Narrative: d.

Louisiana provides employment, training and placement services to all veterans through a network of strategically located AJCs operated by 15 Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDA) and supported by the state’s proprietary database system, Helping Individuals Reach Employment (HiRE). The state, working closely with each AJC and their LWDA, has implemented a standardized framework for customer flow. This flow determines the methodology through which all clients (both jobseeker and employer) are integrated into the system and how they are assessed to identify their service needs. All programs are coordinated through a joint referral process described in each region's memorandum of understanding (MOU) between partners. Each partner performs the services allowed by their authorizing legislation or policy. Inter-staff collaboration is also enforced via program updates and workforce development policies are shared among partners at regularly scheduled staff meetings and training. During those contacts, all staff members share information about new employers and job orders received, AJC scheduled activities and positive recruitment activities taking place in the region.

All DVOP specialists are full-time employees, including the DVOP specialist ISC out-stationed with VA VR&E. When not engaged in case management processes the DVOPs can conduct outreach as outlined in the Section C. Although DVOP specialists are responsible for facilitating the case management and individualized career services of eligible veterans and eligible persons with significant barriers to employment (SBE), they are not alone in this effort. Providing individualized career services to veterans with SBEs takes a team effort and as such, all services available in any particular AJC are available to veterans on a priority-of-service basis. The state mandates and monitors that non-JVSG funded staff provide individualized career services through the case management framework as appropriate to eligible veterans and other eligible persons when no DVOP specialist is available. All veterans are identified during triage/intake screening. If it is determined the veteran has a significant barrier to employment and they meet eligibility, then the veteran should be referred to a DVOP for individualized career services.

The state promotes employment and job training opportunities through the use of several specialized programs. The state funds an Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWTP) initiative through collaboration with local education and training facilities in order to train participants who are already working toward upgrading their skills and pay. Southeastern Louisiana University and Delgado Community College operate Veterans' Upward Bound Programs to promote additional education for veterans and assist with college or technical school programs designed to help earn a degree or certification. These opportunities are presented to veterans through AJC office visits and presentations at veteran’s workshops.

The state’s Business Services Delivery Model divides the state in to eight separate labor regions. Each region is assigned an industry sector coordinator and a business services coordinator. The LVER functions as a member of these Business Services Teams in their respective regions. The team’s primary focus is to conduct job development and outreach to employers, including federal contractors and labor unions. LVER staff responsibilities include operating targeted hiring events, and veterans’ job fairs. LVER staff provides program continuity by acting as the technical program advisor and trainer for AJC staff. The state has no part-time LVER staff.

To facilitate the optimal utilization of the services and resources available from other service providers, the state has developed cooperative relationships with many service providers including all WDBs, AJCs, the Louisiana Economic Development (LED), Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program (HVRP) grantees, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR), Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) and numerous local agencies and nonprofit organizations. The state continues to execute robust, coordinated outreach efforts at the local, regional, and state levels to identify and reach out to additional service providers. As part of this outreach, all DVOP specialists are required to conduct outreach to local USDOL-VETS competitive grantees (currently there is one HVRP grantee in Louisiana) and the one Wounded Warrior Transition Unit located at Fort Johnson, LA. This outreach ensures an accurate and realistic picture of what other services and resources are available at the local, regional and state levels and promote the development of relationships to leverage those service providers. This information is shared with JVSG staff across the state. Information sharing provides a vehicle for DVOP specialists to integrate available partner services and resources into the IEP for the veterans they are serving and provide LVER staff with additional avenues to promote and facilitate employment services and placements for veterans and other eligible persons. The state partners with many of these organizations through the MOU process and DVOPs make regular outreach contact with these organizations on behalf of the veterans they serve.

All AJCs across the state work together with JVSG grant-funded staff to ensure that information flow regarding employment and training opportunities is clear, concise and continuous. The state lists approved training providers on its website including detailed descriptions of training provided and the veteran’s potential for employment after successful completion of the training, based on occupational demand.

Louisiana's Native American tribes live in open tribal lands and are not segregated from the general public. As such, resources of other organizations that provide employment services to veterans are openly available to the very small Native American population residing in Louisiana.

Louisiana has adopted a demand-driven approach to all workforce and employment programs to ensure that all services and training are directed toward high-demand jobs. To support this effort, the state is heavily engaged with employers, employer associations and other partners in the top industries within each region to continuously identify the skills necessary to both enter and succeed in high-demand careers.

The LWDAs and their constituent AJCs make up the central hub for all workforce activities and associated training within the state. The state’s strategy for the leveraging of other state and federal education and training programs to develop skills necessary to prepare veterans for in demand jobs is therefore focused on and operated in close cooperation with our AJC partners.

The combined effects of the effective integration of the JVSG into the AJC service delivery model, outreach to and relationship building with relevant partners, and comprehensive up-to-date information on in-demand jobs and skills, produces a coordination of programs and services that reduces or eliminates duplication, closes gaps in service and identifies the program or service best suited to the individual veteran being served. In this way, the state leverages a wide range of state and federal training programs to efficiently and effectively provide veterans with the specific skills necessary to secure and succeed in current in-demand jobs.

The state’s outreach efforts and public information activities are used to inform veterans of the services available at their local AJC and the training opportunities that are available in their area and within the state. These outreach efforts, as described in Section B above, are focused on key service providers likely to interact with veterans that have significant barriers to employment. The intent of this outreach is to educate service providers about job training and other services available to veterans at their local AJC. In turn, the state’s partner service providers can encourage veterans to seek services at an AJC. Due to the complexity of eligibility criteria and the variance of programs offered in disparate areas, public information systems usually do not provide specifics on particular programs but do direct veterans and other eligible persons into the local AJC.

The state is actively engaged in promoting development of high-demand, job-driven training opportunities for veterans and other eligible persons within the education community. Business Services Teams, specifically the ISC, partnering with LED staff members, advise and collaborate with employers and educational institutions, (particularly the Louisiana Community and Technical College System), to promote access to, retention in and completion of individual training and education.