Serving Veterans with Disability and Accessibility Needs
Understanding the VR&E Eligibility Process
In this training, VA Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) staff fully describe the eligibility and entitlement process for veterans requesting assistance under the Chapter 31 program. You will learn about the mission and purpose of the VR&E program, learn about the 5 tracks of employment offered to participants once found entitled to Chapter 31 benefits, and better understand how VR&E participants are evaluated to determine the best plan for vocational rehabilitation. You will also learn about various special employment programs offered under VR&E and special hiring authorities within the federal government that VR&E participants may be eligible for. This video was not created by NVTI. For questions please contact: Timothy Johnston, MS, CRC; Supervisor of Employment Services, Veteran Readiness and Employment, timothy.johnston@va.gov, (202)461-9627.
A Brief History of the Disability Rights Movement
This website provides a brief history of the disability rights movement, starting from the mid 1900s through today.
https://www.adl.org/education/resources/backgrounders/disability-rights-movement
ABILITY Jobs
ABILITY Jobs provides a free service for people with disabilities to search for jobs online and to post resumes that companies can browse. Charges a fee to employers for posting their employment opportunities and for advertising online.
www.abilityjobs.com
Accommodations: Resources and Strategies to Help Veterans with Disabilities Obtain Employment Accommodations: Resources and Strategies to Help Veterans with Disabilities Obtain Employment is a webinar that is designed to provide veterans’ service providers staff with a better understanding of how workplace accommodations can assist job-seeking veterans. This webinar discusses accommodation solutions that will help you have informed conversations with job-seeking veterans and employers. https://www.nvti.org/Resources/webinars
ADA Amendments Act 2008
ADA Amendments Act 2008 was enacted on September 25, 2008 and became effective on January 1, 2009. This version of the ADA made significant edits to the “disability” definition. Additionally, it emphasized that physical or mental disabilities in no way diminish a person’s right to fully participate in all aspects of society.
https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/ada-amendments-act-2008 and
https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/americans-disabilities-act-amendments-act-2008
ADA Amendments Act 2010
ADA Amendments Act 2010 became effective on March 15, 2011, and includes the adoption of updated ADA Standards for Accessible Design for public facilities. In enacting the ADA amendments, Congress made it easier for an individual seeking protection under the ADA to establish that they have a disability within the meaning of the statute.
https://www.ada.gov/2010_regs.htm
Adapted Housing Grants
Adapted Housing Grants from the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) offers housing grants for veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities so they can buy or change a home to meet their needs and live more independently. Changing a home might involve installing ramps or widening doorways. To check eligibility and how to apply, visit:
https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants/how-to-apply/ and https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/disability-housing-grants/
American’s Recovery: Labor Market Characteristics of People with a Disability
This report provides labor market data regarding disabilities in the workplace.
https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2021/labor-market-characteristics-of-people-with-a-disability/pdf/labor-market-characteristics-of-people-with-a-disability.pdf
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became a law on July 26, 1990. It is one of the most thorough documents for civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination. This legislation ensures people with disability and accessibility needs have the same access as everyone else to participate in a fulfilling life, such as employment and purchasing opportunities and equal access to state and local government programs and related services.
https://www.ada.gov/ada_intro.htm
America Serves
America Serves is a resource that connects veterans with community agencies that can address the specific needs of the veteran. America Serves is supported by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF).
https://americaserves.org/
Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1
Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1 was written by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The report includes various statistics regarding homelessness in the United States.
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/hud_no_21_041
Benefits.gov
Benefits.gov provides an innovative, technology-based solution to benefit information delivery. Today, millions of citizens have easy, online access to information from across multiple Federal agencies on Benefits.gov. Beneficiaries include U.S. citizens, businesses, and Federal and state government entities.
https://www.benefits.gov/
CalVet Department of Veterans Services
CalVet Department of Veterans Services is committed to ensuring all Veterans have access to and receive the benefits they have earned without regard to sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability. The Minority Veterans Division promotes the use of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, programs, and services. They advocate on behalf of veterans by identifying gaps in services and by making recommendations to improve service. They support and initiate activities that educate and sensitize the public to the unique needs of our Veterans with disability and accessibility needs.
https://www.calvet.ca.gov/calvet-programs/veteran-services
Career One Stop
Career One Stop is a program of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, that assists individuals in search of jobs, training, and contact information for local job centers.
www.careeronestop.org
Career One Stop’s Veteran and Military Transition Center
Career One Stop’s Veteran and Military Transition Center provides a centralized resource for serving the employment needs of disabled veterans and the employers interested in hiring them.
https://www.careeronestop.org/Veterans/default.aspx
Careers for People with Disabilities
Careers for People with Disabilities helps individuals with learning, intellectual, developmental, psychiatric, and/or physical disabilities find jobs by providing extensive on-the-job training and ongoing support services.
https://careerssupportsolutions.org
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed by U.S. Congress as a result of the U.S. Civil Rights movement in the 1950s-1960s. This Act prohibits discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/oasam/civil-rights-center/statutes/civil-rights-act-of-1964#
Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS)
Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) works with veterans in communities across the U.S., tapping their unique skills and leadership abilities to tackle assignments ranging from disaster response and mentoring at-risk youth to building homes and helping soldiers returning from war.
https://www.nvti.org/News-and-Announcements/Featured-Articles/Improving-Job-Retention-for-Veterans-with-Challenges
Customized Employment
Customized Employment is a strategy within Title IV of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It is a process for achieving competitive integrated employment or self-employment through a relationship between employee and employer that is personalized to meet the needs of both. Customized employment is a universal strategy that benefits many people, including people with disabilities who might not have found success through other employment strategies. The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) helps American Job Centers incorporate customized employment services into their offerings.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/program-areas/customized-employment
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) offers numerous programs to strengthen the health resources available to individuals with disability and accessibility needs. Look for programs that can impact your veteran clients and provide you with opportunities to expand your professional development through Cultural Competency training and awareness of family violence, HIV/AIDS care, and aging resources.
https://www.hhs.gov/programs/index.html
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mission is to give every person and family access to a safe, secure, and affordable home including ensuring
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mission is to give every person and family access to a safe, secure, and affordable home including ensuring fair and equal access to housing for all Americans, regardless of their disability or accessibility need. HUD is working to promote, strengthen, and create opportunities for inclusion in its federal programs and regulations.
https://www.hud.gov/
Department of Labor (DOL)
The Department of Labor (DOL) offers the following programs and services:
- Transition Assistance Program (TAP): This program provides information, tools, and training to ensure service members and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/tap - Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG): This program provides federal funding, through a formula grant, to 54 SWAs to hire dedicated staff to provide individualized career and training-related services to veterans and eligible persons with significant barriers to employment and to assist employers in filling their workforce needs to with job-seeking veterans.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/grants/state/jvsg - Employment and Training Administration (ETA): The ETA administers federal government job training, apprenticeship and worker dislocation programs, federal grants to states for public employment service programs, and unemployment insurance benefits. These services are primarily provided through state and local workforce development systems.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta - American Jobs Centers (AJCs) and Career One Stops: Located in all states and territories, the network of nearly 2,500 AJCs provides a wide array of employment-related services.
https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/american-job-centers.aspx - Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP): Employment-focused competitive grant program of the DOL Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), the only federal grant to focus exclusively on competitive employment for homeless veterans.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/hvrp - National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI): NVTI provides specialized training and professional skills enhancement for veterans’ service providers’ staff. Focusing primarily on training individuals who help veterans secure long-term employment, NVTI is committed to ensuring those who are tasked with this critical responsibility have the knowledge and tools necessary to perform their jobs effectively.
https://www.nvti.org/
Disability and Health Inclusion Strategies
Disability and Health Inclusion Strategies is a report written by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately one in four adults (25.7%) in the United States, or 61 million people, reports living with at least one disability. For this current population survey, a person with a disability is someone who has physical, mental, or emotional conditions that cause serious difficulty with their daily activities. To determine the statistic, the survey asked six questions to identify people with disabilities per individual 15 years or older in the household.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability-strategies.html
Disability of Veterans Report
Disability of Veterans is a report published in 2016 by the U.S. Census Bureau. It explains various disabilities and provides statical data.
https://www.census.gov/library/working-papers/2016/demo/Holder-2016-01.html
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families. DAV is dedicated to empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity. They ensure veterans and their families can access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of American’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, and educating the public about the great sacrifice and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
https://www.dav.org/
Disabled Veterans and Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities: Are They the Same
Monthly Labor Review article published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This article features information regarding disability explanations from the American Community Survey (ACS) of the U. S. Census Bureau.
https://www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2016/beyond-bls/pdf/disabled-veterans-and-veterans-with-service-connected-disabilities-are-they-the-same.pdf
DoD Shared List
DoD Shared List is a user- friendly database where qualified job seekers with disabilities, who are eligible for employment under the Schedule A Hiring Authority, can post their resume and credentials to be considered for priority employment with the Federal Government.
https://sl.dodsharedlist.com
Economic News Release—Employment Situation of Veterans Summary
Article published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data for this article was obtained from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly sample survey of about 60,000 eligible households that provides data on employment, unemployment, and persons not in the labor force in the United States. Data about veterans are collected monthly in the CPS; these monthly data are the source of the 2021 annual averages presented in this news release.
For a summary, visit: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/vet.nr0.htm
To see the full report, visit: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/vet.pdf
For frequently asked questions regarding the labor force statistics from the Current Population Survey, visit https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsdisability_faq.htm#Identified
Economic News Release—Table
Economic News Release—Table shows data pertaining to employment status of veterans 18 years and over by presence of service-connected disability, reported disability rating, period of service, and sex, from August 2021 https://www.bls.gov/news.release/vet.t07.htm
Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
Employer Assistance & Recruiting Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN), a DOL-sponsored, cost-free referral and technical assistance service, connects employers who have job vacancies to employment service providers that have direct access to job-ready individuals with disabilities, and helps employers in locating appropriate organizations and information as they seek to hire qualified candidates with disabilities.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/resources/earn
Enhancing Health and Independent Living for Veterans with Disabilities by Leveraging Community-based Resources
The number of US veterans with disabilities has increased in recent years as service members have returned home with extensive injuries and veterans from previous wars acquire functional limitations as a consequence of aging with chronic diseases. Veterans with severe disabilities need assistance and support to maintain independence at home and to avoid institutionalization. The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) strives to network with community organizations to achieve the best possible outcomes for veterans.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28182140/
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV)
Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ (IVMF) Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) program offers experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management for veterans with disabilities.
https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/entrepreneurship/start-up/ebv/
Feds Hire Vets
Feds Hire Vets is a federal government program. Managed by the Office of Personnel Management, Feds Hire Vets is a single site for federal employment information for veterans, transitioning military service members, their families, and federal hiring officials.
https://www.fedshirevets.gov/
Guided Group Discovery Guide – Veterans Edition
Guided Group Discovery Guide – Veterans Edition is designed to train people to facilitate Guided Group Discovery sessions with veterans, people with disabilities, and/or others who experience barriers to employment. LEAD Center has supported pilot projects implementing Guided Group Discovery in American Job Centers (also known as One-Stop Career Centers) in collaboration with a variety of partners, including Veterans services, vocational rehabilitation, developmental disabilities, behavioral health, Centers for Independent Living, homeless services providers, and others. By facilitating groups with partners, job seekers can get support from multiple systems and the agencies can leverage each other’s resources.
https://leadcenter.org/resources/guided-group-discovery-veterans-edition-facilitator-guide-2/
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.
https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html
Highlighting Disability/Poverty Connection, NCD Urges Congress to Alter Federal Policies That Disadvantage People with Disabilities
Report that addresses why people with disabilities are often destined to live in poverty and experience high unemployment despite existing federal regulations and public policies that were intended to improve their lives. the report asserts that the basic needs for people with disabilities go beyond what is covered in the official u.s. definition of poverty and that a new definition of poverty could help highlight the financial challenges facing people with disabilities and influence changes in policy.
https://ncd.gov/newsroom/2017/disability-poverty-connection-2017-progress-report-release
HIPPA
HIPAA is a federal law that requires the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed. The websites below provide additional information about this law.
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html - HIPAA for Individuals
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/index.html - HIPPA Information (Office of General Counsel)
https://www.va.gov/ogc/hipaa.asp - VA Privacy Service
https://www.oprm.va.gov/resources.aspx
Homelessness In America: Focus on Chronic Homelessness Among People with Disabilities
Report from the u.s. interagency council on homelessness. it contains data and information that provides data for who is at risk of homelessness and who experiences homelessness.
https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/homelessness-in-america-focus-on-chronic.pdf
Improving Job Retention for Veterans with Challenges
Article that explores a few key elements of job retention, job matching, and job retention planning for veterans with disability needs.
https://www.nvti.org/news-and-announcements/featured-articles/improving-job-retention-for-veterans-with-challenges
Increasing The Physical Accessibility of Health Care Facilities
Government pamphlet published by centers for Medicaid and Medicare, cites studies that found that while progress has been made toward improving accessibility into and within medical buildings, patients continue to confront many barriers inside physician suites.
https://www.cms.gov/about-cms/agency-information/omh/downloads/issue-brief-physical-accessibilitybrief.pdf
Individual Placement and Support Program (IPS) Employment Center
Individual Placement and Support Program (IPS) Employment Center is evidence-based and program services based on each job seeker’s preferences and choices. employment specialists systematically visit employers, who are selected based on the job seeker’s preferences, to learn about their business requirements, and hiring needs. ips uses a rapid job search approach to help job seekers obtain jobs (rather than completing assessments, training, and counseling). the first face-to-face contact with the employer usually occurs within 30 days. vha vocational rehabilitation service offers ips supported employment at all va medical centers.
https://ipsworks.org/index.php/about-us-2/
Institute For Veteran & Military Families (IVMF)
Institute For Veteran & Military Families (IVMF) is a national leader in veteran research and analytics, located within syracuse university. ivmf provides actionable insights enabling other organizations to improve their service to veterans, active military, and their families. ivmf also helps veterans and their families find meaningful employment, entrepreneurship, and community service opportunities.
https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
Job Accommodation Network (JAN), funded by the department of labor’s (dol) office of disability employment policy (odep), jan is a leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. jan helps people with disabilities enhance their employability and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace by working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee.
https://askjan.org/a-to-z.cfm
Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs (MH RRTPS)
Designed to provide state-of-the-art, high-quality residential rehabilitation and treatment services for veterans with multiple and severe medical conditions, mental illness, addiction, or psychosocial deficits. the mh rrtp identifies and addresses goals of rehabilitation, recovery, health maintenance, improved quality of life, and community integration in addition to specific treatment of medical conditions, mental illnesses, addictive disorders, and homelessness.
https://www.va.gov/homeless/dchv.asp
MilConnect Portal
MilConnect Portal is an online location where service members can request their dd214, dd215, report of separation, or other release papers. the milconnect portal is available online at: https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/
Military.com: Your 2023 State Veteran Benefits
Military.com has compiled a link on their website titled “Your 2023 State Veterans Benefits”. State benefits range from free college and employment resources to free hunting and fishing licenses for veterans. Most states also offer tax breaks for their veterans and specialized license plates, some states even provide their veterans with cash bonuses just for serving in the military.
https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/state-veterans-benefits-directory.html
Most Common Diagnosed Conditions Among Veterans Using VHA by Race/Ethnicity
Report published in 2014 by the department of veterans affairs (va) office of health equity (vha). the report outlines, by age-groups, the top five most common diagnosed conditions that veterans experience.
https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/vha.office.of.health.equity/viz/conditionsbyre/dashboard1
My Next Move
My Next Move is an online tool to translate military skills into civilian careers. it can help the employment specialist and the veteran translate a jargon-filled resume into a relevant resume for civilian positions
https://www.mynextmove.org/
National Center for PTSD
National Center for PTSD is the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on ptsd and traumatic stress.
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
National Council on Disability
National Council on Disability is an independent federal agency committed to disability policy leadership since 1978. Its mission is to be a trusted advisor regarding disability policies, programs, procedures, and practices that enhance equal opportunity for veterans with disability needs. It also produces numerous beneficial reports. https://ncd.gov/about
For information about their publications, visit https://ncd.gov/publications/2009/March042009.
For information about their progress reports, visit https://ncd.gov/sites/default/files/NCD_A%20Progress%20Report_508.pdf
National Library Service
National Library Service, hosted by the Library of Congress, provides numerous resources to help individuals with blindness and vision impairments.
For the Blind and Print Disabled News Release, visit https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/vet.pdf
For the Blind and Print Disabled Library of Congress Resources, visit https://www.loc.gov/nls/resources/
National Resource Directory
National Resource Directory is a searchable database of resources vetted for service members, veterans, family members, and caregivers.
https://nrd.gov/
National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report 2021, published by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Includes findings from the most recent analysis of veteran suicide data from 2001-2019. The report contains the most comprehensive set of data about veteran suicide mortality to date.
https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/94358/2021-national-veteran-suicide-prevention-annual-report-shows-decrease-in-veteran-suicides/
Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act (No FEAR Act)
The No FEAR Act became law on May 15, 2022. One of the main purposes for this Act is to require that federal agencies be accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Congress found that agencies cannot be run effectively if those agencies practice or tolerate discrimination. The No FEAR Act also requires federal agencies to provide antidiscrimination, whistleblower protection, and retaliation law information to federal employees, former federal employees, and anyone seeking employment with the federal government.
https://ferc.gov/no-fear-act
Office of Inspector General (OIG) Determination of Veterans Health Administration’s Occupational Staffing Shortages Report
Details a minimum of five clinical and five nonclinical Veterans Health Administration (VHA) occupations with the largest staffing shortages within each VHA medical center (facility).
https://www.va.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-20-01249-259.pdf
O*NET Online
O*NET Online offers occupation searches and various career inventories.
https://www.onetonline.org/
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is a congressionally chartered veterans service organization founded in 1946, PVA has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of their members who are veterans of the armed forces who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction.
www.pva.org
Persons with a Disability: Labor Force Characteristics
Article published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This article details 2020-2021 employment statistics for people with a disability.
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/disabl.pdf
Prevalence of Disability and Disability Types by Urban – Rural County Classification – United States
Report from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and published on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. This report compares the percentage of adults with disabilities living in urban vs rural U.S. counties.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/features/disability-prevalence-rural-urban.html
Project Headstrong
Project Headstrong is a nonprofit organization that provides no-cost, barrier-free, stigma-free, confidential, evidence-based mental health treatment services for military members, veterans, and their families regardless of service area or discharge status.
https://getheadstrong.org/
Project New Hope
Project New Hope is a New England–based, military-affiliated, resource hub that finds and delivers the wellness resources needed by veterans, servicemembers, their families, and full units that have deployed together. Their network of support allows them the ability to identify and align the appropriate support by wrapping services and resources around the entire family. 2021 initiatives include no-cost retreats for PTS, TBI, MST, LGBTQ+, women veterans, and caregivers.
https://www.projectnewhopema.org/
Protected Veterans Rights
Brochure published by the U.S Department of Labor Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). This brochure contains information regarding employment discrimination, finding employment opportunities, and filing a complaint.
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/regs/compliance/factsheets/FACT_Veterans_Sept16_ENGESQA508c.pdf
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ensures all public physical places (receiving financial assistance from the federal government) were accessible for people with disabilities.
https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/rehabilitation-act-1973
Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN)
Founded in 2009, SWAN has been a key organization that advocates for and supports the needs of both service women and women veterans, regardless of rank, military branch, or years of experience. With over 40,000 nonprofits in America working to serve the needs of military personnel, the majority of the programs are still designed, by default, to meet the needs of men. SWAN’s mission has been to become the nation’s largest, most influential, and effective network of service women and women veterans, acting as their champion, advocate, primary information resource and provider of women-specific services. They are the voice of service women past, present, and future, and are committed to ensuring women veterans receive the opportunities, protections, and respect they deserve. https://www.servicewomensactionnetwork.org/
The 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress
Report published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This 102-page report provides statistics for the various populations of homelessness in the United States. These populations include homeless individuals, homeless families, unaccompanied homeless youth, and homeless veterans.
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2020-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
Those Who Served: America’s Veterans from World War II to the War on Terror
Article published by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to this article, veterans have distinctive health issues related to their military service and are more likely to suffer from trauma related injuries, substance abuse, and mental health disorders than people who never served in the armed forces.
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/acs-43.pdf
Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center (SMVF-TA)
The DHHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) SMVF-TA Center provides technical assistance support to state and territory, military and civilian interagency teams working to strengthen behavioral health systems that assist service members, veterans, and their families.
https://www.samhsa.gov/smvf-ta-center
United States Census Bureau Releases New Report on Veterans
Report that explains data from the 2018 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). SIPP is a nationally representative panel survey that collects information on the short-term dynamics of employment, income, household composition, and eligibility and participation in government assistance programs in calendar year 2017.
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021/veterans-report.html
U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability and Employment Policy (ODEP)
ODEP is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities. ODEP supports numerous programs. One program is helping American Job Centers incorporate customized employment services into their offerings. ODEP supports customized employment through education, outreach, and collaborations that promote the benefits of using customized employment as a workplace flexibility policy. Another program ODEP supports is the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) which is a leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers numerous programs and services. Some of them are the following:
- Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion (ORMDI): The mission of this program is to grow a diverse workforce and cultivate an inclusive work environment where employees are fully engaged and empowered to deliver outstanding services to our nation’s veterans, their families, and beneficiaries.
https://www.va.gov/ormdi/ - VHA Office of Health Equity (OHE): Equitable access to high-quality care for all veterans is a major tenet of the VA healthcare mission. OHE champions the elimination of health disparities and achieving health equity for all veterans. OHE supports the VHA’s vision to provide appropriate individualized healthcare to each veteran in a way that eliminates disparate health outcomes and assures health equity.
https://www.va.gov/healthequity/ - VA Benefits for Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST): VA has special services available to help veterans who experienced MST, including free, confidential counseling and treatment for mental and physical health conditions related to MST. Veterans do not need to have a service-connected disability or injury, and may be able to receive this benefit even if they are not eligible for other VA care; they also do not need to have reported the incidents when they happened or have other documentation that they occurred in order to receive MST services.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/health-needs-conditions/military-sexual-trauma/ - Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E): Formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment and also known as Chapter 31. The VA offers five support-and-services tracks to help veterans find and sustain employment, and to live as independently as possible.
https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab/ - Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program: SSVF was created to promote housing stability among very low-income veteran families who reside in or are transitioning to permanent housing. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives offering supportive services, including outreach, case management, referrals to VA and local resources, and temporary financial assistance.
https://www.va.gov/homeless/ssvf/index.html - Department of Housing and Urban Development–VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program: This program, through a cooperative partnership between HUD and the VA, provides long-term case management, supportive services, and permanent housing support for veterans. Eligible veterans receive VA-provided case management and supportive services to build stability and recovery from physical and mental health, substance use, and functional concerns contributing to or resulting from homelessness. HUD provides Section 8 vouchers designated for HUD-VASH to participating Public Housing Authorities that assist with rent payment. The program’s goals include promoting maximal veteran recovery and independence to sustain permanent housing in the community for the veteran and the veteran’s family. Among VA CoC programs, HUD-VASH enrolls the largest percentage of veterans who have experienced long-term or repeated homelessness.
https://www.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash.asp - VA Community Resource and Referral Centers (CRRCs) provide veterans who are homeless and at risk of homelessness with one-stop access to community-based, multiagency services to promote permanent housing, health and mental health care, career development and access to VA and non-VA benefits.
https://www.va.gov/homeless/crrc.asp
VA’s COVID-19 Announcement
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website devoted to disseminating COVID-19 information and latest data.
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/?utm_source=Homepage&utm_campaign=Coronavirus
VA Resources for Justice-Involved Veterans
Website listing VA Homeless Programs supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For information about the Veterans Justice Outreach Program and contact information for veteran justice outreach specialists in each state, visit:
https://www.va.gov/homeless/vjo.asp#contacts. For information regarding homelessness resources for justice-involved veterans, visit: https://www.va.gov/homeless/reentry.asp
Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA)
VEVRAA became effective on March 24, 2014. VEVRAA prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discrimination in employment against protected veterans. It requires that employers take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain these individuals.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/faqs/vevraa
Veterans Crisis Line
Veterans Crisis Line is a resource for veterans, their families, and friends 24 hours each day, 7 days a week. Confidential, free help is just a phone call away by dialing 1-800-273-8255 and then pressing 1. The Veterans Crisis Line website also offers 24/7 chat and text services too. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in VA benefits or medical care to use this free service.
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
VETS helps veterans reach their full potential. VETS mission is to prepare American’s veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses for meaningful careers.
Veterans Health Library
Veterans Health Library is an online resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. It offers a robust search feature that provides numerous articles and videos for various health related topics.
https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov/142,85190_VA
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Veterans of Foreign Wars offer numerous services and resources specifically for veterans who served in foreign wars. One of their services is to help with filing claims for veterans requesting upgrades or revisions to their military discharge.
https://www.vfw.org/
Veteran Service Officers (VSO)
VSO offers free services to help veterans write and submit benefits claims to the VA. The VSO helps veterans gather the information that supports their claims. Once the claim is filed, they will help veterans track the claim through the system. They can also help veterans file appeals for denied claims.
https://nvf.org/veteran-service-officers/
Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) Program
The VTC model is based on the drug and mental health courts that have existed for nearly 30 years. Unlike traditional criminal courts, the primary purpose of a VTC is not to determine whether a defendant is guilty of an offense, but rather to ensure that the defendant receives treatment to address unmet clinical needs.
https://justiceforvets.org/what-is-a-veterans-treatment-court/
Veterans and the Americans with Disabilities Act: A Guide for Employers, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Technical assistance document that provides guidance to employers regarding several federal laws that provide important protections for veterans with disabilities who are looking for jobs or are already in the workplace.
https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/veterans-and-americans-disabilities-act-guide-employers
Veterans and the Labor Market—Creating Connections for Successful Employment (Part 1) brief
Brief that provides information for local community partners who can serve as the connection point between veterans and employers using publicly available, free or low-cost tools and resources.
https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/ssvf/docs/Veterans_and_the_Labor_Market_Brief6.pdf
Vocational Rehabilitation Resources by State
Vocational Rehabilitation Resources by State are offered by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The RSA provides formula grants to State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (VR) to administer the state VR services, state supported employment services, and independent living services for older individuals who are blind.
https://rsa.ed.gov/about/states
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
WIOA became law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is a landmark legislation designed to strengthen and improve our nation’s public workforce system and help get Americans, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers. Its main goal is to help job seekers acquire gainful employment and to match employers with skilled workers. This partnership helps companies and hiring organizations to be competitive in the global marketplace.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wioa
Your Local VA Search
Your Local VA Search is the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs search engine to find a VA location or in-network community care provider.
https://www.va.gov/find-locations