Operation VETS SERVE! National Service: A Pathway for Successful Transition from Soldier to Civilian

1. Operation VETS SERVE!National Service: A Pathway for Successful Transition from Soldier to Civilian WELCOME! INTRODUCTIONS! THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE! PLAN FOR TODAY!

2. Overview of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) ~ Jewel Bazilio-Bellegarde, Senior Training Officer

3. The National Service Network Programs & Partners Learn & Serve America Senior Corps Presidential Freedom Scholarships «HS Jrs & Srs FosterGrandparents «Sponsoring Agencies «State Offices RSVP «Sponsoring Agencies «State Offices Learn & Serve America «State Ed Agencies (K-12) «Higher Ed Institutions «Community-based Orgs «Tribes Nat’l Demonstration Projects «Nat’l Organizations «Sponsoring Agencies Senior Companions «Sponsoring Agencies «State Offices Nat’l S-L Clearinghouse «All S-L practitioners & researchers AmeriCorps A«VISTA A«State & National A«NCCC VISTA Leaders «HQ «Sponsoring Agencies Local Projects «Sponsoring Agencies «State Offices Tribes & Territories Grants National, Regional & Local Projects «SE Region Campus «NE Region Campus «Central Region Campus «Western Region Campus «Capital Region Campus Ed Award Program Grants «State Commissions «Nat’l Organizations «Tribes & Territories State Grants «State Commissions Nat’l Demonstration Projects «HQ «Nat’l Organizations National Directs Grants «Nat’l Parent Organizations * Sub-Grantees «Sponsoring Agencies *Sub-Grantees

4. National Service ~ Rooted in America’s Tradition of Service 1933: Civilian Conservation Corps 1961: Peace Corps 1964: VISTA 1993: The Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps

5. Corporation for National & Community Service • A federal agency established in 1993 and reauthorized in 2009 with the passage of the Kennedy Serve America Act, to provide opportunities for ALL Americans to give back to their communities through service and volunteering • CNCS mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering • CNCS provides nonprofits and community groups with human capital to “get things done” Veterans and Wounded Warriors can be that capital! • Structured volunteer service opportunities are provided through three major programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. New programs established under the Serve America Act reinforces the CNCS commitment to engaging Wounded Warriors and Veterans, including those with disabilities.

6. AmeriCorps TodayMeeting critical needs across America • Teach and Tutor • Mentor Youth • Build homes • Fight poverty • Conserve the environment • Provide health services • Respond to disasters • Recruit and managevolunteers • Much, much more…

7. Today’s Focus for Today - Three Programs of AmeriCorps AmeriCorps State/National AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps NCCC

8. AmeriCorps is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent resident aliens age 17 and older. Members serve full- or part-time over a 9- to 12-month period, or during the summer.

9. AmeriCorps State and National and National • Largest branch of AmeriCorps • About 80,000 members serve each year • Members serve with more than 3,000 organizations • Members address needs in education, environment, health, housing, disaster response and more • Sponsors include Habitat for Humanity, Teach for America, City Year, American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs and thousands of other nonprofits • Full-time and part-time opportunities

10. AmeriCorps VISTA AmeriCorps Vista • AmeriCorps’ poverty-fighting arm • Created in 1964 as part of War on Poverty • 6,500 members serve each year • VISTAs collaborate with low-income individuals and communities to fight poverty • Focus on capacity building: raising funds, recruiting volunteers, and designing sustainable programs • Full-time year-long service

11. AmeriCorps NCCC AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) • Team-based residential service • Focus on disaster response, environment, housing, and youth • Teams travel to projects in • neighboring states • Open to 18-24 year-olds • 1,100 members serve each year • Members live on 5 campuses: Sacramento, CA; Denver, CO; Vinton, IA; Perry Point, MD and Vicksburg, MS • Full-time 10-month service

12. West Virginia Vets Corps veterans helping other veterans • focus on homelessness and job training. • members are Veterans. • they provide mentoring, life and job skill training, information and referral services as well as financial literacy guidance.

13. AmeriCorps Benefits AmeriCorps Benefits include: • Living allowance • Health care • Student loan deferment • Training • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from $5,550 (FT) and prorated • (The Serve America Act allows use of the AmeriCorps award for the education, apprenticeship, and on-the job training at institutions that accept the G.I. Bill. )

14. AmeriCorps AlumniContinuing Their Service and Commitment • Longitudinal studies show AmeriCorps alums: • are more connected to their communities • continue to participate in community activities • choose public service careers in disproportionately high levels

15. Overview of the Wounded Warriors, Veterans and Military Families Initiatives at the Corporation for National and Community Service ~ Koby Langley, Senior Strategic Advisor

16. Operation VETS SERVE • Background • Program Goal • Examples of Program Activities • Key Program Success Indicators • Anticipated Program Partners

17. IDES, rIDES, Process Flows DoD Disability Decision - 40 Informal PEB 15 TREATMENT DoD Medical Evaluation Board using VA exam - 35 VA Exam - 45 Current IDES VA BENEFITS - 30 TRANSITION, OUTPROCESSING, & LEAVE 45 VA BENEFITS 30 TREATMENT / Pre-Referral Case Development Formal PEB Appeal - 30 Preliminary VA Rating 15 Rating Reconsideration - 15 Formal PEB Decision &SM Approval - 30 VA CLAIMS - 10 REFERRAL - 10 Formal PEB Administrative & Record Transit 15 MEB Equivalent with initial Fitness Decision 34 Transition , Leave, Outprocessing - 45 BEGIN SERVICE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS / VA Disabled Transition Assistance Program AND Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment GOAL +295 DAYS ACTUAL TIME IS 404 DAYS VA Claim, Exam, Rating - 70 Remodeled IDES GOAL <295 DAYS

18. 10 USC § 1143a - Encouragement of Postseparation Public and Community service (a) In General.— The Secretary of Defense shall implement a program to encourage members and former members of the armed forces to enter into public and community service jobs after discharge or release from active duty.

19. National and Community Service • Where does the Wounded Warrior fit? • How do we facilitate the process?

20. The National Service Inclusion Project (NSIP) is a Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) training and technical assistance provider on disability inclusion for all CNCS grantees and programs. Through comprehensive training, technical assistance, and product dissemination, NSIP strives to ensure meaningful service experiences for all Americans. www.SERVICEandINCLUSION.org Toll-free hotline: 888-491-0326 (voice/TTY)

21. Engaging Veterans with Disabilities in National and Community Service • established In 2010 • recruit, engage and support veterans with disabilities as active service members in structured volunteer experiences • the Corporation launched the Initiative through its National Service Inclusion Project, housed at the Institute for Community Inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Boston, in partnership with CTAT (Center for Technical Assistance and Training) and Operation TBI Freedom at Denver Options. Please visit http://www.serviceandinclusion.org/veterans/

23. • Questions, Discussion • Next Steps