Narrative: d.

Program Integration and Leverage Resources

The partnership agreements among all service providers located within the Alabama Career Center in the statewide AJC network and other strategic outstation activities have been Established or modified to include common focus on services to Veterans. LVER and DVOP services and program activities will be under the auspices of the Employment Service Division of the Alabama Department of Labor, the JVSG grantee and operator of the statewide network of American Job Centers, and a primary partner will all agencies in the Alabama Workforce Development system that includes all approved training providers in the Alabama Career Center system.

LVERs and DVOPs work directly for Employment Service Managers and are tasked to assist Managers in the evaluation as to the degree of utilization of all services and training by Veterans. LVERs will assist in providing training on Priority of Service (POS) to partners in the statewide network. LVERs will be assigned activities to increase public awareness that eligible Veterans and other Eligible Persons have POS, as defined under 20 CFR part 1010, and will assist Managers in the training of POS requirements to all Career Center partners within the AJC network.

All Career Center staff will assist federal agencies to recruit Veterans, particularly disabled Veterans and Veterans described by the Veterans Employment Service for special emphasis under Title 38 U.S.C. Chapter 42 and the grant provisions, and 20 CFR part 1010 (Priority Service for Covered Persons; and special recruitment initiatives of Veterans by individual federal agencies).  As provided for under Title 10 U.S.C., the Alabama Career Center system in the AJC network will provide assistance to military service members and eligible spouses in transition to civilian jobs and careers through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) at several military facilities in Alabama, and will provide individualized services to Veterans participating in vocational rehabilitation, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (US DVA), as provided under Title 38 U.S.C., Chapter 31. Alabama assigned the State Individualized Service Coordinators to work directly with Employment Coordinators at the US DVA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Service to coordinate the referral of “Job Ready” Veterans enrolled in vocational rehabilitation service under Chapter 31 of Title 38 U.S.C. to the AJC for assistance in gaining suitable employment consistent with their vocational rehabilitation plans. Policy for the delivery of Priority of Service (POS) by the State, Local Workforce Investment Boards, and the Alabama Career Centers in the AJC network include the following new or existing measures:

1.         The first point of contact for Veterans and Eligible Persons seeking services from Alabama’s Career Center System in the AJC network is a Wagner-Peyser grant funded representative. Those who access self-services through the internet will complete a universal application that includes features and questions designed to assist staff members in identifying them for POS and training at any point of entry into the Workforce Development system. Additionally, AJC locations will use signage, graphics, and displays to create awareness of the policy that requires Priority of Service for eligible Veterans and eligible spouses.

2.         The Governor of Alabama established the Alabama Workforce Council and appointed state leaders in business, industry, education, and government to improve collaboration between educators and employers so that job seekers can identify and participate in job-driven training that fits the skills sets needed for jobs available in business and industry. The grantee is a member of the council, which will be helpful in connecting military skill sets to corresponding job-driven occupational training.

Partnerships and Alliances with Supportive Services

The State of Alabama has made a commitment to provide the best possible services to our nation’s military service members, Veterans and their families (SMVF) by establishing the signed Governor's order on 10 December 2013, and the Commission’s mission was expanded by Executive Order 712 signed by Governor Kay Ivey on 8 November 2017. The Commission is comprised of the following state agencies: Department of Veterans Affairs; Department of Mental Health; Alabama National Guard; Department of Labor; Serve Alabama; Office of the Attorney General; Department of Education; Department of Corrections; Department of Economic and Community Affairs; Department of Post-Secondary Education; Commission on Higher Education; Department of Rehabilitation Services; Department of Public Health; Medicaid Agency; Law Enforcement Agency; Department of Human Resources; Department of Transportation; and Office of the Chief Justice. The Executive Order requires the AlaVetNet Commission to study and evaluate all services in the state and direct at improving the well-being of SMVF in the areas of education, employment, health, homelessness, and legal assistance. The Commission also includes family services. The six committees functioning under its authority developed a Long Range Plan of Recommendations to assist SMVF in the areas of Behavioral Health, Education, Employment, Homelessness, Legal Assistance, and Family Services. The statewide AJC network is an integral partner in the coordination of all state resources and services to assist SMVF, which to the extent possible, is to be based on using best practices combined with innovation.

Integration of VA VR&E Programs

The VR&E Partnership is fully integrated into the statewide automated network as a required component of the LVER-DVOP grant . DVOP representatives will case manage all active VR&E clients referred from VR&E Counselors, in addition to Veterans with other SBEs. DVOP specialists’ primary role with VR&E clients is to assist VR&E Counselors and Veteran-clients to develop career objectives and an effective employment plan. Other Employment Service case management services to be documented include assessment of vocational or training needs, and economic considerations. Employment barriers with regard to the job search are to be described with the detail needed for carrying out successful job referrals or job development with potential employers. Services, job referrals, and contact with specific employers on behalf of clients are to be documented using the automated data system case management screens. VR&E clients will have a services screen entry that identifies the client as “Job Ready”, as determined by VA VR&E.

Integration with other VETS Initiatives and Programs

Alabama will continue to conduct training sessions with LVERs, DVOPs, and AJC Managers on development of initiatives that will promote the hiring of returning and transitioning Alabama National Guard members, Reservists, and other Veterans such as participants in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) workshops. The priority group in this effort are returning Alabama National Guard members and Reservists, particularly those on medical hold and awaiting medical discharge. Alabama has a partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Division (VA VR&E) to ensure military personnel at Warrior Transition Units are afforded services offered by VETS through the state’s JVSG. TAP is conducted by the VETS contractor at the U.S. Army installations at Fort Rucker and Redstone Arsenal.

Integration into Statewide AJC Training

LVERs and DVOPs funded under the JVSG will participate in many outreach, training, and supportive service opportunities that will require continuous professional development of their skills and knowledge of resources that may be available to assist Veterans. For that purpose, Alabama will budget an annual allocation to conduct all Alabama Veterans’ Training Conferences. The training agendas will be developed in consultation with the Alabama DVET and may include professional training provided by the National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI), in accordance with current Veteran Program Letter and USDOL guidance, or an annual professional training conference to improve LVER-DVOP skills/knowledge, and to foster effective working relationships with Workforce Development partners and agencies in the AJC network. Appropriate NVTI off-site course(s) of instruction and the development of agendas for quarterly Alabama Veterans’ Training Conferences will be in consultation with the DVET to ensure all NVTI training and conference agendas will be in keeping with our mission. Requests for NVTI off-site training will be submitted per current Veterans Program Letter (VPL).