REAL Success

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REAL Success

• Assuring the success of returning wounded and
  injured servicemembers and their families

Veterans Employment Training Service Office of
Disability Employment Policy
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Overview

• Overview of the REALifelines Program
• Program Mechanics Referral Process
• Main Resources
• REALifelines FL
• Future Direction and Discussion

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REALifelines

• Recovery
• Employment
• Assistance
• Lifelines

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Overview

• The program seeks to support the economic
  recovery and reemployment of transitioning
  wounded and injured service members and their
  families by identifying barriers to employment or
  reemployment and addressing those needs.

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Program Mission

• If you have been wounded or injured serving
  this nation, real people are going to meet you
  face-to-face with the personalized help that you
  may need to recover and to succeed in a career
  that you love.
• Secretary Elaine L. Chao
• To the soldiers and families at
• Walter Reed Army Medical Center,
• October 4, 2004 

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Program Purpose

• This program seeks to support the economic
  recovery and reemployment of transitioning
  wounded and injured service members and their
  families by identifying barriers to employment or
  reemployment and addressing those needs.
• Daniel Nichols, Veterans Employment
  Training Service, USDOL

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Program Goals

• Professional, personalized intervention for
  service members and their families during
  recovery and rehabilitation.
• Early access to job and career service
  professionals in their home towns prior to and
  upon discharge.

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Who do we serve?
Population (All Medical Discharge) 3,000 Very
Severely Injured 35,000 Wounded/Injured Present
Cases 116 What do we track? Family unit no
longer has employment Training needs No closed
Cases
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Mechanics I

• Direct early intervention prior to discharge
• Gateway to Labor systems and services
• Identify individual and family economic, career
  and training needs
• Beginning of case management process

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Present Locations

• Walter Reed Army Medical Center
• National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda)
• Brooke Army Medical Center
• Madigan Army Medical Center
• Expanding to integrate outreach to Community
  Based Health Care OrganizationsNavy Hospitals

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Mechanics II

• National referral to local services
• Direct job matching and employer recruitment

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Local Connections

• Florida Federal REALifelines Coordinator
• DVET Derek Taylor taylor-derek_at_dol.gov
• [phone]

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Local Connections

• REALifelines relays servicemember information
  through the DVET to the state.
• In Best Cases the State identifies a single
  coordinator to monitor action and provide
  follow-up to DVET
• Information provided will include case work to
  date and contact information.
• Each referral should be fully case-managed.

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Mechanics III

• Increasing opportunities to ensure success

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Help for You

• There are 2 dedicated call centers available to
  you and to servicemembers.
• Military Severely Injured Center
• 1-888-774-1361
• Job Accommodation Network
• 1-800-526-7234

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Military Severely Injured Center
1-888-774-1361

• Operated by the Department of Defense
• International supportive services referral
• Will assist with all military, benefits, pay,
  counseling and other supportive services
• For Servicemembers, Veterans and Families only.

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Job Accommodation
1-800-526-7234

• Assure your success
• Help plan solutions around the whole person and
  the family
• Work with employers to develop accommodation
  solutions
• Identify local resources to facilitate workplace
  accommodations

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Responsibilities
1-800-526-7234
1-888-774-1361

• Primary Clients Service Providers / Employers
• Problem Solving
• Refer Supportive Services issues
• Service Provision Follow-up

• Primary clients Servicemembers and families
• Case Management
• Refer Employment and Reemployment issues
• Client Follow-up

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Establishing a State Initiative
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REALifelines KY

• Designate a REALifelines coordinator.
• Get training on workplace effects of Post
  Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Brush-up Case Management Skills
• Support each Hire by educating employers
• Begin to identify employers seeking to hire
  wounded / injured

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REALifelines KY II

• Coordinate with HireVetsFirst Campaign
• Assure Coverage of Medical Holding Companies and
  Community Based HealthCare Organizations
• We can Supply
• Develop state policy for enrollment and reporting

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Reaching Out
Veterans Employment Training Service Office of
Disability Employment Policy
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We have found that

• these men and women and their families need to
  know theyre the first priority
• they like to know their sacrifices and their
  service to our country is appreciated
• their rehabilitation and treatment schedules must
  be acknowledged
• their physical relocation from place to place
  needs to be tracked and,
• documentation is needed on services provided and
  placements achieved in each location where they
  are served.

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We have also found that

• no individual can satisfy all a persons needs on
  their own
• referrals solely to a web page, to a brochure, or
  to a workstation are not good enough service
• the service members barriers and needs should be
  clearly determined
• the best way to ensure success is for everyone to
  be apprised of case progress expect a phone
  call and,
• no professional should ever be reluctant to ask
  for help

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Initial Questions

• How much case work has been completed?
• Job Offers? Case File?
• How much time do you have?
• When will service member be discharged?
• What specific assistance do your clients need?
• Training? Referrals? Accommodation?

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Understanding the need

• What are their Career Aspirations training /
  education plans?
• Interest in federal employment?
• Knowledge of VA Vocational Rehabilitation
  benefits?
• Intended geographic destination and contact
  information?
• Interest in state workforce system enrollment?

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Understanding

• Previous employment status?
• Interest in Transition Assistance Program
  attendance?
• Interest in national resume distribution?
• Perceived barriers to economic success?
• Specific services and assistance desired?
• Interest in future follow-up and program
  enrollment?

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What to ask(some answers)

• What are your Career Aspirations training /
  education obtained and planned?
• Interest in federal employment?
• Knowledge of VA Vocational Rehabilitation
  benefits?
• Intended geographic destination and contact
  information?
• Interest in State workforce system enrollment?

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Also find out(other info points)

• Previous employment/current economic status?
• Interest in Transition Assistance Program
  attendance?
• Interest in national resume distribution?
• Perceived barriers to economic success?
• Specific services and assistance desired?
• Interest in future follow-up and program
  enrollment?

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Topics to Cover

• Federal Hiring Authorities for Disabled Veterans
• Introduction to the One Stop Career Center System
• Introduction to the role of DVOP / LVER and
  Federal VETS staff.
• New Federal HireVetsFirst Campaign
  www.HireVetsFirst.gov
• Toll Free Assistance numbers!

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Recent Developments

• Joint Federal Database with DoD.
• Integration with HireVetsFirst national campaign.
• Joint Job Fairs 14 Annual at VA / DoD treatment
  facilities
• MACTOOLS Tools and Franchise offers
• 35 Confirmed Resolutions
• (50-60 estimated)

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Nearing Completion

• Enrollment Forms in OMB Clearance (Sept.
  initial use)
• Web-based assistance tool (November 2005)
• HireVetsFirst.gov - REALifelines user interface
  for Disabled Vets
• Web-Based Profile matching system (2006)

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New Initiatives
National Expansion Programs
REALmentors

• Federal / Private sector enrollment program
• One to One matching for career support during
  transition
• Entrepreneurship and career exploration focus

REALinterns

• Federal Intern-to-hire training program
• Federal hiring and placement program
• Awaiting Federal Legislation

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