American Job Center enrollment for homeless veterans

CLASSIFICATION
   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION                 ES, VETS, WIOA
               ADVISORY SYSTEM                            CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
          U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR                        OWI
             Washington, D.C. 20210                       DATE
                                                          August 4, 2016


ADVISORY:       TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE LETTER NO. 4-16

TO:             STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES
                STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORS
                STATE WORKFORCE LIAISONS
                STATE AND LOCAL WORKFORCE BOARD CHAIRS AND DIRECTORS
                AMERICAN JOB CENTERS
                EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINSTRATION GRANTEES

FROM:           PORTIA WU /s/
                Assistant Secretary
                Employment and Training Administration

                TERESA W. GERTON for MICHAEL H. MICHAUD /s/
                Assistant Secretary
                Veterans’ Employment and Training Service

SUBJECT:        Enrollment of Homeless Veterans Program Participants into a Workforce
                Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Workforce Program at an American
                Job Center (AJC)

1. Purpose. To provide guidance and information on the requirement to have participants of
   the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service’s (VETS)
   homeless veterans programs enroll in WIOA title I workforce programs available through
   AJCs.

2. References.
   • Veterans’ Program Letter 03-16, Enrollment of Homeless Veterans Program Participants
      into a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Workforce Program at an
      American Job Center (AJC), dated July 15, 2016
   • Title 38, United States Code, Sections 2021 et. Seq. and 4103A (38 U.S.C. 2021 et seq.
      and 4103A)

3. Background. The Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) is authorized under
   38 U.S.C. 2021, as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95, the Homeless Veterans
   Comprehensive Assistance Act of 2001. The purpose of the HVRP grant is to provide
   services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the
   labor force and to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will
   address the complex problems facing homeless veterans.


 RESCISSIONS                                             EXPIRATION DATE
 None                                                    Continuing


   The Homeless Female Veterans and Veterans with Families Program (HFVVWF) is
   authorized under 38 U.S.C. 2021A, as added by Section 202(a) of Public Law 111-275, the
   Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2010. The purpose of grants funded under HFVVWF is to provide
   job training, counseling, placement services, and child care services to expedite the
   reintegration of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children into the labor
   force.

   The Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IVTP) is authorized under 38 U.S.C. 2023,
   as added by Section 5 of Public Law 107-95. The purpose of the IVTP grant is likewise to
   provide referral and counseling services to assist veterans, who are at risk of homelessness as
   they transition from institutional living.

   HVRP, HFVVWF, and IVTP (collectively, “homeless veterans programs”) are the primary
   programs through which VETS administers grant funding to support employment
   opportunities for homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness. The Department of
   Labor also serves veterans through WIOA title I programs, the Wagner-Peyser Act
   Employment Service (ES), and the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG) program. Through
   JVSG in particular, Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists, authorized
   under 38 U.S.C. 4103A, provide intensive services to veterans with significant barriers to
   employment, including homeless veterans.

   In late 2009, the White House and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced an
   ambitious goal to end veteran homelessness. The plan to address this urgent national priority
   was outlined in 2010’s Opening Doors, https://www.usich.gov/opening-doors, the first-ever
   federal strategic plan to end veteran homelessness. Together with partners nationwide, the
   VA launched the End Veterans’ Homelessness initiative, an unprecedented effort to make
   sure veterans are able to obtain permanent housing and that veterans at risk of homelessness
   remain housed. One effort related to this partnership is to connect homeless veterans with
   workforce programs available at the AJCs to ensure they receive appropriate workforce
   services. Being connected to the labor market is one step towards self-sufficiency, including
   the attainment of affordable housing.

4. Policy and Guidance. Beginning in Program Year (PY) 2016, VETS will require the
   grantees serving homeless veterans to enroll all participants in the public workforce system
   through the local AJC while these participants are receiving services through VETS’
   homeless veterans program grantees. This is to create a sustainable partnership in which
   grantees understand each other’s services and participants’ employment needs are met.
   Grantees can find the closest AJCs here, http://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/local-
   help.aspx. Note that each state may refer to an AJC with a unique brand or name.
   Enrollment of homeless veterans program participants in the public workforce system
   through the local AJC occurs, for the purpose of this initiative, when the homeless veterans
   program participant receives a Wagner-Peyser Act-funded ES, a JVSG-funded DVOP
   service or another WIOA title I-funded service, such as WIOA title I services for adults or
   dislocated workers. Many homeless veterans program grantees are already utilizing AJC
   services for their participants, and all grantees must begin implementation of this practice as
   of the effective date of this guidance. Homeless veterans program grantees are responsible
   for working with appropriate ES, JVSG and WIOA title I staff in the local AJC to facilitate
   the enrollment of homeless veterans program participants.


    It is important to underscore that homeless veterans meet the criterion of having a
    “significant barrier to employment” consistent with TEGL 19-13 and VPL 03-14 and must
    be immediately referred to a DVOP specialist or, in instances where a DVOP specialist is not
    available, another AJC provider of individualized career services when the participant is
    enrolled in an AJC. 1   0F


    Please note that homeless veterans program grantees must enroll their participants into ES,
    JVSG or WIOA title I services according to the service strategy and timeline outlined in each
    individual service plan. The Department requires both AJC enrollment of homeless veterans
    program participants and the receipt of ES, JVSG or WIOA title I services by all participants
    to occur during the period of performance outlined in the homeless veterans program grant
    award terms and conditions, including homeless veterans.

    Although many VETS’ homeless veterans program grantees have already incorporated
    regular AJC staff visits into their service delivery model, all grantees should work
    collaboratively at the local level to ensure the best services are offered to the veterans.

    Minimally, homeless veterans program grantees and the local AJC must coordinate and learn
    about the homeless veterans program services that are offered, as well as the workforce
    services that may benefit the veteran. Such coordination may include the homeless veterans
    program grantee staff making a visit to the local AJC to learn about these services offered.

5. Tracking Services and Outcomes. VETS’ homeless veterans program grantees and WIOA
   programs will continue to collect and report outcomes as required by each program. The
   Department of Labor (DOL) has revised its WIOA Information Collection Requests (ICR)
   that cover data and reporting requirements for WIOA and other workforce programs,
   including ES and JVSG. This integrated performance reporting approach will incorporate
   performance reporting for ES, JVSG, and the homeless veterans programs, and other
   programs, and will be used by States and grantees to collect and report performance
   information, such as participant characteristics, services and outcomes.

    DOL has added two new data elements into the new Participant Individual Record Layout
    (PIRL) to ensure homeless veterans program participants are uniquely identified in the state’s
    management information system. Further guidance will explain that the following data
    elements are to be completed for individuals receiving services from one of the homeless
    veterans programs and ES, JVSG or WIOA title I services:

         1. For participants self-identifying as a veteran, a subsequent question will be posed,
            asking if the veteran is homeless and receiving VETS’ homeless veterans program
            services. (Element 309 – “Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program Participant”
            the PIRL)


1. Please note that even if a homeless veterans program participant may not meet the specific definition of homeless
as identified in VPL 03-14 at the time the participant is enrolled at an AJC, the participant will likely qualify for
referral to a DVOP specialist under one of the other categories of veterans with significant barriers to employment.


       2. If the answer is yes, the counselor will be asked to provide the five digit grant number
          of the homeless veterans program grant. (Element 310 – “Homeless Veterans’
          Reintegration Program Grantee” the PIRL)

   Under these reporting elements, a counselor representing the homeless veterans program
   grantee is required to be present when the veteran is enrolling into a workforce program at
   the AJC, to properly answer the questions that will identify the veteran as a participant in a
   homeless veterans program, and provide the 5 digit grant number for element 310 of the
   PIRL. If the responses to the data elements outlined above are not properly reported, the
   veteran will not be identified as a homeless veterans program participant and that veteran’s
   outcomes will not be properly credited to the appropriate grant(s).

6. Action Requested.

   ES, JVSG and WIOA Title I Grantees:
      A. Coordinate with the local homeless veterans program grantees, providing an overview
         of the AJC and the services available.
      B. Partner with local homeless veterans programs to ensure the enrollment of their
         participants into the appropriate AJC workforce programs.

   Homeless Veterans Program Grantees:
     A. Partner with AJCs to properly enroll all homeless veterans program participants into
        an ES, JVSG or WIOA title I program.
     B. Ensure a homeless veterans program grantee counselor is present during the
        enrollment process to facilitate accurate reporting and to facilitate strong working
        relationships with local AJC workforce programs.
     C. Invite local AJC staff to share information on their services and encourage AJC staff
        to learn about the services the homeless veterans program grantee offers.
     D. At the time of employment with the grantee, ensure that new homeless veterans
        program grantee staff members are fully trained on the multitude of AJC services and
        the AJC enrollment requirements.

7. Inquiries. Please address questions to the appropriate ETA Regional Office.