Welcome to VetSuccess Orientation

1. Welcome to VetSuccess Orientation

2. VetSuccess “...let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan....” -President Abraham Lincoln

3. VetSuccess Program Intent • Provide services to assist Veterans and Servicemembers with service-connected disabilities to succeed: • In transition … through services to support transition back to civilian life • At work … through services resulting in suitable employment • On campus … through services to support them during education and training • At home … and in their communities … through services to maximize independence in daily living

4. VetSuccess Eligibility Criteria Veterans: Honorable or other than dishonorable discharge • A final VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or more or memorandum rating of 10% • Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services Active Duty Servicemembers: • Expect to receive a honorable discharge • Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment services • Obtain a VA memorandum rating of 20% or more; or obtain a proposed Disability Evaluation Service (DES) rating

5. VetSuccess Basic Benefit Information • Comprehensive Vocational Assessment • Employment Assistance • Medical Services as needed • Independent Living Services • Personalized Case Management Services

6. VetSuccess Basic Benefit Information • A maximum of 48 months of entitlement for Educational and Vocational training • May utilize vocational rehabilitation benefits within 12 years from the date of initial VA disability rating notification

7. Application Entitlement Decision Evaluation and Planning Tracks Rehabilitated Employment Services VetSuccess Process 218 • Application received (VONAP or 28-1900) • Veteran’s eligibility established • Schedule Veteran for initial counseling appointment if eligible • On-going case management • Provide employment services • VetSuccess.gov • Interview skills • Job placement assistance • Referral to One-Stop Career Center • Identify track • Establish vocational or independent living goal • Define services needed • Develop written plan of services Re-Employment • Conduct VR&E orientation to include Five Tracks Video • Veteran meets with Counselor • Determine employment handicap and serious employment handicap • Conduct vocational evaluation to assess skills, abilities & interests • Determine feasibility for employment Rapid Access To Employment • Suitably employed, or • Improved ability to live independently Self Employment Employment Thru Long-Term Services Independent Living

8. Track Selection 1 Re-employment Track • For individuals separating from active duty, National Guard, or Reserves • Services focused on return to previous employers • Services may include: • Job accommodations • Job modifications • Work adjustment assistance • Consultation with employer

9. Track Selection2 Rapid Access to Employment • For individuals seeking employment: • soon after separation or • who already have the necessary skills to be competitive in the job market • Services mayinclude: • Resume Writing • Interviewing Skills Training • Job accommodations • Refresher Courses • Licensure and Certification • Job Search Assistance • Post-Employment Adjustment Services

10. Track Selection 3 Employment Through Long-Term Services • For individuals needing specialized training and/or education to obtain and maintain suitable employment • Services may include: • Apprenticeships and internships • On-the-Job Training (OJT) • Higher education or vocational training • Tuition/fees/books/tools/supplies • Tutoring • Subsistence allowance • Personalized case management support

11. Track Selection 4 Self-Employment • For individuals who because of their disabilities: • have limited access to traditional employment, • need flexible work schedules, or • a more accommodating work environment • Services may include: • Analysis of viability of business concept • Assistance with development of a business plan • Training in small business operations • Marketing assistance • Guidance on obtaining resources

12. Track Selection 5 Independent Living • For individuals who are not able to work at the current time and need rehabilitation services to live more independently • Services may include: • Comprehensive in-home assessment • Assistive technologies • Independent living skills training • Connection to community-based support services • Personalized case management services • Coordination with VA’s Specially Adapted Housing Program and/or VA’s Home Improvement Structure Assistance Program

13. VetSuccess.gov What is VETSUCCESS.GOV? • Specialized job bank and “Job Central” bank of over 500,000 jobs • National Association of State Workforce Agencies • Direct Employers – Fortune 500 companies • Job resource tools • resume builder • interviewing skills • career resources • Link to other VA benefits and services • on line application for VR&E – Chapter 31 services • Educational Benefits

14. Programs of Services • Chapter 31 : Services to obtain and maintain suitable employment and/or to achieve maximum level of independence in daily living • Chapter 36: Educational and vocational counseling for • Comprehensive in-home assessment • Assistive technologies • Independent living skills training

15. Programs of Services • Chapter 18: Vocational training and rehabilitation benefits for children born with Spina Bifida of certain veterans who served in Vietnam or Korea • Chapter 35 : Educational counseling for children and widows/spouses of veterans who have a permanent and total service connected disability.

16. WE CARE FOR ALL OF OUR VETERANS

17. INDEPENDENT LIVING The purpose of independent living services is to enable the individual, to the maximum extent possible, to live independently and participate in family and community life. Independent living services are also provided to increase the individual’s potential to return to work by providing services designed to lessen or accommodate the effects of the disability (ies).

18. INDEPENDENT LIVING CRITERIA FOR IL • The individual must have a service connected disability (SCD) rating of at least 20%. 2. The individual must have a serious employment handicap resulting in substantial part from the SCD(s).

19. CRITERIA FOR IL (cont) 3. The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) must determine that the achievement of a vocational goal is not currently reasonably feasible. 4. The individual must have limitations in activities of daily living that impact his/her level of independence.

20. CRITERIA FOR IL (cont) 5. There must be a reasonable likelihood that the services provided will increase the individual’s level of independence. 6. There must be a reasonable likelihood that the gains in independence will continue following completion of the program of independent living services.

21. PLANNING The individual must be found ineligible for needed special equipment, such as home modification to improve access, under other programs and benefits administered by VA before any services can be authorized and provided by VR&E.

22. HOME MODIFICATIONS If the comprehensive evaluation indicates that home modifications are needed to maximize the individual’s independence, the VRC must coordinate those services with other VA programs.

23. HOUSING GRANTS VA has four main grant programs to assist Servicemembers and Veterans with disabilities obtain necessary home modifications 1. Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) Grant 2. Special Housing Adaption (SHA) Grant 3. Temporary Residence Assistance (TRA) Grant 4. Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) Grant

24. SRT Special Restorative Training Purpose: To assist eligible individuals overcome or lessen the effects of a physical or mental health disability and enable attainment of an educational, specialized vocational or other appropriate goal

25. SRT ELIGIBILITY Eligible participants include a dependent child between the ages of 14 and 31 and a spouse, or surviving spouse, who qualifies for Chapter 35 benefits and may need SRT because of a disability.

26. SAMPLE TRAINING Speech and voice correction or retention Language retraining Speech (lip) reading Auditory training Braille reading and writing Training in ambulation One-handed typing Courses at special schools for those with physical or mental health disabilities

27. SOME LIMITATIONS • SRT does not include medical or psychiatric treatment • SRT may not exceed 12 months without prior approval • Services may not be provided in a VA facility • Training must be pursued on a full-time basis • • Services

28. VETSUCCESS ON CAMPUS VSOC is designed to provide on-campus benefits assistance and adjustment counseling to help Veterans complete their college education and prepare them to enter the labor market in viable careers. Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University

29. CONTACT Department of Veterans Affairs VARO/VRE 110 Ninth Avenue S Nashville, TN 37203 Vickie.Blair@va.gov 615-695-6155

30. QUESTIONS????