Western Association of Veterans Vocational Specialists WAVES

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Western Association of
Veterans Vocational Specialists (WAVES)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Chris Olson,
VRE Officer Portland Regional Office
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Department of VA Structure

• Organizational Structure
• Separate Divisions within VBA
• Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
  Jurisdictions
• Regulations and Policies

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Purpose of the VRE Program

• The VA's Vocational Rehabilitation Employment
  (VRE) program provides
• services and assistance to veterans with service
  connected disabilities so they obtain and
  maintain suitable employment, and when needed
  achieve independence in daily living. VRE is an
  employment program.
• Vocational Rehabilitation can include
• college, technical school, on-the-job training,
  or special training at rehabilitation facilities
  to prepare for suitable employment

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Programs of Services

• Assist service-connected disabled veterans obtain
  and maintain suitable employment (Chapter 31).
  
  
• Assist service-connected disabled veterans
  achieve maximum level of independence in daily
  living.
• Provide educational/vocational counseling
  (Chapter 36).
• Provide educational counseling for children and
  widows/spouses of veterans who have a permanent
  and total service connected disability (Chapter
  35).

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Qualifications

• To receive an evaluation for vocational
  rehabilitation
• services
• A Service-Member Must
• Expect to receive a honorable discharge upon
  separation from active duty
• Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation Employment
  Services
• Obtain a memorandum rating from VA
• A Veteran Must
• Have received a honorable or other than
  dishonorable discharge
• Have a VA service-connected disability rating
• Not have exceeded the 12-year eligibility
  requirement
• Apply for Vocational Rehabilitation Employment
  Services

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Basic Benefit Information

• A maximum 48 months of entitlement
• Must be utilized within 12 years from the date of
  initial VA disability rating notification
• Exception for those with a Serious Employment
  Handicap

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How Does VRE Define Suitable Employment?

• Suitable employment
• Must be consistent with veterans aptitudes,
  interests and abilities
• Must not aggravate veterans disability
  conditions
• Must be stable and continuing
• Requires reasonably developed job skills

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Independent Living Program

• If a veterans disabling conditions are such that
  employment is NOT an immediate goal, then VRE
  can provide the services needed to help the
  veteran achieve maximum independence in daily
  living.

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Five Track Employment Model

• Re-employment
• Rapid Access to Employment
• Self-Employment
• Employment through Long Term Services
• Independent Living

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If Veteran is Currently Job Ready.

• VA provides Employment Services
• Utilizing Job Resource Labs for
• Referral to local job resources
• Job seeking strategies
• Assistance with job placement and job development
• www.VetSuccess.gov
• Required tools or equipment for work

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If Veteran Needs Training

• VA provides services that may include
• Vocational evaluation
• Training to prepare for entry-level
  employment in a field/position
• Tuition, required books, fees and supplies
• Subsistence allowance
• On-the-Job Training
• Work Experience

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After Training...

• VA provides Employment Services such as
• Referral to local job resources
• Job seeking strategies
• Assistance with job placement and job
  
• development
• Employment Adjustment Allowance
• Employer Incentives
• Resource room with Internet access
• Required tools or equipment for work

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In addition

• Medical, dental, optical, and mental health
  treatment is provided to assist the veterans in
  completing their rehabilitation plan
• Individual Case Management services to assist
  veterans in completing their rehabilitation plan

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VRE Hot Topics

• Personally Identifiable Information
• Once a term Face-To-Face supervision on campus
• The Post 9/11 Veteran Education Assistance of
  2008
• VA Once and CWINRS Interface
• OEF/OIF Priority Processing

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VRE Service and WAVES

• Provide VA-Form 28-1905 Authorization and
  Certification of Entrance or Reentrance Into
  Rehabilitation and Certification of Status
• Required form for
• Authorizing Education Services
• Certifying Attendance
• Provision of Enrollment Data
• Course Information
• Other Methods of Certifying Enrollment
• VA Once System
• Uses VA Form 22-1999

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Questions Answers

• QA