Veterans & Military Families program

The Veterans & Military Families program at the Employment Security Department:

  • Manages funding for the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG).

  • Provides guidance to WorkSource administrators and staff working directly with Veterans.

  • Collaborates with community service providers.

 

Four types of veterans program staff

 

 Veteran Service Provider

All WorkSource staff are the first points of contact for veterans and provide basic employment services to all customers.

Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP)

Stationed in WorkSource offices statewide, DVOPs work with veterans with qualifying employment barriers who want individual one-on-one employment services. DVOPs assist veterans in overcoming barriers to reach their employment goals.

Local Veteran Employment Representative (LVER)

LVERs work within their local business community to advocate and develop career opportunities for veterans and eligible persons. This includes working with federal contractors and serving as liaisons between veterans and employers and training providers. LVERs also work to promote our state YesVets program (ANCHOR to YesVets), which recognizes and supports businesses that hire veterans. 

Consolidated Veteran Services Representative (CVSR)

CVSRs perform the combined duties of a DVOP and LVER in their communities.

 

The crucial role of WorkSource

The Veterans & Military Families program and other staff at WorkSource centers are the boots on the ground for serving veterans.

Veterans who need employment services are usually first served through the many programs WorkSource offers; such as, Reemployment Services & Eligibility Assessment (RESEA), WorkFirst and Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I programs. Every program funded by the U.S. Department of Labor is a potential entry point for veterans. 

Veterans or people who are screened and determined as eligible and want individual one-on-one services are referred to the DVOP or CVSR and are offered a comprehensive assessment. The DVOP or CVSR works with the job seeker to create a plan to overcome barriers and challenges to employment and offers consistent support to help them reach their employment goals. 

When a veteran is ready to get a job, the DVOP, CVSR or other staff working with the veteran collaborates with the LVER. The LVER then works with employers to connect those veterans to job opportunities.

WorkSource acts as a bridge, ensuring that veterans and their families receive the support they need to transition successfully into the civilian workforce. Their commitment to veterans is unwavering and their impact is felt across the state.

 

How to refer a veteran or eligible person to a DVOP or CVSR

All veterans and some spouses are eligible for "Priority of Service," which gives them precedence over non-covered persons in obtaining DOL-funded employment and training services. 

ESD's Veterans & Military Families program staff prepared an online training to help WorkSource staff and community partners navigate the referral process by screening veterans and eligible spouses to receive these priority services.

IN-STEP Desk-Aid and Screening Tool

The IN-STEP Desk-Aid and IN-STEP Screening Tool are available to screen active-duty transitioning service members, Veterans, National Guard, Reservists, and their eligible spouses (and caregivers) who seek individual one-on-one services from our DVOP or CVSR specialists.

Watch and listen to our introductory message for WorkSource staff and partners from ESD's Veterans and Military Families program operator on the new tool and desk-aid.

Training for new staff and partners

For new on-boarding WorkSource staff, local workforce development boards, agency partners, and veteran community referral partners, this short training covers both the use of the screening tool and desk-aid: Introduction to the IN-STEP Desk-Aid and Screening Tool.                    

Learn more about "Priority of Service"

If you would like to know more about "Priority of Service," this online training is also taught to all WorkSource staff: Priority-of-Service Training.

 

Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) Procedures

The Department of Labor (DOL) Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) funds three competitive grant programs, collectively referred to as HVRP:

  • Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP): Serves eligible homeless or at- risk for homelessness veterans.
  • Incarcerated Veterans’ Transition Program (IVTP): Serves eligible incarcerated veterans and those transitioning from qualifying correctional institutions who are at-risk of becoming homeless.
  • Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children (HWVHVWC): Serves eligible homeless or at-risk of homelessness for both women veterans and veterans with children.

HVRP is an employment-focused program that provides reemployment and supportive services (job placement, training, career counseling, resumé prep, and retention follow-up) to assist veterans in overcoming barriers to employment.

Determination of Status & Intake

When serving a veteran who has been identified as homeless or at risk of homelessness—whether self-attested, identified by an HVRP grantee, or disclosed during an interview—WorkSource entry point staff must confirm or update the veteran’s demographic information in the State MIS (WA Works). This includes ensuring the veteran and homeless status fields (and any other applicable barriers to employment) are accurately reflected.

Registration on WorkSourceWA.com alone does not constitute enrollment. HVRP participants should meet with WorkSource staff (in person, virtually, or by phone) to learn about and receive applicable staff-assisted services. If, after eligibility screening, and the participant requests individual one-on-one services, WorkSource staff should refer participants to programs they are eligible for.

Co-Enrollment

To support HVRP participants’ access to the full range of available services, WorkSource staff are encouraged to pursue co-enrollment into programs that may benefit the Priority of Service covered veteran. These may include but are not limited to: WIOA Titles I – IV, Basic Food Employment and Training (BFET), Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker (MSFW) programs, Trade Adjustment Assistance, the Veterans and Military Families Program (JVSG), and WorkFirst.

Coordination of Services

HVRP grantees are strongly encouraged to work closely with other service providers to ensure coordinated and unduplicated services. This includes referring participating veterans experiencing homelessness to services available through the local WorkSource system, including Priority of Service to any U.S. Department of Labor funded programs, including Wagner-Peyser, Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG), and Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded programs such as Adult or Dislocated Worker services.

For HVRP participants who are enrolled into case management for any WorkSource eligible program, ongoing communication between the HVRP participant’s case manager and WorkSource case manager is encouraged to support awareness of changes in a participant’s status and to ensure coordination of the full range of services available to homeless veterans, including any reporting of self-attested employment outcomes.

State MIS Documentation

When a veteran is confirmed to be enrolled in HVRP, WorkSource staff and/or case manager must document this in the State MIS (WA Works). This may be recorded as a stand-alone case note entry and/or noted within an applicable comprehensive assessment or case-management service.

  

YesVets initiative

Employment Security Department's (ESD) YesVets hiring initiative recognizes and promotes businesses that hire veterans. Over 7,500 veteran hires have been recognized since 2016. ESD is one of several partners that encourage and support employers in hiring veterans. YesVets benefits both employers and job seekers statewide. For any business that is interested in being part of this initiative, it only requires that a business be interested in hiring veterans. Learn more at YesVets.org.

Hilton Honors Military program

The Hilton Honors Military program gives back. Veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses can receive a lifetime limit of 100,000 points to stay at Hilton hotels when they travel for approved and confirmed employment-related activities.

WorkSource staff and customers: Watch this 6-minute video on the Articulate website to learn how Hilton Honors works. The video explains:

  • How to sign up for a Hilton Honors account.
  • What documents customers need to request points.
  • How to request points.

The video also includes a link to this Microsoft form to apply for Hilton Honors points.

For more information, customers can contact their local WorkSource. Find locations at WorkSourceWA.com/Locator.

WorkSource receives support and funding from the U.S. Department of Labor. Read more about USDOL grants at ESD.wa.gov/usdol.