VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT (VR&E) SERVICE - Western Association of Veterans Education Specialists (WAVES) 2018 Conference

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT (VR&E)
                          SERVICE

      Western Association of Veterans Education Specialists (WAVES)
                             2018 Conference

Briefed by:
Mr. Reginald Gladney
Assistant Director for Oversight and Outreach
July 24, 2018

                          FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY                     1

Overview
• The mission of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
  (VR&E) is to help Veterans with service-connected
  disabilities and an employment barriers prepare for, find,
  and maintain suitable careers, and
   …for Veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe
   that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E
   provides services to improve their ability to live as
   independently as possible (Independent Living program).

• VR&E FY17 Field Authorization 1,376

• As of March 2018 VR&E FTE Assigned, Nationally:

   – o/a 77% are Counselors, or Employment Coordinators

                    FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY                      2

VR&E Achievements 2017
• 132,218 total VR&E participants (down 3.6% since FY16,
  and first drop in 5 Years)
   – Continued to reduce oldest cases during the FY; 17K
     discontinuations

• 15,528 positive outcomes (an 8.2% increase from FY16),
  including
   – 10,460 Employment Rehabilitations (a 6.5% increase from FY16)
   – 779 Education Rehabilitations and 889 Independent Living
     rehabilitations
   – 2,814 Maximum Rehabilitation Gains/Employable (+22.4%)
   – 586 Maximum Rehabilitation Gains/Employed (+12.7%)

                     FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY                         3

Key Services Provided
•   VR&E employs nearly 1,000 professional vocational rehabilitation
    counselors and delivers services through a network of nearly 350 office
    locations

•   Our service delivery model works to support Veterans where they are
    located, and includes operations at 56 regional offices, the National Capital
    Region Benefits Office, approximately 142 out-based offices, 71 Integrated
    Disability Evaluation System (IDES) installations, and 105 VetSuccess on
    Campus (VSOC) schools/sites

•   VSOC
     •   We currently collaborate with105 schools across the country to provide educational
         and vocational counseling and other on-site services to an available population of
         nearly 86,000 student Veterans on campus.

•   IDES
     •   We have expanded early intervention counseling and other available services for
         wounded, ill, injured and other transitioning Servicemembers at 71 military
         installations

                                FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY                                       4

On-Campus Assistance through VSOC
                  VSOC counselors provide:
                       Adjustment counseling to resolve
                         problems interfering with completion of
                         education programs and entrance into
                         employment
                       Vocational testing
                       Educational and career counseling
                         (Chapter 36)
                       Referrals to campus and community
                         resources
                       Support and assistance to all Veterans
                         with VA benefits regardless of
                         entitlement, benefit usage, or enrollment
                         status
                   Nearly 200 schools on Waiting List
                     seeking a VSOC Counselor
                   Criteria and existing site available on VA
                     website
                   Contact by phone at 202-461-9600 or
                     VREOUTREACH.VBACO@va.gov to
                     request information, get status on list.

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Reasons for VSOC contacts in 2017
                   Outreach/Referral
                   Education Service
                   CH31 Inquiry
                   Financial
                   Professional Counseling
                   Accomodations/Mentor/Tutor
                   Employment
                   4%        4%
             5%                               25%
        5%

  10%

 12%

                                                    21%

             14%

                   FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY                6

Educational and Career Counseling
• VA’s education and career counseling program, or Chapter 36 benefits offer a
  wide range of educational and vocational counseling services to
  Servicemembers, Veterans, and dependents who are eligible for one of the VA’s
  educational benefit programs.

• Eligibility:
    Transitioning Servicemembers within 6 months prior to discharge
    Veterans within one year following discharge from active duty
    Any Servicemember/Veteran currently eligible for a VA education benefit
    All current VA education beneficiaries
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's simple to apply. Veterans just need to log in to their eBenefits account at
https://www.ebenefits.va.gov, or open and print VA Form 28-8832 with the
instruction to submit.
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                                     FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational
                       Assistance Act of 2017
VR&E will follow the lead of Education Service for consistency as much as possible.
There are a number of sections that directly impact VR&E while others require
further review before implementation.

Sections that impact VR&E:
• Section 304: Increases the fee provided to institutions for each individual they
   certify up to $16.
• Section 307: Codifies the Veteran Success on Campus (VSOC) program. VR&E
   must provide a report to Congress on the VSOC program within 180 days, and
   each year after.
• Section 402: Extends eligibility period for certain members of the Reserve
   Component who have been recalled to active duty while participating in VR&E
   program.
• Section 501 : VA payments based on basic allowance for housing (BAH) rates
   are no longer protected from the BAH rate reductions. This went into effect for
   individuals who first use their entitlement on our after on January 1, 2018.
    – VR&E Service issued guidance on January 19, 2018 regarding this section of
       the law.

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                            FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY

Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational
                        Assistance Act of 2017

Sections requiring further examination:
• Section 107: Changes the way in which EDU calculates the monthly housing allowance.
   The amendment starts with initial enrollment on or after August 1, 2018.
     – VR&E Service is working with Office of General Counsel (OGC) to determine
       whether to adopt changes as it relates to the VR&E program.
• Section 109 : Restores entitlement to Veterans for schools that close unexpectedly.
     – This created a new section of the law, 38 USC 3699, and CH31 was not included in
       the law. VR&E Service has developed a legislative proposal for FY2020 to see if we
       can be added.
     – However, Section 109 also amended 38 USC 3680, which does impact VR&E by
       allowing us to make subsistence allowance payments for up to 4 weeks per 12
       month period if the school closes temporarily under an Executive Order or due to an
       emergency situation.
• Section 309 : Allows greater flexibility to School Certifying Official (SCO) if the first day of
   a course does not start on the first day of an academic term.
     – We will need to update our guidance on this issue.

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                                 FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY

VR&E Transformation – To Date, Moving Forward
                                       Health/Healthcare with VHA, DOD
  VR&E Transformation                   • Regulation/VHA Directive for
                                          Healthcare for VR&E Clients
                                        • CAPRI Electronic Referrals
                                        • VA Video Connect Tele-
                                          counseling
                                        • Joint Legacy Viewer (DOD-VA)
                                        • Mental Health Collaboration

                                       Digital/Paperless - Update Business Processes
                                                          (Ongoing)
                                         • New Case Mgmt. System with Direct
                                            Connections & Integrations to include
                                            VA Once
                                         • IPPS (e-Invoicing)
                                         • Remote Entitlement Pilot
                                         • Admin Hubs, FBE, Centralized Mail
                                         • Technology Enablers
                                         • Signature Pads, Dragon Dictation, VA
                                            Video Connect Tele-counseling
                                            • Text Messaging

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Conclusion and Way Ahead
 VR&E Participants will Continue to Grow

 Balance Workload/ Caseload (CH31, VSOC, IDES, IL, Other)
      Utilizations of National Service Contract Management

 Consistency of VR&E Service Delivery
    Complete Development, Pilot, and Deploy New Case Management System
     (VRE-CMS)
    The burden on the Veteran, and ensure more accurate information sharing
     Enterprise-Wide
    Other initiatives to become digital /paperless decrease

 Complete Limited IDES/VSOC Realignment (FY18)
      5 IDES to VSOC Counselors; 1 Realignment; 3 Hybrid VSOC/VRCs-Pilot
      Continue to support the VSOC Program while balancing Chapter 31
       workload/caseload

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Additional Information and Resources
•   Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Information
      www.VETS.Gov
      Chapter 36 Educational/Vocational Counseling Application: VA
       Form 28-8832: https://www.vets.gov/education/tools-
       programs/education-career-counseling/

•   VR&E YouTube Videos
      VR&E’s 5 Tracks to Employment:
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWjc8aYPqqg&feature=youtu.b
       e
      VR&E Career Day: My Dad, My Hero:
       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASPqtJWJ-KU
      VR&E Rolling Up My Sleeves:
       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykc6Q3PHfDw
      VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program:
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWLClB5TX_k &
       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bSkspOd_uo

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                        FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY

Q&A

Thanks! For all you do for the VR&E Team, and
                   Veterans.
             FOR VA INTERAL USE ONLY