consortium of michigan educators- april 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Consortium of Michigan
Educators- April 2013
Director, Veterans’ Services Division
Major General, Robert W. Smith lll U.S. Army (Ret.)
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Vision
“A nation is judged by how well it treats its
veterans.” ~ George Washington
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Charge
Work for employers to find and/or match appropriately skilled and trained veterans
for employment opportunities.
Guiding Principles
Assist veterans in making successful transitions to civilian employment, and
certifying post-secondary education and training programs and facilities for
veterans’ educational benefits.
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Commitment
• Veterans have historically given a blank check to
the American people and the US Government
for an amount up to, and including, their lives.
• For the blank check given, while within the
borders of the State of Michigan, the Veterans’
Services Division will make sure any check
cashed for services owed will not bounce.
Veterans’ Services Division
Legal Basis
Department of Labor – USDOL
Title 38 U.S. Code
• Chapter 4102A (DVOW)
• Chapter 4103 (LVER)
Veteran’s Administration – VA
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
VR&E also known as “Chapter 31” of Title 38 U.S. Code
• State Approving Agency, Contract V101 (223C) P-512-7
Funding based on # of active facilities (IHL, NCD, OJT, Apprenticeship)
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“Not Just a Job, But a Career” Mr. West
TRIAGE
JOB READY
ADDITIONAL SCHOOLING DEGREE
CERTIFICATION/LICENSE
HEALTHCARE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
HEALTHCARE
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Top Strategic Goals
• Provide assistance to veterans to obtain employment
and training
• Certify educational and training programs and facilities
• Provide robust, on-going, training programs for Veterans’
Services Division staff
• Develop and enhance communication strategies for
outreach to targeted veterans’ groups and public and
private supporters
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Veterans’ Reintegration
• Separation from active service
– Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
• Guard and Reserve demobilization
– Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
• Penal system releases (military and civilian)
– Incarcerated Veterans’ Program
– Pre-release Counseling and Employment Services
– Veterans’ Court
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Veterans’ Services Division
Central Office Staff
• Expand partnerships with governmental entities, Veterans’ Service Organizations, and other community agencies
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Veterans’ Services Division
Central Office Staff
• Maintain Division Web site
• Outreach through social media (Facebook)
• Manage the State Veterans’ Hotline
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Veterans’ Services Division
Central Office Staff
• Research veteran issues, collect data on returning veterans and develop variety of reports
– Quarterly & Annual JVSG Reports to DOL
- Expenditures
- Activities and Initiatives
- Staffing
- Outcomes
- Success Stories
• Respond to Federal & Governor’s office requests
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VSD Central Office Staff
• Implement legislative mandates and/or provide technical expertise for bill formulation
Public Act 339 10/17/12 Hunting & Fishing License
Public Act 379 12/19/12 Electrician Experience 8k
Public Act 380 12/19/12 Plumber Experience 6k
Public Act 419 12/27/12 Security Guard License
Public Act 473 12/31/12 CDL Skills Test
• Conduct formal compliance reviews, audits/assessments for Federal Departments of DOL and VA
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Veterans’ Employment Representatives
(Field Staff)
• Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist(DVOP) provide case management services, with an emphasis on hard-to-place veterans with barriers to employment.
• Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER) focus on creating and finding job opportunities through networking with employers and other community resources.
• DVOP’s and LVER’s Representatives provide education and training about veterans’ programs to America’s Job Center (MWA) personnel.
Vocational Rehabilitation and
Employment (VR&E)
• Sometimes referred to as Chapter 31 Program
• Veterans with Service Connected Disabilities prepare, find and keep suitable jobs
• Post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school
• Offers services for severely disabled veterans to improve their ability to live as independently as possible
• Offers programs for employer reimbursement for hiring/training of disabled veterans
* In Michigan VRE utilizes the MI SAA approval location for apprenticeships (WEAMS)
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Ongoing Federal and State Programs continued
Federal:
VOW to Hire Heroes Act 2011
Veteran Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
Gold Card
Veterans Skills to Jobs Act of 2012 – H.R. 4155
Institution of Statewide compliance visits for the VA GI Educational Bill Benefits
USDOL Priority of Service
Chamber of Commerce Hire our Heroes, Hero to Hired (H2H) Job Fair
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Veterans Retraining
Assistance Program (VRAP)
• Collaborative partnership between VA and DOL
• Authorized by VOW To Hire Heroes Act
(11/21/11)
• Program runs from July 1, 2012 - March 31, 2014
• Serves up to 99,000 eligible veterans ages 35-60
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VRAP (Continued)
Provides participants VA educational benefits for up to one year of Vocational Training which must:
– Be in a “high demand occupation” identified by DOL
– Be in a community college, vocational or technical school, full time up to 12 months
– Lead to an AA, Non-College Degree, or Certification
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VRAP Eligibility
• Be between the ages of 35 and 60
• Be unemployed on the date of application
• Not enrolled in any Federal or state funded job training during the previous 180 days
• Be in receipt of an other than dishonorable discharge
• Be ineligible for any other VA education program
• Not be in receipt of VA compensation due to individual un-employability
VRAP Counter as of November 29, 2012
Applications Received Applications Approved
79,283 65,597
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VRAP Applications
Veterans began applying as of May 15, 2012:
• Training began July 1, 2012
• Up to 45,000 can enroll from May 15-September 30, 2012 (unused applications will not roll-over)
• Up to 54,000 can enroll from October 1, 2012- October 1, 2013, with training concluding by March 31, 2014
• Applications are available online at the VOW Act website:
http://benefits.va.gov/vow
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Strategic PartnersFederal, State, and County Government
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Services Provided Include:
• Registration for disability and educational benefits
• Work-study programs for college
• Medical care
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Education(VR&E)Chapter 31
• Apprenticeship program approval
• Job Fairs
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Services Provided Include:
• Registration for VA benefits
• Job fairs
• Transitional support
• Educational Scholarships
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Strategic PartnersCommunity
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Outreach Initiatives
• Veterans Hour – Radio Show
• Employer Brochure
• Job Fairs/Stand Downs
• UIA Briefings - Statewide
• Tell Me about a “Veteran” Briefings
• Homeless Veterans
• Blind Veterans
• Native American Veterans
• Vets to Agriculture
• Prisoner Reintegration Program and Penal Reintegration
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State Approving Agency
• SAA is responsible for the evaluation and approval of educational and technical/trade programs for veterans, eligible spouses and their eligible dependents
• Approves sites for academic testing under the Licensing and Certification Approval System (LACAS)
• Updates approved programs and conducts annual site visits to organizations that have veterans or eligible dependents attending
• Conduct compliance visits to ensure proper utilization of GI Bill educational benefits funding
• Approves DOL apprenticeships for GI Bill utilization which provides the veteran supplemental income to raise their remuneration above training wage levels
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State Approving Agency (SAA)
Veterans Education and Training Unit (VEU)
• Program approval may be sought by public and nonpublic organizations that provide a curriculum-based program
• May be institutions of higher learning, non-accredited schools, non-college degree programs, apprenticeship programs, and on-the-job training programs
• Programs must be approved by the SAA before veterans and their eligible dependents can receive educational benefits
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A Veteran Friendly Institution is Good Business Sense
Veteran friendly schools play a major part in the reintegration process for Michigan Veterans and/or veterans
considering a state quality education and future job placement opportunities.
All VA Funded Educational Programs as of 30 September 2012
National 884328 students enrolled
Michigan 9748 students enrolled
Entity 1 PV-NFP 64 Avg.
Entity 2 PB-NFP 340 Avg.
Entity 3 PV-FP 398 Avg.
Post 9/11
National 616494
Michigan 6218
Entity 1 PV-NFP 40 Avg.
Entity 2 PB-NFP 242 Avg.
Entity 3 PV-FP 325 Avg.
Revenue per Student as of July 2010 Data = $ Cash Flow
National 5,310 x 594,237 students = $3.1+ Billion
Michigan 5,975 x 9,748 students = $58 Million
Entity 1 PV-NFP 5,975 x 40 students = $239 Thousand
Entity 2 PB-NFP 5,975 x 242 students = $ 1.5 Million
Entity 3 PV-FP 5,975 x 325 students = $ 2 Million
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Vet Friendly Institutions – Additional Talking Points – 27MAR12
VA Certified by the Michigan State Approving Agency (SAA)
Policy, Procedures and Programs
Applications Process
Employment Outreach (Placement Office)
Advertising of Institution
Job Fairs
Staff familiar with GI Bills and Educational Benefits
Veteran Celebration Events or Observances for faculty, staff and students
Credit Transfer
Military Transcripts
Program or People to Administer
Resource Center
Place/Room
Hot Spot and Computer Hook Up
Bulletin Board Materials (electronic or physical)
Student Veterans Organization such as Student Veterans of America (SVA)
Policy Issue – Number to Start Organization
Club or Organization
Faculty Advisor (Prior Military Best)
Employer
Veteran Hiring Practices for its staff and other positions
Political Activism
Supports State legislation, such as, Holly Hughes proposed an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by
amending section 7 of article VIII, to require each public community and junior college to consider active duty member
and honorably discharged veterans of the armed forces as residents of that college’s district for determining their tuition
rates.
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Veterans are Valuable Assets
• Employers are aware that the success of their
company depends on its assets
• Hiring the Right people will save you time and
money
• Training costs can be reduced
• Veterans are trained to be physically and
mentally fit, which can reduce medical costs
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• Productivity increase substantially,
resulting in higher profit margins!
• Loyalty and Dependability of Veterans are
unsurpassed, reducing turnover costs
• Hire veterans because they are human
capital and may become your most
valuable asset
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Work Opportunity Tax Credits
(Private For-Profit Employers)
• Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge
from active military service under other than
dishonorable conditions
• Qualified Veterans – Must have served on active duty
for more than 180 days or have a service connected
disability
• For more information on the WOTC visit
www.michigan.gov/uia and click on Work opportunity
Tax Credit Program or Call 800 482-2959
• E-mail [email protected]
Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior Tax Credits
Veteran Opportunity to Work Act (VOW)
Target Group % Credit Max Credit
Veteran receiving Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
(extension)40% $2,400
Veteran unemployed for at least 4 weeks
(new)40% $2,400
Veteran unemployed for at least 6 months
(new)40% $5,600
Service Connected Disabled veterans
unemployed for at least 6 months (extension)40% $9,600
Other Service Connected Disabled veterans
(extension)
25% with minimum of
120 hours$3,000
Other Service Connected Disabled veterans
(extension)
40% with minimum of
400 hours$4,800
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Fidelity Bonding
• Created to assist high-risk, but qualified, job seekers who have bona fide offers of employment
• Designed to remove barriers to employment for job seekers who need a second chance
• Provides Fidelity Bond Insurance Free of Charge for employers of certain high-risk employees
• Gives employers an incentive to hire qualified, high risk job seekers who might otherwise be unable to find work
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How does Fidelity Bonding Work?
• Bond coverage is based on the value of the property at risk
• Bonds are issued in $5,000 increments, from $5K to $25K
• Bond insurance carries no deductible amounts
• Insurance is effective on the employee’s first day of employment
• Fidelity Bond is mailed directly to the employer and expires after 6 months. (Employer may purchase continued coverage)
• POC is Mike Prus (517) 335-4316
*For more information go to: www.michigan.gov/fidelitybonding
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What Else Will the Employers
Receive?
The satisfaction of showing your companies’
appreciation for the military veterans who
have served our country!
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FY11 Veterans’ Employment
Representatives’ Benefit to Michigan• Job placements generated by Veterans’ Employment Representatives:
• Total: 7,311
Per Vet Rep: 139
• Michigan payroll generated by Veterans’ Employment Representatives’ placements:
Total: $243.9 millionPer Vet Rep: $4.63 million
• Michigan tax revenue generated by Veterans’ Employment Representatives’
placements:
Total: $5.3 million to $10.6 million
Per Vet Rep: $0.1 million to $0.2 million
• Michigan Unemployment Insurance payments saved due to Veterans’ Employment Representatives’ placements:
Total: $8.2 million to $13.6 millionPer Vet Rep $0.2 million to $0.3 million
• Benefit to Michigan payroll for each Veterans’ Employment Representatives:
$0.2 million to $0.3 million
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Summary
• Veterans’ Services is a division of the State of Michigan government
• Primary Emphasis are Jobs and Job Readiness
• We help Veterans, Eligible Spouses and Michigan Businesses with their employment needs by providing our free services
• There are great tax incentives for companies that employ and retain certain targeted groups of vets
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Contact
• Robert W. Smith III, Major General (Retired)Director, Veterans’ Services Division(517) 241-4224 [email protected]
• Carmela Buchanan, Statewide Training Coordinator
(517) 241-9893 [email protected]
• Website: www.mitalent.org/veterans/
• Email: [email protected]
• http://www.facebook.com/MIVeteransServices
• Veterans Hotline: 800 455-5228
Questions
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