CODL for one week.  Other training includes the annual training conference in conjunction with the Office of Workforce Development training summit, and annual regional training.  This training includes staff development and skills improvement, integrated service models and their unique roles, effective individualized career service delivery models, and other program-related information sharing, strategic planning, performance measuring, and systems training. Lastly, local job center training is provided by local managers and the One-Stop partners, which highlight location specific practices and our partners’ operations.

Primary Duties

DVOP and CODL specialists are primarily assigned to facilitate individualized career services through the case management framework and facilitate placements to meet the employment needs of veterans, prioritizing service to special disabled veterans, other disabled veterans, and veterans with significant barriers to employment (SBE), and other categories of eligible persons in accordance with priorities of VPLs 03-14, 03-14, Ch. 1 & 2, 07-14, and 03-19.  Other services that DVOP and CODL specialists provide to veterans and eligible persons with SBE include a combination of the following: career guidance; comprehensive assessment; veteran employment plans, job development contacts, referral to jobs, referral to training and supportive services, and outreach activities to locate veterans and other eligible persons.  DVOPS and CODLs maintain consistent contact with the veteran or eligible person while services are being provided, as well as during follow-up once employment is obtained.

DVOP Targeted Services

The State of Missouri monitors this activity through monthly and quarterly reports that indicate who, when, and what outreach, services, meetings were conducted. Additionally, along with the state’s Labor Exchange systems, the state monitors the reports. In accordance with VPL 01-22, Attachments 1 and 4 (JVSG Performance Targets), Missouri utilizes the Workforce Integrated Performance System (WIPS) to capture data to ensure compliance with regulatory guidance for performance indicators.  To be deemed successful in these activities, the DVOP is required to occupy 85% of the 40 Full Time Employee working hours per week to complete the above tasks. The remaining 15% will be dedicated to individual DVOP activities, such as training, traveling, reports, notes and personal capacity building related to the DVOP or CODL’s activities. Surveys are sent to individuals and employers who receive services from the DVOPs, CODLs or LVERS; the results are used to determine the level of quality in the above activity.

 DVOP Integration

Missouri has integrated all DVOP and CODL specialists into the One-Stop system by assigning one or more DVOP or CODL specialists to each one of the 13 Workforce Development Regions.  Missouri has assigned one DVOP specialist to the Columbia VA facility and one DVOP specialist to the Kansas City VA facility 100% of the time. Additionally, the job center one-stop partners are included in the intake process for JVSG DVOP services. Upon entering the job center, individuals are asked if they are a veteran, transitioning service member, or a spouse of a veteran.  If the answer is “yes” job center staff utilize the “Eligibility Triage Form” to identify any significant barriers to employment (SBE). Upon identifying SBEs, job center staff then refer the veteran or eligible person to the designated DVOP or CODL using the job center’s MoJobs referral system. Upon receipt of the MoJobs referral, the DVOP or CODL contacts the veteran or eligible person to provide individual career services.   Those veterans who do not have SBEs but are still requiring employment services are provided services by job center staff other than the DVOP or CODL.  When necessary, JVSG staff are consulted with by job center staff regarding military, DD-214, and other language translation in addition to other employment or service-related questions.  DVOP specialists are assigned 100% of the time to Fort Leonard Wood at the job center located on base.  DVOP staff also conduct outreach to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, MO. 

Identifying and Assessing Veterans for Basic and Individual Career Services

Individuals entering the job center are met with signage and are encouraged to identify themselves as veterans or eligible persons. Additionally, a job center representative conducts triage to identify SBE veterans and other eligible persons.  When a veteran or eligible person is identified and determined eligible (disabled veteran or other SBE), they are referred to the DVOP specialist to receive individualized career services, based on the veteran’s or eligible person's needs.

The DVOP specialist utilizes a case management process in which they provide the following services: comprehensive assessments, individualized employment counseling, career guidance, and the development of a veteran employment plan. This individualized employment plan will include appropriate apprenticeship, on-job training or education opportunities as needed to help the veteran overcome their SBE. After assessing the needs and developing a plan, the DVOP will reassess and may identify additional non-individualized career services needed, which will require the DVOP to refer veterans to services provided by local partners, agencies, and other employment and training program providers. The DVOP will maintain consistent contact with the veteran or eligible person during the case management process.

LVER Staff

All Missouri LVER and CODL staff receive extensive training on how to engage employers through the National Veterans Training Institute (NVTI) within 18 months of their hire. Additionally, all new hire LVER and CODL staff receive training from the JVSG Training Coordinator, which includes the history of Wagner-Peyser, Employment Services, the Jobs for Veterans Act and JVSG staff roles and responsibilities. This training also includes local operations, as they relate to all active and current VPLs, chapters 41 and 42 of Title 38. Other training includes the annual training conference, which addresses staff development and skills improvement, integrated service models and their unique roles, effective individualized career service delivery models, and other program related information sharing, strategic planning, performance measuring and systems training.

Primary Duties

The primary role of LVER or CODL staff at the job centers is to conduct outreach to employers in the area and to assist veterans and eligible persons in gaining employment. LVER and CODLs promote, plan and participate in job fairs and seminars for employers. They also promote veterans or eligible persons as job ready candidates who have highly marketable skills and experience. Missouri LVERs and CODLs advocate for veterans by promoting employment and training opportunities, coordinating with other business outreach representatives in the job center to facilitate and promote employment, conducting workshops, performing job searches, establishing job groups in conjunction with employers, and leveraging other employment opportunities for veterans or eligible persons. Missouri LVERs and CODLs establish, maintain, and facilitate regular contact with federal contractors, unions, apprenticeship programs and businesses or business organizations. LVERs and CODLs also provide educational training to job center staff, additional employer-based training and other outreach services, in accordance with current guidance that relates to LVER reporting and performance. 

Employer Outreach

LVER and CODL staff establish, maintain and facilitate regular contact with employers, which includes federal contractors, and promote the advantages of hiring veterans, while seeking other employment and training opportunities for veterans and eligible persons. As part of their responsibility, LVER and CODL staff advocate, on behalf of all veterans and eligible persons, to businesses and labor unions to employ and provide on-the-job training and registered apprenticeship programs for veterans.  They also advise employers of veteran’s issues; and plan and participate in job fairs to promote veterans and eligible persons to employers. The overall outcome expected for employer contacts is to increase employment, promotion and retention for veterans and eligible persons.  Additionally, a schedule is created by the LVER or CODL, approved by their supervisor, for employer outreach. These measures are in place to ensure that the LVER or CODL is out of the office and searching for employment opportunities for veterans. With the intent to provide quality services, these measures also provide a basis for which the state manager and their supervisor can follow-up with the business to ensure that their needs are met.  LVERs and CODLs are encouraged to use modern technology, such as social media, to locate employers who utilize these systems as their primary means to locate qualified candidates. Upon identifying employment opportunities, the LVERs are encouraged to outreach to these businesses and promote hiring the job-ready veterans and eligible persons. This method has been successful, and runs parallel with many Missouri businesses, which have changed their job posting or searching methods. However, LVER and CODLs are aware of the importance, and are encouraged, to primarily perform employer contacts in person.

CODL Staffing

Missouri is a very rural state with a few large urban areas. As a result, JVSG utilizes CODL staff in the rural areas to serve SBE veterans and other eligible individuals who would normally not receive services.  The CODL position also serves the employer community in the rural areas which are often smaller businesses.