Download - 1 USBLN Conference October 2011 R. A. Fanning, VR&E Service Director V E T S U C C E S S. G O V
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USBLN ConferenceOctober 2011
R. A. Fanning, VR&E Service Director
V E T S U C C E S S . G O V
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Overview
1. VR&E Mission and Process1. VR&E Mission and Process
2. Incentives for Hiring Veterans2. Incentives for Hiring Veterans
3. Self-employment 3. Self-employment
4. Innovation Initiatives4. Innovation Initiatives
5. Employment Results5. Employment Results
6. VetSuccess.gov6. VetSuccess.gov
7. Conclusion7. Conclusion
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VR&E Mission Statement
• The mission of VR&E is to help Veterans with service connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and maintain suitable careers
• For Veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E provides services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible
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Eligibility and Entitlement
• Active Duty Servicemembers:– Honorable discharge expected upon separation
from active duty– VA Memorandum or DES rating of 20% or more
• Veterans:– Honorable or other than dishonorable discharge– VA Memorandum or DES rating of 20% or more– VA service-connected disability rating of 10% with a
serious employment handicap or 20% or more with an employment handicap
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The VetSuccess Process
218 Rehabilitated Employment Services Application Entitlement Decision Evaluation and Planning Tracks
• Application received (VONAP or 28-1900)
• Veteran’s eligibility established (GED processing used to establish pending 719)
• Schedule veteran for initial counseling appointment if eligible
• VRC meets with veteran
• Conduct VR&E orientation to include Five Tracks Video
• Conduct vocational evaluation to assess skills, abilities & interests
• Determine employment handicap (VR&E entitlement criteria) and serious EH
• Determine feasibility for employment
• Work with veteran to identify track
• Establish vocational or independent living goal
• Define services needed• Develop written plan of services
• On-going case management (max of 18 months)
• Provide employment services• VetSuccess.gov• Interview skills• Job placement assistance• Referral to DOL
• Held suitable employment or improved ability to live independently
Indep. Living(24 mo. max with 6 mo.
Ext by VR&EO)
Employment Thru Long-Term
Services
Self Employment(monitor 1 yr min)
Rapid AccessTo Employment
Re-Employment
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VR&E Services
Incentives for Hiring Veterans:
- On-The-Job Training (OJT)
- Non-Paid Work Experience (internship)
- Special Employer Incentive Program (SEI)
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit
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On-the-Job Training
What is an OJT?– Provides training for specific positions with the
employer– Veteran is hired at the apprenticeship wage– Results in permanent full-time employment
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On-the-Job Training
• Benefits for the Employer– Hiring qualified Veterans at the training wage– VA VR&E purchases necessary tools, uniforms, other
required supplies– VA VR&E evaluates the need for job-site
accommodations– VA provides support during training and placement
follow-up phases– Minimal paperwork– Tax incentives (Work Opportunity Tax Credit)
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What is Non-Paid Work Experience?– Provides eligible Veterans with practical job
experiences– Placement can be at any government facility that will
provide the Veteran with a work experience consistent with their vocational rehabilitation goals
– There is no cost to the employer; the Veteran receives a subsistence allowance from the VA
• (Authorized by Public Law 94-502)
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Non-Paid Work Experience
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Benefits for Employers…
– Minimal paperwork is required by the participating government agency
– High quality worker at no expense– Allows agency to assess Veteran’s fit for
noncompetitive appointment into a permanent position– Easy access for the government agency to participate
in the NPWE program
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Non-Paid Work Experience
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Special Employer Incentive
General Information– To assist Veterans who face obstacles in obtaining
employment– For Veterans who have completed training under
Chapter 31– SEI programs may be authorized for a maximum of 9
months– Payment to the employer may be monthly or in one
lump sum
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Special Employer Incentive
• Benefits for Employers– Reimbursement of up to 50% of the Veteran’s salary
during the SEI program, via direct reimbursement from VA Chapter 31, to cover:• Compensation for additional expenses incurred for
cost of instruction• Compensation for loss of production• Compensation for additional supply and equipment
costs– Minimal Paperwork– Employee is trained to employer’s standards
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Work Opportunity Tax Credit
• WOTC
– The WOTC is a Federal tax credit incentive that the Congress has authorized to private-sector businesses for hiring Veterans
– The main objective of this program is to enable the targeted employees to gradually move from economic dependency into self-sufficiency as they earn a steady income and become contributing taxpayers
– Participating employers are compensated by being able to reduce their federal income tax liability
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New Tax Credits
Returning Heroes Tax Credit - New hiring tax credit that will provide an incentive for firms to hire
unemployed veterans- Short-term unemployed: A new credit of 40 percent of the first $6,000 of
wages (up to $2,400) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed at least 4 weeks
- Long-term unemployed: A new credit of 40 percent of the first $12,000 of wages (up to $4,800) for employers who hire veterans who have been unemployed longer than 6 months
Wounded Warrior Tax Credit - Double the existing tax credit for long-term unemployed veterans with
service-connected disabilities- Maintain the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit for veterans with
service-connected disabilities (currently the maximum is $4,800)- A new credit of 40 percent of the first $24,000 of wages (up to $9,600) for
firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been unemployed longer than 6 months
- The paperwork process for claiming these credits will be simplified by streamlining the burdensome certification that firms had to undertake to claim previous credits
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Self-Employment
• VR&E may provide special assistance to Veterans with an approved self-employment rehabilitation goal
• Self-Employment may be appropriate for individuals who have limited access to traditional employment due to disability or life circumstances
• Services provided:– Development of a viable Business Plan– Training in the operation of a small business– Marketing and financial assistance– Guidance in obtaining adequate resources to
implement a viable Business Plan– May include payment of start-up costs
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Self-Employment
• VR&E is engaged in initiatives to support self-employment among Veterans and identify new ideas for Veterans to start their own businesses
• VR&E partners with the Small Business Administration to provide self-employment resources to all Veterans
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VA Innovation Initiative (VAi2)
3 VAi2 Projects re: Self-Employment
Business Incubator, Veterans Entrepreneurial Transfer– Pilot Program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin involving up to 30 Veterans
using a brick and mortar facility– Provides face-to-face services focused on education, mentoring,
and growing companies started and owned by Veterans
Business Accelerator, VetSuccess Employment Accelerator– Online interactive tool to guide Veterans in planning, launching, and
sustaining self-employment ventures– Pilot sites are Philadelphia and Roanoke – Designed to serve 25-30 Veterans
Business Training, EAdvantage– Online and classroom self-paced courses to assist Veterans in
becoming successful entrepreneurs – Available to all Veterans
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VAi2 – Self-Management
• Seeking innovations in the area of self-management applications and tools to assist the most seriously disabled Veterans to obtain and maintain employment
• Goal is to empower Veterans to fully realize their employment potential through the use of assistive technologies and strategies
• Solutions might include assistive technology, web-based tools, self-monitoring strategies, mobile applications, etc
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FY2010 Employment Results
76%*
7% 5% 3% 2%Professional, Technical and Managerial
Clerical
Services
Machine Trades
Structural (Building Trades)
Average Professional Salary - $34,712FY2011 to date Average Salary - $42,961Average Salary Before Rehab - $7,178
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FY2010 Employment Results
VR&E Employment Outcomes by Employer Type FY 2010
0.2%*
33.3%*
3.9%
50.2%
12.5%
Faith-based & Community Organizations (FBCOs)Federal GovernmentSelf-Employed VeteransPrivate SectorState & Local Government
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VR&E Participants and Rehabilitations
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
Participants 89126 90593 97116 106841 105026 109005 119905
Rehabilitations 12117 11008 11066 10303 10041 10034
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
CHTW Expansion
Feb. 08;
Post 9/11
GI Bill
+1.6%
+7.2%+10% -1.7% +3.8%
+10%
Projected 10% increase in 2013; 131,896 participants
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VetSuccess.gov
Purpose• Comprehensive employment resource for all Veterans• Agencies can post job openings directly on
VetSuccess.gov• Job board currently connects over 80,000 Veterans
with over 1,700 registered Employers • Veterans have access to over 8,000,000 jobs through
VetSuccess and Job Central Database• Employers can search existing Veteran resumes for
direct placements, such as:- Security Clearance- Degree- Skill type
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Recent VetSuccess.gov Enhancements
• VetSuccess.gov Enhancements – State-specific resources searchable through map
feature– Military Skills Translator– Interviewing skills tips– Job hunting tips– VetSuccess news– Resume development tool– Theme pages
• VetSuccess on Campus, At Home, In the Community, In Transition, At Work, and For the Veteran’s Family
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VetSuccess.gov - Future
VetSuccess. gov Future Enhancements– All job feeds from USAJOBS.GOV, Job Central, CareerBuilders.com,
and Monster.com will automatically populate the VetSuccess.gov job board and provide our Veterans with a centralized location to find and apply for both federal and private sector careers
– Direct verification of a Veteran’s occupational and disability status through integration with eBenefits.va.gov, allowing the Veteran to self-manage his/her claims information
– Social media, resume posting, as well as searching and aggregation of job opportunities
– Multiple resources and tools to assist Veteran in self assessing skills and to prepare for and succeed in training, work, and self-employment
– Linkages to mentoring resources for various occupational groups, including self-employment
– Success stories and Veteran feedback mechanisms– Easy access to information about all VA business lines and services,
including user friendly access to self service functionality
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VetSuccess.gov – Access to VR&E Orientation Video, Jobs, and News
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VetSuccess.gov – Job Tips
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VetSuccess.gov – Map Feature for State-specific Resources
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Value of Hiring Veterans
• Accelerated Learning curve– Vets have proven the ability to quickly learn new skills and possess
transferable skills proven to achieve success• Leadership
– Vets understand practical ways to manage and achieve goals and are trained to lead.
• Teamwork– Vets understand how genuine teamwork grows out of responsibility and how
diverse groups work best together.• Diversity and Inclusion in action
– Vets have worked alongside each other regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or mental or physical capabilities.
• Efficient performance under pressure– Vets have the capacity to know how to accomplish tasks on time and in spite
of stress or adversity. They understand the importance of dedication and perseverance.
• Respect for procedures– Vets have gained a unique perspective on the value of accountability. They
understand how policies and procedures yield stability, safety and productivity.
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Value of Hiring Veterans
• Technology and globalization– Vets are aware of international and technical trends
pertinent to business. • Integrity
– Vets know what it means to do "an honest day's work."
• Conscious of health and safety standards• Triumph over adversity
– Vets have the proven ability to overcome challenges and obstacles through strength and determination.
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Bottom Line
“As a member of Congress, I believe it is the responsibility of those elected to represent the people at every level of government to ensure that our government works to ensure that every person who wants gainful employment has it.”
-Leonard Boswell
“As it turns out, social scientists have established only one fact about an individual’s (sic) mental health: employment improves it.”
-Susan Faludi
“We have an obligation to make sure our Veterans are able to navigate this difficult labor market and succeed in the civilian workforce.”
-President Obama, August 5,2011
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Thank you!
• Questions?
– Contact VR&E Services at 202-461-9600
– www.VetSuccess.gov