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In an effort to make it easier to use your e-newsletter, the VETS NET staff has redesigned the publication.
Be sure to let us know what you think about this new look at the survey page found at http://www.nvti.cudenver.edu/Resources2/VETSNET/VN-survey.htm
Frederico Juarbe Jr -
Assistant Secretary of Veterans' Employment & Training
Caring for Our Injured Service Members
Official figures place the number of wounded and injured from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom since 9/11 at over 11,000. Many of these are severely injured well beyond the conditions experienced in previous conflicts due to the rapid improvement in medical technology, battlefield triage, and body armor. I know many of you have been following the news stories and perhaps are even now assisting these newest disabled veterans on a day to day basis.
The face of today's veteran is changing. Just a little over four years ago, discussion of a wounded or injured veteran elicited the image of a veteran reaching the end of their career or a homeless veteran standing on a street corner. Today, our assumptions are being shattered by stories in news print and televised media. These stories reveal young men and women, the majority of whom are little more than 20 years of age, with a level of experience and maturity that far surpasses their peers who have not served. These newly injured and disabled often have little or no education beyond high school, and stir in many of us the ghosts of our own past experiences. We are faced with a growing population of young men and women with young families, whose hopes and aspirations are now weighed down by the long and difficult paths ahead of them.
One year ago, our agency showed leadership in establishing a program to support the economic recovery and reemployment of newly transitioning wounded and injured service members and their families. We broke the mold by demanding early intervention and by identifying barriers to employment or reemployment prior to discharge while finding ways to address those needs before the point of crisis. We call this program Recovery & Employment Assistance Lifelines or REALifelines. REALifelines is for the first time making it possible for you and for your local One Stop offices to be apprised of the employment needs and goals of these wounded and injured service members before they return home to your communities. This is a new program, but one that is growing rapidly with strong ties to efforts underway at the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs.
I recently visited one of our REALifelines soldiers in his hometown of Manhattan, Kansas. Sergeant Alfred Kalous lost part of his leg while serving in Iraq. During his lengthy recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the DVOP placed there by the DC Department of Employment Security enrolled him into the REALifelines (web address - www.dol.gov/vets/programs/Real-life/main.htm) program. During his initial interview we asked him the question, “If you could do anything you wanted, what would you do?”
He responded by stating that, although he was an electrician by military trade, he had always wanted to be an auto mechanic. This information was relayed to the workforce center in Manhattan, KS and before Al returned home the local DVOP found him a job as a mechanic's apprentice for Lear Seigler; but, he needed tools to go to work.
MACTOOLS is one of a number of companies who have contacted the HireVetsFirst campaign to enroll as a Veteran Friendly employer. If you haven't visited and begun to refer employers and veterans to HireVetsFirst.gov I encourage you to begin to use this helpful resource. When the executives at MACTOOLS learned of Alfred's need, they gifted Sergeant Kalous with a full master mechanic set of tools, which will not only ensure his employment today, but assure his career for years to come.
I share this story as a brief introduction to a program that depends ultimately upon you for success. In the weeks to come we will be introducing new training elements to help you dust off your skills and to help prepare your local One Stop or Workforce Board for a new generation of veterans for whom priority service should mean exactly that.
The plan is simple.
Veterans' representatives at military medical treatment facilities and at the Military Severely Injured Joint Support Operations Center will reach out early to returning wounded and injured servicemembers and let them know how to get in touch with a person near their hometown who can help them. Their local One Stop will be the first point of referral.
To assure long term coordination and follow through, we are partnering with the newly established Military Severely Injured Joint Support Operations Center that will act as a centralized point for national connectivity and resource referral. To support your work, as an integral part of the REALifelines operation, we have established the National Recovery and Employment Assistance Center, which is currently being run by the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and can be reached by calling 1-866-WORKVET. This national center is your tool, to help answer employment and accommodation needs that may arise for returning veterans with disabilities.
Each referral through the REALifelines program will receive follow up on regularly scheduled intervals to make certain no one slips through the cracks.
To clarify, I want to give you two new toll-free numbers, and I hope that you will use them and refer veterans and employers to them.
The first is for our own REALifelines consultants who can help build individual plans, who will be your primary referral agent, and who are backed by a strong team of workplace and job accommodation specialists. This is your team as service providers and you can reach them during normal business hours at 1-866-WORK-VET.
The second number is for the Department of Defense's new Severely Injured Joint Support Operations Center, and their number is 1-888-774-1361. Their call center is open 24/7. Their purpose is to, “assist injured service members and their families with life-changing circumstances to achieve the highest level of functioning and quality of life for which they are capable if provided the necessary services and support.”
Their consultants will help direct injured service members and families to the resources they need in a wide variety of areas including, medical care and rehabilitation, individual, couple and family issues, personal mobility and functioning, home, transportation and workplace accommodations, education, training, and job placement, financial resources, activities of daily living, and quality of life.
Their care managers will coordinate services, provide consultation and support, and make home visits as required.
We cannot afford to leave any veteran or their families outside the wire. Our national security rests upon recruitment and retention – both of which are holding well despite increased mobilizations – Our Nation's Economic Security rests upon a productive workforce – which veterans are – and it rests upon the work that you do every day.
Thank you.
In January, John McWilliam joined VETS as the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, a new position within the agency. Charles "Chick" Ciccollela continues in his role as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment & Training.
McWilliam is an Army veteran who has worked in and around the federal government throughout much of his career. In his 32-year career of service to our nation he's held leaderships positions in the U.S. Army, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as providing consulting services to numerous Federal departments and agencies.
He holds a BS degree from the U.S. Military Academy and an MBA from Syracuse University. McWilliam is a certified public accountant and a certified government financial manager.
“All LVERs should attend this course, it is very necessary,” says Texas LVER Tracy Robeson from Austin, an LVER for 12 years and a participant in the fourth session of Promoting Partnerships for Employment in February.
NVTI's Partnerships training has been a big hit with participants. Robeson says the course is very up-to-date, and it has to be. The Partnerships course is the cornerstone in implementing the Jobs for Veterans Act, P.L. 107-288 and VETS' VPL 11-02.
Patricia Sharpe, from Atlanta, agrees. “This course helped me define my roles and responsibilities as a LVER better than before. This class was so very helpful,” she said. These positive comments bring a smile to the face of NVTI's training manager, Jan Trunce.
Trunce says VETS and NVTI worked for several months developing the new course, and the response has been terrific. "Learning how to form and encourage partnerships are learned skills," Trunce said. "We're glad to offer courses that prove to be so beneficial to our audience."
The Partnerships course zeros in on the role of the LVER as outlined in the law and in relation to partners and resources. Participants gain knowledge on how to facilitate a standard presentation of the veterans' law to agencies and One-Stop partners. Getting information on veterans' programs and one stop services to employers is a key focus of the course, as is understanding the overall labor market and how to gather information of value to workforce centers and their partners.
After attending the Partnerships training, participants return home with newly acquired skills to do the job with fresh perspective. An LVER from Utah recently told us that the Partnerships class has helped him to get out and interact with his agency partners and local employers.
Participants learn how to present information about the law to internal partners, such as One-Stop and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) staff, then give brief presentations on portions of the law and answer related questions. A detailed look into labor market information (LMI) and how to use it to understand the community is also presented.
Another key aspect of Partnerships training is marketing and public relations. The value of a proactive campaign for promoting veterans' programs and offices in general is emphasized, as well as how to effectively target the audience, what materials to use and how to develop a positive image. Stand Downs, job fairs and similar events to maximize participation and understanding of programs are analyzed.
In this course, participants do some research as part of an e-learning segment, and prepare a brief presentation for class in Denver based on what they found.
Judging by what our participants are saying so far, it's definitely another worthwhile NVTI training to attend.
by Joel Walter
NVTI Student Employee
An Army study published last year shows that as many as one in eight returning service members who faced combat in Iraq or Afghanistan are experiencing serious symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This marks a first-time ever wartime study of the mental health of combat troops.
Four different groups comprising 6,021 Army and Marine combat members were surveyed at different intervals--before, during and after deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan. The study showed that 17 percent of those who served in Iraq met the criteria for major depression, anxiety or PTSD, while 15 percent of those who served in Afghanistan met the same criteria.
Less than half of those with problems sought help, citing fears of being viewed as cowardly or of harming their military careers.
Additional Information:
What is PTSD?
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults like rape. People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person's daily life. (Source: National Center for PTSD)
Resources:
National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD) - http://www.ncptsd.org/
NCPTSD The War in Iraq - http://www.ncptsd.org/topics/war.html
The National Gulf War Resource Center - http://www.ngwrc.org/
Help for Veterans with PTSD and Their Families - http://www.ncptsd.org/facts/veterans/fs_help_for_vets.html
PTSD - A Real Illness (from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/nimhptsd.pdf
Lets's Talk Facts About PTSD (from the American Psychiatric Association) - http://www.psych.org/public_info/ptsd.cfm
Iraq War Veterans Organization - http://www.iraqwarveterans.org/ptsd.htm
With Guard and Reserve troops being activated and returning to their former jobs, it's a good time to review some basic Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 information.
In general...
* Congress enacted USERRA and President Clinton signed it into law in 1994.
* Discrimination is prohibited because of service in the Armed Forces Reserve, the National Guard or other uniformed services.
* Benefits of employment cannot be denied or withheld based on membership or intent to join the uniformed services.
* Protection is afforded to veterans, reservists and National Guard members to reclaim their civilian employment after service.
According to Department of Justice (DOJ), the number of USERRA claims DOL referred to DOJ annually has increased approximately 20 percent since September 11, 2001.
For more information, visit
DOL's eLaws USERRA Advisor - http://www.dol.gov/elaws/userra.htm
National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) - http://www.esgr.org
Link to the law: http://www.dol.gov/vets/usc/vpl/usc38.htm
Further, did you know a new notification requirement is part of the new Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act signed into law by President Bush on Dec. 10, 2004. This Act broadens the health care, housing, education and other benefits for the nation's veterans and their families originally included in USERRA. All covered employees be given notice of their rights, benefits and obligations under the Act.
As a result of changes to the law, all U.S. employers are required to provide employees with information concerning their rights and benefits under USERRA by March 10, 2005. The new law states, in part, "The requirement . . . may be met by the posting of the notice where employers customarily place notices for employees." Find the poster at the VETS website - http://www.dol.gov/vets/welcome.html
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved legislation in February (HR 27) to reauthorize and reform the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA). One of the most sweeping amendments to HR 27 comes in the form of amending current language with substitute language. Among other details, the substitute proposes authorizing $211 million for the WIA pilot and demonstration authority (of which $125 million could be used for President Bush's community-based job training grants) and also authorizes the Secretary of Labor to use up to $125 million more from WIA national reserve funds to fund the community-based job training grants. Source: NASWA Bulletin 2/18/05
Several bills benefiting veterans were signed into law in late 2004. They are: PL 108-422 (HR 3936), PL 108-445 (S 2484) and PL 108-454 (S 2486).
PL 108-422, the Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004, increases spending for the Grant and Per Diem program that assists homeless veterans from $75 million to $99 million in FY 2005. It will also assist states in hiring and retaining nurses to work in state homes that provide long-term care to veterans.
PL 108-445, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004, reforms VA's physician pay and nurse employment systems to provide added flexibility to recruit and retain highly qualified medical personnel.
PL 108-454, the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, helps to bring VA's job training programs in line with the modern workforce structure and allow GI Bill education benefits to be more easily used for great number of qualified apprenticeship programs. GI Bill benefits for apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs will be increased. The bill also strengthens the legal protections for service members when they are called to active duty and when they return home. Source: Veterans Press, press release 2/8/05
The President's FY 2006 budget request shows increase in programs for veterans. Veterans with service-connected disabilities, lower incomes and those with special needs will receive greater focus under the budget proposal. The request represents a 2.7 percent increase in discretionary funds over the enacted level of 2005. From 2001-2005 there has been a 47 percent increase in veterans health care funding. Source: Veterans Press, press release 2/16/05
The Senate moves forward with bankruptcy reform legislation, which will help low-income veterans. The measure, Amendment 23 to Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (S. 256) was put forward by Sen. Jeff Sessions and offers special consideration in bankruptcy for low-income veterans, active-duty military, and people who have serious medical conditions. A report by the National Consumer Law Center in 2003 noted that veterans are often targeted by an expensive scam in which streams of their military pension and benefits payments are purchased for a lump sum, with high interest rates, although federal law prohibits such schemes. Such schemes can drive military retirees into bankruptcy. Source: Senate Veterans Affairs website
Resources:
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (PL 105-220) - http://www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/wia/act.cfm
House Committee on Veterans Affairs - http://www.house.gov/va/
Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs - http://www.senate.gov/~svac/
The success of NVTI's Incarcerated Veterans' Training Program (IVTP) last year has spawned a new NVTI training course - Job Coaching for Offender Populations, or JCOP, a one-day training designed to assist placement/retention specialists with the numerous barriers that offenders face as they attempt to reintegrate back into their communities.
Many employers express reluctance to hire applicants with criminal records and that presents its' own challenges. "JCOP will provide a broad based understanding for not only DVOPs, but also other workforce agency staff that are tasked with finding suitable employment opportunities for the formerly incarcerated," said Bret Anderson, IVTP project lead trainer. "Taking into account that more and more placement specialist are seeing the formerly incarcerated at their desks, we felt the content of how to write resumes, how to fill out job applications, and how to answer interview questions is a core knowledge base for these folks," Anderson added.
Offenders face several barriers as they reintegrate back to their communities. The two most difficult of these barriers is their lack of secure housing and their lack of knowledge about the work world. The reality of more ex-offenders leaving prison in the coming years is going to play a significant factor in the job market of the future. Helping them find gainful employment will help to keep them working and out of prison for good.
Since 1987 the number of offenders being released from prison has risen sharply. In fact, between 1987 and 1999 the rate of offenders being released from prison has doubled from approximately 290,000 in 1987 to almost 600,000 in 1999. (Bureau of Justice)
Resources:
JCOP Course Description - http://www.nvti.cudenver.edu/training/jcop.htm
Do you need to brush up on your networking and research skills as they relate to veterans' benefits? Maybe you have a new co-worker who needs to learn how to find resources to offer veterans who come to your office? NVTI's Basic Veterans' Benefits (VB) course might be just the resource for you both!
The VB course is offered entirely on-line and is a self-paced training which provides general information about VA benefits and programs. The course is not intended to make any service providers an expert in VA benefits, but rather gives a working knowledge about what is available and how to access it. The course includes reading and research assignments, quizzes, an on-line discussion board and a final exam.
Individual times to complete the course varies. Some participants complete it in as little as 6 total hours, others may need up to 20, depending on workload, etc.
DVOP/LVER, VETS, WIA or other employment service staffs are eligible to complete the course at no charge. Other Federal, military, State, county and local government employees may complete the course on a space-available basis at a tuition fee of $65 per person.
Upcoming course dates are June 13-24, July 11-22 and September 12-23. Each session is limited to 20 participants. First come, first served!
For more information, contact Larry Guerrero - lguerrero@nvti.cudenver.edu at NVTI.
Course Requirements:
1. Computer access - Windows 98, 98 NT or later or MacOs 7.5.1 or later (call for other system requirements)
2. Internet Service Provider
3. Email Account
4. Java Enabled Browser (recommend Microsoft IE 3.0.2 or higher)
Recommend Adobe Acrobat Reader ( free download - http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html )
On December 22 and 23 of last year, Santa Claus visited WorkSource Everett for the fifth consecutive year and distributed toys to an estimated 1,300 deserving children from throughout Snohomish County in Washington State.
The event was coordinated by the WorkSource Everett Veteran's unit staff, which worked in partnership with the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, Arlington Boys and Girls Club and the Alderwood Terrace Rotary Club. Those organizations provided more than 1,500 gifts.
In addition to the efforts of the Veterans Unit and other WorkSource Everett staff, this year's toy distribution project benefited from significant contributions by many others.
Jeff Santana and Allan Dawkins, two men enrolled in the Snohomish County Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project -- A program overseen by the Snohomish County Workforce Development Council and managed by the WorkSource Everett veterans unit -- assisted families and staff throughout the two-day event.
The crowds were huge and just about everyone from Santa to Santana, and Dawkins, lent a helping hand to ensure record-setting success.
"It was exciting," said Santana, a 24-year old Navy veteran seeking employment in shipping and receiving. "I was having fun seeing all the kids. They were happy."
Santana and Dawkins helped direct traffic as children and their families poured in to the WorkSource Everett office and lined up for a chance to visit with Santa.
"This felt good," said Dawkins, a 45-year old Coast Guard veteran. "It kind of took me back to when my own child was a little girl."
In addition to each child receiving a special gift from Santa and his helper's, many of the parents were quietly provided with clothing, books and games for their children.
Patrick Martinez is the LVER who heads the WorkSource Everett Veterans Unit and is the driving force behind the annual event.
"We want to thank the homeless veterans, the vet reps, the work study students, the donor organizations and others who volunteered to participate," Martinez said. "It's been an even bigger success than any of the previous years. Without the partnerships the veterans unit has developed over the years, none of this would be possible. We were very happy we could bring smiles and gifts to the children and their parents."
Other Veterans Unit staff supporting Santa's visit included Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists Greg Lindvig and Bob Mortenson; Homeless Specialists Sandie Moske and Jose Sadile; Program Assistant Jason Allen, and VA Workstudy Thomas Mooney.
Additionally, two very special volunteers in red suits, Workforce Investment Act case manager Fred Siple and community volunteer Dan Hughes, made this event a success.
"You see so many happy people," Siple said. "It just feels great."
At one point on the second day of the toy distribution, a small child jumped down from Santa's lap and hurried away excitedly with a new toy. Suddenly, the child stopped and evoked laughter from the crowd when he called back to the bearded fellow: "Bye Mister Ho-ho-ho!"
"That's why we do this," Martinez said with a smile.
You may review, download or order these resource materials at any time. For video requests you must email the Resource Center at rtac@nvti.cudenver.edu or call (800) 451-5759.
Strategies for Implementing Priority of Service to Veterans in DOL Programs - This 54-page report was prepared by the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., for the Department of Labor. The report provides background information, analysis of current methodologies and presents strategies for the future. The report is available here in PDF format - http://www.nvti.cudenver.edu/resources/resourceLibrary/pdfs/StrategiesPoS.pdf
Dress For Success - This NVTI-developed brief PowerPoint presentation can be utilized to illustrate the differences in styles of dress for types of work. Click to download the slide show here - http://www.nvti.cudenver.edu/TapFacilitator/Resources/PowerPoints/interview_dress-success.ppt
Once the presentation opens, you can go to File > Save As to save a copy of this file to your own computer.
Recommended Employment Web Sites - As our trainers research and compile information for our participants, they come across some good resources. Here's a PDF list that one of the trainers has compiled for your use. Get it here - http://www.nvti.cudenver.edu/resources/resourceLibrary/pdfs/NVTI-recommendsites.pdf
FAQs for Reservists Being Called to Active Duty - The issue of returning Reserve and Guard members is of utmost importance these days with many service members being activated or returning to their employment after military duty. Here's a DOL site to answer basic questions. There are also links there to helpful USERRA information. Link to the site - http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_911_2.html
Three-Hundred-Eighty-Six Strong! - As of the end of February, a total of 386 participants have completed/passed NVTI's Orientation to Veterans Services (e-learning) quiz. NVTI posted the quiz in December 2004. It is strongly suggested for new hires to complete the Orientation before attending the Labor & Employment Specialists course in Denver. Great job, all 386 of you! Link to Orientation - http://www.nvti.cudenver.edu/orientation
New Feature on NVTI's Webpage - In an ongoing effort to provide you with networking opportunities, NVTI has begun a new service on our discussion board called "NVTI Wants to Know...." We put a question out to you on the board and then you respond to it. It's deceptively quick and easy yet provides you with an excellent opportunity to learn what your veterans' service professional peers are doing around the country. Go to the NVTI's Discussion Board - http://www.nvti.cudenver.edu/DiscussionForum/main.htm to check it out. And email us here if you have an issue you'd like feedback on or post the question on the board.
USERRA Poster - Print out a poster from VETS which outlines service member's reemployment rights. Go to http://www.dol.gov/vets .
Print it for your office and direct your employer contacts to it. It's the law! See related article - USERRA Review - in this newsletter.
Disabled Veterans Take to the Slopes at Winter Sports Clinic - More than 350 disabled veterans will ski the Rocky Mountains at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village at Aspen, Coloradp, April 3-8, 2005. The clinic is an annual rehabilitation program open to all U.S. military veterans with spinal cord injuries or disease, visual impairments, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations or other disabilities, who receive care at any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facility. Click here for more information: www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=936
New Veterans Service Coordinator in Puerto Rico -NVTI grad Angel Canals Martinez has been named Puerto Rico's new veterans service coordinator. We're sure he'll do a great job. Congratulations, Angel!
Keep us Up-to-Date too! Every so often we'll hear from an unhappy DVOP/LVER Locator (The Networker) user who tells us how outdated our resource is. We apologize! But it really helps us if when you have an address, phone or email change, you let us know too. And please let us know when we need to remove a name from our list. We're partners in this and want to make it as current as possible! Thanks a bunch. Update us at update@nvti.cudenver.edu
Keep Checking The Buzz - Don't forget to check The Buzz feature on NVTI's homepage. It's a great place to learn about new resources, legislation and other news worthy items we want you to know about. Visit The Buzz - www.nvti.cudenver.edu/home/theBuzz.htm
And what's YOUR good news? Tell us about it at vetsnet@nvti.cudenver.edu
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VETS NET is a communiqué of the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service and is published several times a year by the National Veterans' Training Institute at the University of Colorado at Denver & Health Sciences Center.
Leadership:
Fred Juarbe Jr., Assistant Secretary of Veterans' Employment and Training Service
Stephen A. Chapman, National Veterans' Training Institute Director
VETS NET Staff email: vetsnet@nvti.cudenver.edu
Cheryl Swears
James Deal
Addresses and Telephone Numbers:
US DOL/VETS, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20210; (202) 693-4745
NVTI, 1380 Lawrence St., Ste. 1170, Denver, Colorado 80204; (303) 352-3737
Some hypertext pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations are posted within this e-newsletter. Please be aware that we do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of pointers to particular items in hypertext is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered by the author of the reference or the organization operating the site on which the reference is maintained.
Contact Webmaster - webmaster@nvti.cudenver.edu
National Veterans' Training Institute
ATTN: VETS NET Editor
1380 Lawrence Street / Suite 1170
Denver, CO 80204
email: vetsnet@nvti.cudenver.edu
Phone: 303-352-3737
Tollfree: 800-451-5759
Fax: 303-352-3735
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