Jobs for Veterans State Grants Program

Targeting Services to Veterans with Significant Barriers to Employment (SBEs):

Alabama Career Centers in the statewide American Job Center (AJC) network will provide comprehensive employment, training, and career placement services to nearly 23,688 Veterans a year through a combination of internet-based job services and personal assistance. Alabama has more than 28,000 residents currently serving in the Armed Forces, and of that nearly 20,000 are in National Guard and Reserve components. The Alabama National Guard alone has a $1.3B economic impact in the state. The Alabama Career Center system in the AJC network operates under the auspices of the Alabama Department of Labor, the state agency responsible for providing employment 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) Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) and Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) program as mandated under Title 38 U.S.C. Chapter 41.

The state automated data system enables Veterans to use self-services, including registration. This approach enables DVOP specialists 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 (SBEs). The assignment of DVOP specialists at specific Alabama Career Centers in the statewide 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 individualized services. Veterans who enter the Alabama Workforce Development system at an AJC are served initially by Wagner-Peyser Career Center Specialists. For Veterans who appear to have an SBE (as defined by Veterans Program Letters (VPL) 03-14, VPL 04-14, and VPL 03-19) Career Center Specialists will offer additional services, to include referral to a DVOP who will provide individualized services and case management services:

1.         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, covered in a separate agreement with VR&E, determined to be “Job-Ready” by VR&E will be referred by a VR&E Employment Coordinator to the state’s Individualized Services Coordinator (ISC), who will refer the Job Ready VR&E client to an appropriate AJC Manager for case management and job placement services.

2.         Homeless Veterans, as defined in Section 103(a) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302(a)).

3.         Veterans lacking a high school diploma or equivalent certificate.

4.         A recently-separated service member, as defined in 38 U.S.C. Subsection 4211(6), who at any time in the previous 12 months has been unemployed for 27 or more consecutive weeks.

5.         Low-income Veterans, as defined by WIOA Section 3(36)).

6.         A Veteran who is an ex-offender, as defined by WIOA Section 169, who either (a) has been subject to any stage of the criminal justice process for committing a status offense of delinquent act, or (b) requires assistance in overcoming artificial barriers to employment resulting from a record of arrest or conviction for committing delinquent acts.

7.         Veterans ages 18-24 years old transitioning from active military service.

8.         A Special Disabled Veteran or Disabled Veteran, as those terms are defined in 38 U.S.C. Subsection 4211(1).  Special Disabled and Disabled Veterans are those who are entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs; or, were discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. Veterans in the categories above 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.

9.         Vietnam-era Veterans, as defined in VPL 03-19, are those with any part of active military, naval, or air service during the Vietnam era.  38 U.S.C. 101(29) defines “Vietnam era” to mean the period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, in the case of a Veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period; and the period beginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975, in all other cases.

Locating Priority Group Veterans

Veterans in priority groups will be located in the state automated data system by developing special reports and search capabilities of the system. Extensive outreach will be conducted to locate Veterans who may benefit from DVOP services, such as outreach to homeless shelters, Community agencies that provide services to homeless individuals, and through participation in special events such as Homeless Veteran Stand Downs or Veterans Courts.

Special Efforts to Homeless Veterans

Many agencies and volunteer groups have formed coalitions which plan several Veterans Stand Down events across the state each year. LVERs will provide homeless Veterans with job development services, and DVOPs will provide individualized services under the case management approach to identify basic needs regarding safety, health, and shelter. Followup case management services in this effort will include referral to employment and WIOA training providers to identify individual training needs.  Assistance is provided to the homeless Veterans on how to find employment opportunities in their specific locality, as well as how to relate their skills and experience into new work in other industries and occupations.  Some of the locations where our agency is partnering with coalitions to assist homeless Veterans are as follows:

1.         Mobile – Grant funded staff members in the Alabama Career Center in Mobile have developed a partnership with Housing First, A Homeless Coalition.  This Coalition, joined by the Mobile AJC, puts together an annual ‘Project Homeless Connect’ event. During this event the homeless are connected with an extensive list of service providers for needs such as clothing, food, health care, housing, employment or skills training, legal help, haircuts, and identification cards.  The grant funded staff members also meet regularly with residents of Eagles Landing, a supportive housing complex for homeless Veterans operated by Volunteers of America. Job search and case management services are provided, as well as resume, job search, and soft skills workshops.

2.         North Alabama - the Alabama Career Centers in the AJC network partner with Stand Down Together Huntsville Inc., which is a 501(c)3 Agency that assists homeless and at-risk Veterans in north Alabama to become self-sustaining members of their community.

3.         Dothan – the Career Center partners with the South East Alabama Coalition on Homelessness (SEACH) to provide employment services to homeless Veterans.

4.         Birmingham – under an agreement with Alethia House, which was awarded a grant by VETS under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Act (HVRP), DVOPs are assigned to assist homeless Veterans to acquire skills training and employment. In addition, the AJC and JVSG staff are active participants in the annual Metro Birmingham Alabama Veterans Stand Down, sponsored by the Birmingham VA and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #4. Our agency joins with the VA Medical Center staff, other federal agencies, Veteran organizations, and community support organizations to provide homeless Veterans and their families with employment services, basic healthcare, mental health and spiritual counseling, and clothing.

5.         Montgomery - under an agreement with Alethia House, which was awarded a grant by VETS under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Act (HVRP), DVOPs are assigned to assist homeless Veterans to acquire skills training and employment.