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  • Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants

    The Jobs for Veterans’ State Grants (JVSG) are mandatory, formula-based staffing grants to (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 (VETS-200 Series Reports) quarterly (using four “rolling quarters”) on a Program Year basis (as with the ETA- 9002 Series). Currently, VETS JVSG operates on a five-year (FY 2015-2019), 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:

Idaho covers a large geographic area with limited funding making it unfeasible to station a DVOP in every local office. In order to improve employment outcomes for veterans, the IDOL strategically stations our DVOP’s and LVER throughout the state. In 2015, the agency reorganized its service delivery organization by establishing a regional structure of its local office network. Seven regional offices in Kootenai County, Lewiston, Canyon County, Meridian, Magic Valley, Pocatello and Idaho Falls serve as central coordinators for all department activity within their geographic regions. The remaining offices within each region coordinate workforce activities and report to the regional offices. This reorganization was necessary to deal with a 20-25% reduction in staff at the local American Job Centers.

DVOP staff are primarily assigned to local offices with the highest numbers of registered veterans. Another factor considered is whether or not an area has a large educational institution that can translate to large numbers of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) participants.

IDOL employs a full-time regional Local Veterans Representative (LVER) who works in the largest labor market area in the state: Boise/Meridian/Nampa. There is also a full time DVOP presence in these three offices. In rural areas of the state where fewer veterans reside, IDOL assigns DVOPs on a half-time basis, Idaho has two part time (20 hours a week) DVOPs. In an effort to ensure that all veterans have access to our most knowledgeable resource, a DVOP conducts monthly outreach to rural areas of the state where there is no permanently stationed DVOPs to provide intensive services to veterans with significant barriers to employment (SBEs).

Our DVOPs work closely with the state’s Business Solutions Specialists (BSS). The BSS staff are trained to work with employers in certain high growth industries and to provide job developments, and recruit veterans for employment. Our DVOP staff notify the BSS’s when they have a veteran that is work ready. The BSS reviews the veteran’s resume and case management file to insure appropriate referrals are made to employers.

In accordance with current guidance and the video training “Preparing Veterans for Meaningful Careers” Idaho conducts a pre-assessment with veterans at the point of entry. Staff are instructed to ask the veteran or veteran’s spouse, to complete a short survey tool to determine eligibility for DVOP services or if a referral to an Employment Services consultant is appropriate.

A veteran who enters one of the state’s larger American Job Centers with full-time grant-funded staff receives the same services as a veteran who enters a small center with a half-time DVOP Specialist. If a veteran is in need of more than core services from one of the 15 AJC offices without an assigned DVOP Specialist they are assessed and referred to the nearest DVOP Specialist, if appropriate. An appointment is made during their next rural office visit. During this visit the veteran receives all the services available to veterans in the larger offices.

The state’s “shareable” website EPIC was recently enhanced so AJCs without a DVOP Specialist can provide the same information that is provided to veterans in urban areas. This tool is available to all DVOP Specialists as well as managers and other employment staff who serve veterans. All training documents are uploaded to EPIC for all AJC staff to view.