Washtenaw County Department of Veterans Affairs

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1 Washtenaw County Department of Veterans Affairs Our Mission: To provide accurate, efficient and timely service to ensure delivery of benefits to veterans and their families. Our Vision: Our department will be the best provider of veteran services in the nation.

2 Services to veterans are best provided through a local veterans office where veteran programs and assistance are consolidated into an easily accessible one-stop clearing house.

3 Enabling Legislation Public Act 214 of 1899 (MCL ) An Act to provide relief outside of the soldiers home for honorably discharged indigent soldiers, sailors, marines, nurses and members of women s auxiliaries and the indigent wives, widows and minor children of such.. Public Act 235 of 1911 (MCL ) An Act to provide for the payment and reimbursement by counties, in certain cases upon application therefore, of expenses incurred in the burial of bodies of honorably discharged members of the armed forces of the United States and their spouses,.. Public Act 9 of 1946 (MCL ) An Act to create the Michigan veterans trust fund, and to define who shall be eligible to receive assistance therefrom; to provide for the disbursement.. Public Act 192 of 1953 (MCL ) An Act to create a County Department of Veterans Affairs in certain counties, and to prescribe its powers and duties; and to transfer the powers and duties of the Soldiers Relief Commission in such counties. Board of Commissioners Resolution/Letter of Agreement

4 Veterans Survivors Dependents Our Citizen Customers Parents of Indigent Veterans Indigent Spouses/Children of Members on Active Duty Washtenaw County Veteran Population: 17,389 (USDVA 2010) 5 th of 83 Counties

5 Trained and accredited county counselors Initiate, develop and prosecute claims for federal, state and local veterans benefits. Assist veterans to enroll in the USDVA medical care system. Administer the county veterans burial allowance program and assist with other death benefits for veterans survivors. Utilize and coordinate emergency assistance from the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund and County Veterans Relief Fund. Refer veterans and their families to other appropriate programs. May host part-time service from related veterans agencies and other community services.

6 Internal Partners Board of Commissioners Washtenaw County Support Services Washtenaw County Civic Infrastructure Washtenaw County Health Organizations Washtenaw County Planning Washtenaw County Public Safety & Justice Washtenaw County ETCS Group Community Collaborative of Washtenaw County

7 External Partners Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Defense and Service Departments Department of Labor Department of Education National Archives & Records Administration Social Security Administration Veteran Service Organizations Colleges/Universities National Association County Veteran Service Officers MI Association of County Veteran Counselors MI Dept of Military Affairs MI Dept Human Services MI Veterans Trust Fund Community Collaborative Local Vendors/Non-Profit Organizations Washtenaw Housing Alliance

8 Advocacy USDVA VBA NCA VHA MDOL MDMVA NVSO CVSO MVTF MHV VETERAN COMM AGENCY CVSO County Veterans Service Office MDMVA Michigan Department of Military & Veterans Affairs MVTF Michigan Veterans Trust Fund MHV Michigan Homes for Veterans MDOL Michigan Department of Labor NVSO National Veterans Service Organization USDVA US Department of Veterans Affairs VBA Veterans Benefits Administration VHA Veterans Health Administration NCA National Cemetery Administration

9 Benefits For the Veteran/families Financial Service Connected Disability Compensation Non-Service Connected Disability Pension Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Death Pension USDVA and County Burial Benefits State and County Emergency Financial Relief Health USDVA Medical Centers Community Based Outpatient Clinics Vet Centers Education Various USDVA Veterans and Dependents Education benefits Vocational Rehabilitation MI Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Quality of Life National Cemetery Burial Military Records Michigan Veterans Homes

10 Outcomes For the County Community Economy USDVA Total FY2010 Expenditures for Washtenaw County residents - $36.5 million Veterans Relief Fund Emergency Financial Assistance - $114,364 (2010) and $173,949 (2011) Veterans Relief Burial Benefits $26,353 (2010) and $16,536 (2011) MVTF Emergency Grant Program $3,546 (FY 2011) Health USDVA Medical Care (VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System) Quality of Life Federal Non-monetary Benefits Government Marker, US Flag, Military Records, Medals, PMC National Cemeteries Fort Custer National Cemetery Great Lakes National Cemetery State Homes for Veterans

11 Emerging Issues Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)/Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation New Dawn (OND) Use of National Guard/Reserve Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Catastrophically Wounded Draw Down / Employment Homelessness Education Aging Veteran Population (Burials) State Economy (Emergency Relief)

12 Impact of Emerging Issues Total Contacts: , , , , , , ,302

13 US Department of Veterans Affairs Main Foci Plan to End Homelessness - President Obama and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced the federal government s goal to end Veteran homelessness by The Six Pillars of the Homeless Initiative: Community Partnerships Income/Employment/Benefits Housing/Supportive Services Outreach/Education Prevention Treatment Education Post 9/11 GI Bill and VRAP Employment VOW to Hire Heroes

14 Education Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) Very comprehensive education benefit that provides tuition/fees for eligible veterans up to the highest rate of tuition in the state. For Michigan, the rate is based on the University of Michigan at $19, per term. If eligible veterans attend a more expensive school, additional costs can be covered by the Yellow Ribbon Program. Veterans also receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) equivalent to the rate of Active Duty Military Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with Dependents ($1, / Ann Arbor Area) Annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000

15 Education (Continued) VOW to Hire Heroes VRAP (Veterans Retraining Assistance Program) The US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and Department of Labor (DoL) are working together to roll out this new program on July 1, The new program will provide retraining for Veterans hardest hit by current economic conditions (ages 35 60). Participants may receive up to 12 months of assistance at the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month)

16 Employment Gregg Weaver MI DLEG

17 Who is the Office of Community & Economic Development? The Office of Community & Economic Development is the administrative entity that oversees and administers Employment, Training & Community Services programs in Washtenaw County / Michigan Works! Michigan Works! is a customer-driven workforce development system that helps employers find the workers they need and helps job seekers obtain training and jobs that provide economic self-sufficiency.

18 How Do We Help Veteran Job Seekers Our Military Veterans receive Preference and Priority when it comes to the following services: One on One Career Counseling with Veteran Representatives Assistance with Unemployment Filing & Information Early Job Postings/Job Fair Bulletin Board Early access to Employment & Training Focused Workshops Interview Stream (Virtual Video Interviewing) JobFit (Career Aptitude Assessment) Employment & Training Reference Materials Labor Market Information

19 Information and Guidance on Federal Programs Affecting Michigan Veterans U.S. Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Service Lansing, Michigan

20 Agenda Items 1. DOL definition of Veterans Priority of Service 2. Legal responsibilities of Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER) and Disabled Veterans Outreach Worker (DVOW) staff 3. Gold Card initiative 4. U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) definition of Veterans Preference and its application

21 Veterans Preference (VP) Enacted into law under the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) of 1998 VP applies only to Federal employment Congress recognizes the sacrifices of service members and enacted laws to prevent them from being penalized because of time spent in military service Eligible veterans are legally entitled to preference in Federal hiring and during Reductions in Force VP does not: Guarantee a veteran a Federal position Apply to actions after initial hiring (promotions, assignments, etc.)

22 Veterans Priority of Service Often, the terms Priority of Service and Veterans Preference are used interchangeably. This is incorrect. VP applies only to Federal hiring. What is Priority of Service? In an MWA, covered persons are given priority over non-covered persons for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services provided under a qualified job training program. This means that a veteran or an eligible spouse either receives access to a service earlier in time than a non-covered person or, if the resource is limited, the veteran or eligible spouse receives access to the service instead of or before the non-covered person.

23 What is a covered person? A person who served at least one day in the active military and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Active service includes full-time duty in the National Guard or a Reserve component, or at least one day on Title 10 (Federal) orders. Does not include other than full-time duty for training purposes, or Title 32 activations (State call-up for disaster relief, etc.)

24 Eligible Spouse Definition A Spouse is eligible for Priority of Service if: The Veteran died of service connected Disability Service Member is missing, captured or detained Veteran has a total, service connected disability, per VA Evaluation Veteran died while a disability as defined above was in existence Note: Spouse will have documentation from VA regarding their status

25 Veterans Priority of Service The bottom line: If two people are waiting for service at an MWA, and one of them is a Veteran or Eligible Spouse (in other words, a Covered Person ), the Covered Person is served first. This is not a nice thing to do, or done out of respect or pity. It is a legal entitlement in recognition of honorable military service given to our country, as codified in 20 CFR 1010.

26 DVOW Primary Responsibilities The Disabled Veterans Outreach Worker is primarily responsible for providing Intensive Employment Services to those veterans who would otherwise be unable to find employment without the DVOW s services. The Veteran is to be first provided employment services by frontline MWA staff, just as any other customer is, in the MWA, but using the Priority of Service provisions described earlier. If the Veteran is unable to obtain employment through these services and requires more specialized, individual services (Intensive Services), a DVOW may provide them.

27 DVOW Primary Responsibilities (continued) The DVOW must first conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine of the Veteran is in need of, and eligible for, Intensive Services by determining the Veteran s employment goals and barrier(s) preventing him/her from reaching their goal. If suitable, the DVOW MUST develop a written Individual Employment Plan detailing what steps each person (the DVOW and the Veteran) must take in order for the Veteran to obtain his/her goal. Key factors are: Are the barriers something the DVOW can help with, or do they need to refer the Veteran to another agency, such as the VA or other MWA partners? Is the Veteran employable? Is the employment goal (occupation, wage, etc.) realistic for the Veteran and the local area?

28 LVER Primary Responsibilities LVERs are primarily responsible for Business Outreach LVERs educate the employer community regarding the benefits of hiring veterans and developing networks that will promote veteran employment Leadership experience Safety conscience Performance under pressure Teamwork The list is endless!

29 Distinct Roles DVOWs and LVERs each have their own responsibilities DVOWs help veterans overcome the barriers that are preventing them from securing employment, whether it is a poor resume, inadequate interviewing skills, homelessness, or other barriers. LVERs educate employers and also advocate for veterans as a group of highly valuable potential employees. Remember: DVOWs work on behalf of a veteran LVERs work on behalf of all veterans

30 Gold Card Initiative The Gold Card initiative is a joint effort of the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS). Post 9/11 Veterans have a much higher unemployment rate compared to other veterans (29.4% in Michigan, the highest rate in the country) The Gold Card provides unemployed post-9/11 era veterans with the intensive and follow-up services they need to succeed in today's job market.

31 Gold Card

32 My Next Move for Veterans Part of the Gold Card initiative Search engine where veterans enter their prior military experience (branch of service and military occupation code or title) and link to the information they need to explore information on civilian careers and related training Includes information they can use to write resumes that highlight related civilian skills

33 Contact Information The Michigan office of the Veterans Employment and Training Service can be reached at: Phone: Fax: Victor Office Center 201 N. Washington Square, Suite 120 Lansing, MI 48933

34 Other Federal Government Initiatives Veterans Job Bank My Next Move Hero 2 Hired US Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes Hosted event in Dearborn MI on April 11, 2012 from 11:00am to 3:00pm Milicruit Military Spouse Employment Partnership VetSuccess National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo June 25-29, 2012 Detroit MI COBO Center

35 VOW To Hire Heroes Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of An aggressive plan to attack the high rate of unemployment amongst veterans by: Expanding Education & Training Improving the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Facilitating Seamless Transition Translating Military Skills and Training Veterans Tax Credits Tax Credits - Offers Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to employers who hire qualified eligible veterans

36 Housing Julie Steiner Washtenaw Housing Alliance HUD VASH Vouchers 120 HUD VA Supportive Housing vouchers in Washtenaw County. Provided for homeless veterans who receive 2 years of supportive services from the VA Homeless Veterans Program based at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. Washtenaw Housing Alliance Veterans Haven Of Hope House (Salvation Army) Home Zone and Whispering Creek (Michigan Ability Partners)

37 Housing - Continued Washtenaw Housing Alliance Homeless Veterans Task Force Formed in the middle of 2011 and resulted in the first Washtenaw County Homeless Veterans Stand Down conducted Saturday February 18, 2012 at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) Homeless Veterans Stand Down tentatively scheduled for October 25-26, 2012 (Planning Stages) Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) at the VAAAHS and other VA Medical Centers Homeless Veterans Program Coordinator is Shawn Dowling

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