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:
The DVOP/CODL specialist provide individualized career services to both unemployed veterans with SBEs and who require such services to obtain employment, and employed participants with SBE who require such services to obtain or retain employment, leading to self-sufficiency. The DVOP/CODL specialists have placed maximum emphasis on assisting veterans who are economically and/or educationally disadvantaged.
The DVOP/CODL facilitate the provision of direct services to eligible veterans and other eligibles requiring individualized career services by providing career guidance, counseling, and additional assessments to identify training/employment needs; veteran individual employment plans; job development; job-search assistance; and outreach activities to locate veterans, who could benefit from DVOP/CODL services.
Serving Chapter 31 Veterans
When the Department of Veteran Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program refers a participant to the state’s designated Central Point of Contact (the Intensive Service
Coordinator), this staff member determines the closest American Job Center (AJC) to the veteran’s residence and forwards the referral to the AJC supervisor. The supervisor assigns the referral to the appropriate DVOP/CODL staff member, who contacts the VA Case Manager and informs them that they are assigned to work with the specific veteran. The DVOP/CODL contacts the veteran to describe the support and assistance available to them and invites them to come to the (AJC) to discuss their job search as it relates to the training and education received. The DVOP/CODL staff continues to maintain contact with the veteran for at least 60 days following placement in employment.
DVOP Specialists
All Missouri DVOP/CODL specialists have/will 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/CODL Specialist receive Ramp-UP training from the LVER team lead, which includes the history of the Wagner-Peyser Act, Employment Services, and the JVSG staff. This training also includes local operations, as they relate to all active and current VPLs and chapters 41 and 42 of Title 38. In addition, they will job shadow a current DVOP/CODL for one week. Other training includes the annual training conference, bi-annual regional veterans’ conference with up to eight additional states 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/CODL specialists are primarily assigned to facilitate individualized career services 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 veterans in accordance with priorities of VPLs 03-14: 03-14, Ch. 1 & 2; 03-19 Other additional services that DVOP/CODL specialists provide to veterans with SBE include a combination of the following: career guidance; comprehensive assessment; veteran individual employment plan; job development contacts; referral to jobs; referral to training and supportive services; and conducting outreach activities to locate veterans and other eligible persons.
DVOP Targeted Services
The state of Missouri will monitor this activity via monthly and quarterly reports that will indicate who, when, and what outreach, services, meetings were conducted. Additionally, along with the state’s Labor Exchange systems, the state will monitor the reports. In accordance with GO 01-18 and GO 03-19 (Negotiated Targets for Services to Veterans), the Missouri will utilize the Workforce Integrated Performance System (WIPS) to capture data to ensure compliance with regulatory guidance for performance indicators for Q2 and Q4 beyond FY20. To be deemed successful in these activities, the DVOP will be required to occupy 85% of the 40 FTE working hours per week, to completing the above tasks. The remaining 15% will be dedicated to individual DVOP activities (i.e. training, traveling, reports, notes and personal capacity building related to the DVOP/CODL’s activities). Surveys and other assessment tools, to include manager follow-up calls, to determine the level of quality in the above activity.
DVOP Integration
Missouri has integrated all DVOP/CODL specialists into the American Job Center One-Stop system, by assigning one or more DVOP specialists or CODL specialists to each Workforce Center. Missouri has assigned one DVOP specialist to the Columbia and one DVOP specialist to the Kansas City VA facility 100% of the time. Additionally, the AJC, One-Stop partners are included in the intake process for JVSG DVOP services. Upon entering the AJC, veterans meet front desk staff, who triage to help identify veterans and their needs. Upon identifying the veteran’s purpose for visiting the AJC, staff conducts intake assessments to identify any significant barriers preventing employment. Upon identifying SBEs, partner staff refers the veteran to the DVOP/CODL using the AJC’s operating system MoJobs referrals. Those veterans who do not have SBEs however, still requiring employment services, are provided services by AJC staff other than DVOP/CODL staff. Furthermore, when necessary, JVSG staff are often consulted with by AJC staff regarding military, DD-214, and other language translation in addition to other employment/ service-related questions, as needed. JVSG and DVOP/CODL/LVER integration into the One-Stop extends beyond co-location. Veterans seeking services at rural AJCs that do not have DVOP, CODL or LVERs located within that AJC still receive priority of service. After staff identifies a veteran, AJC staff conducts initial needs assessment, which registers the veteran into MoJobs, identifies the veteran’s needs, and determines if additional assessments are necessary. Upon completing the registration and identifying the initial needs, AJC triage which ask questions to help identify SBEs and additional barriers that may require individualized career services from a DVOP/CODL staff. Upon identifying that the veteran has SBEs, a referral is forwarded to an assigned DVOP/CODL located in that region if the veteran request JVSG services. The DVOP/CODL makes contact and schedules an appointment to meet with the veteran, and proceeds with the subsequent individualized career services. While the DVOP/CODL is making contact and scheduling the meeting, a list of core services will be provided by the One-Stop, to help address the veteran’s initial needs. DVOP specialists and WIOA partner representative is assigned 100 percent of the time to Fort Leonard Wood at the AJC located on base. DVOP staff conduct outreach to Whiteman AFB. The State of Missouri, through its integrated service delivery system, has LVER team leads who coordinate services for JVSG staff within their region in addition to monitoring the performance and integration of JVSG staff.
Identifying and Assessing Veterans for Basic and Individual Career Services
Individuals entering the American Job Center are met with signage and are encouraged to identify
themselves as veterans. Additionally, a front-desk American Job Center representative conducts triage to identify SBE veterans and other eligibles. When a veteran is recognized and upon determining eligibility (disabled veteran or with an SBE), they are immediately referred to the DVOP specialist to receive individualized career services, based on the veteran’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 individual employment plan. This individualized employment plan will include appropriate apprenticeship, other on-job training, and additional education opportunities, as needed to help the veteran overcome their significant barrier to employment. After assessing the needs and a plan is developed, 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/ training program providers.
LVER Staff
All Missouri LVER/CODL staff has received extensive training in how to engage employers through the National Veterans Training Institute (NVTI), within 18 months of their hire. Additionally, all new hire LVER/CODL staff receive Ramp-UP training from the State Veteran Service Manager, which includes the history of the 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, where we will address 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. In addition, a bi-annual regional veterans’ conference with up to eight additional states and annual regional training.
Primary Duties
The primary role of LVER/CODL staff, at the Missouri AJCs, is to conduct outreach to employers in the area, to assist veterans in gaining employment. Additionally, LVER/CODLs promote, plan and participate in job fairs and seminars for employers. Furthermore, LVER/CODLs promote veterans as job ready candidates, who have highly marketable skills and experience. Missouri LVER/CODLs advocate for veterans by promoting employment and training opportunities, coordinating with other business outreach representatives in the AJC to facilitate and promote employment, workshops, job searches, establishing job groups in conjunction with employers, and leverage other employment opportunities for veterans. Missouri LVER/CODLs establish, maintain, and facilitate regular contact with federal contractors, unions, apprenticeship programs and businesses or business organizations. Additionally, our LVER/CODLs provides educational training to AJC staff, additional employer based training and other outreach services, in accordance with current guidance that relate to LVER reporting and performance.
The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development ensures that there is no blending of roles, whereas LVER/CODLs provide regular activity reports to the LVER Leads. Furthermore, LVER/CODSs are encouraged to utilize referrals and other resources to locate veteran friendly businesses/ employers, who are seeking veterans first, to employ.
Employer Outreach
LVER/CODL staff establish, maintain and facilitate regular contact with employers, to include federal contractors, and promote the advantages of hiring veterans, all the while seeking other employment and training opportunities for veterans. As part of their responsibility, LVER/CODL staff advocates, on behalf of all veterans to employers and labor unions to employ and provide on-the-job training and registered apprenticeship programs for veterans; advises employers of veteran’s issues; and plans and participates in job fairs to promote veterans to employers. The overall outcome expected for employer contacts is to increase employment, promotion and retention for veterans. Additionally, a schedule is created by the LVER/CODL, approved by the LVER lead, for employer outreach. These measures are in place to ensure that the LVER/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 LVER Lead can follow-up with the business to ensure that their needs are met. LVER/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/ contact these businesses and promote hiring our job-ready veterans. This method has been successful, and runs parallel with many Missouri businesses, which have changed their job posting/ searching methods. However, LVER/CODLs are aware of the importance, and are encouraged, to primarily perform employer contacts, in-person.
LVER Leads
Missouri utilizes LVER team leads in our five Workforce Manager regions; these five team leads serve to oversee the day-to-day operations of the JVSG program from a local level in addition to their LVER roles. They also monitor the DVOP/CODL/LVER staff to ensure that they are complying with JVSG guidelines.
CODL Staffing
Missouri is a very rural state with a few large urban areas as a result, we utilizes CODL staff in the rural areas to serve SBE veterans and other eligible individuals who would normally not receive services. The CODL position allows us to serve our employer community in the rural areas who tend to be small business.