Colorado State JVSG Program

1. Colorado State JVSG Program

2. When you think of Veterans what are the first things that come to mind?

3. How do you define the term Veteran? The term “Veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

4. Jobs for Veterans State Grant Overview • Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) Overview and Staff Refocusing • Veteran Demographics • Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialist Eligibility and Duties • Regional Veterans Employment Representative (RVER) Duties • Veterans Administration – Disability Ratings • Triage and SBE Categories • Veteran Resources • Youth/Veteran Success Story • Tips From Our Field Staff • JVSG/Youth Program Partnership • Q&A

5. JVSG Program The Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program (JVSG) helps Veterans find good jobs by providing employment services at One-Stop Career Centers and other locations through funding for Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) staff.

6. Veteran Demographics National: 21,578,655 Colorado: 409,469 Source: Veteran Population Estimates, as of 30 Sept 16, VA Office of the Actuary

7. JVSG Refocusing Veterans Program Letter (VPL) - 03-14 • Redefined the role of the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist (DVOP) and Regional Veterans Employment Representative (RVER) • Defined the 9 Special Barriers to Employment (SBE’s) that the DVOPs will focus on

8. DVOP Eligibility In order for a veteran to see a DVOP he or she must meet the following criteria: • Served at least 181 days of active duty (AD) or on AD during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a badge was authorized • Have an other than dishonorable discharge • Discharged due to a service-connected disability • This information can be verified by reviewing member copy four of the service members DD-214.

10. Triage for Significant Barriers to Employment Step 1 - Eligibility Determination Veteran or Eligible Person: • 181 days of Active Duty • Guard or Reserve with less than 181 days of Active Duty* • Transitioning Service Member • Wounded Warriors • Low Income Step 2 – Need for Intensive Services: • Special Disabled or Disabled…only if one of the below co-exist • Homeless • Recently Separated…only if unemployed 27 weeks • Ex-Offender • Lacking a HS Diploma or GED* • Any Veteran Age 18-24*

11. Veterans Triage Checklist

12. Veterans Administration (VA) Disability Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to Veterans who are determined by VA to be disabled by an injury or illness that was incurred or aggravated during active military service. These disabilities are considered to be service connected.

13. DVOP Duties • To provide intensive services to meet the employment needs of “eligible veterans” and spouses with significant barriers to employment • Provide Targeted Career Management (TCM) for SBE Vets • Conduct outreach, relationship building and recruitment activities

14. DVOP Outreach • Local Military Bases – Fort Carson, Peterson & Schriever AFB, and USAFA • Homeless Shelters • Veterans Trauma Court • VA Vocational Rehabilitation Office • Colorado Integrated Military Support • Satellite Offices • College Campuses • State and local job fairs and hiring events • Homeless Veteran Reintegration Programs (HVRP) • Human Service offices • State Vocational Rehabilitation offices

15. Regional Veterans Employment Representative (RVER) Duties • Conducting outreach to employers to assist all veterans in gaining employment • Providing Job Development for SBE Veteran from DVOP’s Caseloads. • Conducting job search workshops and establishing networking groups • “Capacity building” within their assigned AJCs • CDLE Subject Matter Expert to the AJC for: • Policy • Training • Priority of Service Interpretation and Verification

16. JVSG Veteran Services

17. Veteran Resources American Job Centers (also known as One Stop Centers are designed to provide a full range of assistance to job seekers under one roof www.connectingcolorado.com Connecting Colorado - is our state's database for job seekers and clients of American Job Center programs Veterans Priority of Service - American Job Centers are honored to provide veterans priority of service, with regards to employment, training, and placement services.   MilitaryCrosswalkSearch-O*NETOnLine https://www.onetonline.org/crosswalk/MOC

18. Veteran Resources • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Case Managers • Rocky Mountain Human Services (HVRP Program) • Local Homeless Shelters • Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) – PrepConnect360 • Department of Corrections

19. Veteran Resources • Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs (HVRP) • VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VR&E) • VA Community Resource Employment Coordinator • State and Community Colleges • Wounded Warrior Transition Units • Military Installations • Volunteers of America (VOA) • Veteran Services Officer and organizations – Assistance with VA disability claims

20. Veteran Resources • Veteran Courts • Community and faith based organizations • Connecting Colorado (State MIS Database) • Workforce Center Partners (particularly WIOA, Wagner-Peyser and Youth Case Managers) • VA Medical Centers, Vet Centers, Compensated Work Therapy programs • VA Community Resource Employment Coordinator • County Departments of Human Services – Employment First

21. National Veterans Training Institute The U.S. Department of Labor, through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training (OASVET), established the National Veterans' Training Institute in 1986 to provide specialized training and professional skills enhancement of State Employment Security Agency and other veterans' service providers' staff. http://www.nvti.ucdenver.edu/training/pvcm.htmlhttp://www.nvti.ucdenver.edu/homePage.htm

22. Veteran Youth Success Stories Zach was enrolled in February of 2016 after his transition from military service.  He was unemployed and having difficulty landing his first job having little civilian work experience.  His goals were to find a job to stabilize his income and then enroll in PPCC to eventually pursue a teaching degree. 

23. Tips From the Field How to Work with Veterans “Vets are individuals, just because you have met a veteran, it does not mean you know or understand all veterans.” Tim A. “Help the Veteran understand his/her military experience in terms of a civilian career, use open ended questions to meet this goal.” Len G. “Listen to what the veteran has to say first.” Tony F.

24. Tips From the Field (continued) “Ask for clarification on Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes, and anything else outside your area of expertise.” Matt B. “Don’t be concerned you don’t understand ‘veteran or military culture’.   Veterans don’t go around introducing themselves to everyone “hi, my name is Bob and I’m a veteran’.   Veterans don’t care how much you know, when they learn how much you care.” Tim A. 

25. Tips From the Field (continued) “Don’t compare your experience to the veterans experience.” Matt B. “Learn as much as you can about military life.” Bill S. “Be direct, be polite and be open.” Bethany H. “Some veterans do not want to do the work they did in the military as a civilian.” Tim A.

26. JVSG/Youth Program Partnership • Youth and JVSG program can serve any veteran age 18 to 24. • WIOA Youth Program normally has higher Individual Training Account (ITA) levels that WIOA Adult Programs. • Veterans age 18 to 24 and Youth Program participants may be experiencing similar issues in relation to lack of work history. • WIOA Youth Programs allow for a combination of work-based learning and classroom training not typically offered in WIOA Adult programs.

27. THANK YOU! ANY QUESTIONS?