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:
Colorado will assign JVSG supported staff to AJCs located within the State Workforce Agencies (SWA) in order to most effectively advance and assure both Priority of Service with regard to all employment and training services, as well as, the prompt referral to appropriately needed supportive services for veteran customers. That is not to say that it is JVSG staff’s responsibility to provide Priority of Service, but to provide technical assistance for AJC staff as needed. Of the supported staff, the majority will be placed in the local areas that have the greatest Veteran population and the highest caseloads. DVOP specialists assigned to their regional AJCs will be allowed to visit the offices of our outreach partners located outside of the AJCs after an approved schedule has been arranged and approved by their Regional Director. The JVSG supported staff may be assigned to locations outside of the AJC such as, but not limited to, the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment in Denver, the Soldier and Family Assistance Office on Fort Carson, college campuses, or other partner locations.
One LVER position will be assigned to the CDLE Headquarters to serve as the State Veterans Coordinator (SVC). With a veteran friendly state as large as Colorado, supporting 6 very active military bases, with 77 American Job Centers and satellite offices and a JVSG program that employees 36 staff members, among other duties this position will oversee developing, implementing and monitoring a department Statewide Veterans Employment Program. In partnership with our county and state operated AJCs and other Veteran focused partners, the Coordinator (SVC) will develop this program to improve upon Priority of Service procedures by addressing the strategies by which the workforce system delivers employment services.
Within the AJCs, DVOP specialists will assess training needs and the employment goals of eligible veterans to overcome barriers and refer them to WIOA, OJC and apprenticeship opportunities as appropriate. DVOPs will be collocated and aligned within the WIOA divisions. The reasoning behind this decision is to promote; (i) program co-enrollments, (ii) similarities in WIOA and JVSG case management practices and (iii) promote the appearance of a seamless application process to Veterans who apply for training in one or both programs (iv) and most importantly to ensure the demonstration of Priority of Service and access to resources.
As DVOPs assist veterans in meeting their employment goals through individualized career services, veterans become job ready and will need assistance connecting to employers. LVERs assist the connection of job ready veterans to employers looking for qualified candidates. LVERs help facilitate this process through job search workshops, networking events, employer information sessions, seminars and direct referrals to connect veteran candidates and employers.
In an effort to continue to meet the employment and training needs of veterans, CDLE recognizes that changes in delivery strategies when targeting Veterans need to respond to the forecasted increase in veterans transitioning out of the military and into the civilian labor force. Outreach to locate veterans with Significant Barriers to Employment (SBE) 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 to. At the outreach locations, Veterans identified as not meeting one of the SBE categories 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 are to identify eligible SBE veterans and other eligible persons who, without the receipt of individualized career services, would not be able to obtain employment on their own. State MIS Database and partner organizations that have been identified and approved as effective outreach sources include, but are not limited to:
- Connecting Colorado (State MIS Database)
- AJC Partners (particularly WIOA and Wagner-Peyser)
- Military Installations…excluding the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
- Colleges, Universities and Technical Schools
- Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs (HVRP) and Homeless Shelters
- Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Programs (VR&E)
- Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Centers and Vet Centers
- Veteran Service Offices (VSO)