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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:

e. The Populations of Veterans to Be Served, Including Any Additional Populations Designated by the Secretary as Eligible for Services, and Any Additional Populations Specifically Targeted by the State Workforce Agency for Services from One-stop Delivery System Partners (e.g., Native American Veterans; Veterans in Remote Rural Counties or Parishes);

Current Narrative:

Targeting Services to Veterans with Significant Barriers to Employment (SBE)

Alabama Career Centers in the statewide American Job center (AJC) network will provide comprehensive employment, training, and career placement services to nearly 25,000 veterans a year through a combination of Internet–based job services and personal assistance at Alabama Career Centers in the statewide AJC network. Alabama has more than 32,000 residents currently serving in the Armed Forces and of that nearly 13,000 in the National Guard and Reserve component. Alabama National Guard ranked fifth in numbers of troops deployed.

The Alabama Career Center system in the American Job Center network operates under the auspices of the Alabama Department of Labor, the state agency responsible for providing employment services and related services to veterans, and is authorized by the Governor to make application for funds to carry out the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) to carry out the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) and Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) program as mandated under Title 38 U.S.C. Chapter 41.

The Alabama Job Link (AJL) enables veterans to use self–services, including registration. This approach enables specialists in the DVOP to review the registrations and resumes submitted by veterans on–line and then contact veterans who appear to need further assistance. Alabama DVOP specialists prioritize their efforts with veterans who are facing significant barriers to employment (SBE) in securing employment, including veterans who appear to be having difficulty in using the Alabama Job Link (AJL) automated system.

The assignment of DVOP specialists at specific Alabama Career Centers in the statewide American Job Center (AJC) network is based on a strategy to ensure veterans with SBEs are priority customers in the Alabama Workforce Development system. Although many veterans can and will use the internet–based self–registration and various self–service features, veterans with SBEs are provided intensive services. Veterans who enter the Alabama Workforce Development System at an AJC (Alabama Career Center), are served initially by career center specialists. For veterans who appear to have an SBE, career center specialists will offer additional services, to include referral to a DVOP who will provide intensive services and case management services to veterans having a Significant Barrier to Employment (SBE), as defined by Veterans Program Letter (VPL) 03–14, (VPL) 03-14 changes 1 and 2, and VPL 04–14 or any future VPLs providing guidance on SBEs:

• All veterans enrolled in the Five–track Employment Program administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Service. As covered in a separate agreement with VR&E, a client determined to be “Job–Ready” by VR&E will be referred by a VR&E Employment Coordinator to the state’s Intensive Services Coordinator (ISC), who will refer the Job Ready VR&E client to an appropriate AJC manager for case management and job placement services. Veterans with SBEs will be provided a comprehensive Assessment of Employability, addressing barriers to employment and a written Individual Employment Plan (IEP) outlining the individual’s employability planning.

Locating Priority Group Veterans

Veterans in priority groups will be located in the data system by developing special reports and search capabilities of the AJL system. Career Center/AJC staff members will outreach to veterans who may benefit from DVOP services. DVOPs will outreach to homeless shelters, community agencies that provide services to homeless individuals, and will participate in special events for disabled and homeless veterans, such as Homeless Veterans Stand Downs.

Employment Service Case Management by DVOP Specialists

Standard DVOP case management practices will include: 1. Assisting veteran–clients in development of job objectives and a resume. 2. Identifying significant barriers or challenges to employment. 3. Referring or assisting veteran–clients to appropriate supportive services. 4. Determining veteran–clients’ economic need. 5. Identifying training or educational goals. 6. Documenting contacts with employers on behalf of individual clients. 7. Maintaining current contact information. 8. Documenting job referrals and job development for employment, internship, or on–the–job–training (OJT) opportunities for individual clients.

DVOP representatives will use the AJL case management feature to load cases into the “My Cases” portfolio. Case management review of the caseload for every DVOP representative under the AJL “My Cases” feature will be conducted by ES managers on a quarterly basis to ensure that the adherence to required practices and privacy concerns. As a self–assessment measure, ES managers will review the “My Cases” portfolio of their DVOP representatives to identify effective performances (best practices and success stories) and shortcomings in services needing correction.

DVOPs will use reports provided from the Alabama Job Link to outreach and contact Recently Separated Veterans, ages 18 to 24, and veterans receiving Ex–service members Unemployment Benefits (UCX) for the purpose of offering job placement or job training services. Veterans responding to this outreach will be provided assessment services to determine their readiness to apply for employment opportunities in their area of choice with their current skills. Assessment will include evaluating the additional skills needed for employment with employers having those jobs. This approach provides veterans with customer choice as to specific occupations for which to begin training. Veterans are also acquainted with the AJC resources that are available to pursue job–driven training in emerging industries, such fast growing jobs in Green Industries.