Veterans may receive reemployment services from trained staff at American Job Centers (AJCs) throughout the state, which include five comprehensive centers and several smaller, affiliate locations. Among the staff are representatives funded by the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) program, which offers specialized services as follows:
- Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialists provide intensive services and facilitate placements to meet the employment needs of individuals who are interested in receiving one or more individualized career services, and meet at least one of the following two criteria:
- Are defined as an eligible veteran or eligible spouse and are experiencing at least one of the qualifying employment barriers defined below; or
- Are members of additional populations eligible for DVOP specialist services as authorized by the current annual appropriations act, as outlined below.
Qualifying Employment Barriers. To receive DVOP services, an eligible veteran or eligible spouse must affirm that they are experiencing at least one of the following employment barriers:
- Has a disability, which may include any of the following:
- Special disabled veteran, defined in 38 U.S.C. § 4211(1) as a veteran who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for a disability rated at 30 percent or more, or rated at 10 or 20 percent in the case of a veteran who has been determined to have a serious employment handicap; or person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
- Disabled veteran, defined in 38 U.S.C. § 4211(3) as a veteran who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
- Other disability. Eligible veterans and eligible persons who self-identify as having a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12102
- Is a Vietnam-era veteran, as defined by 38 U.S.C. § 4211(2) as an eligible veteran any part of whose active military, naval, or air service was during the Vietnam era, as defined by 38 U.S.C. § 101(29).
- Is a recently separated veteran, defined in 38 U.S.C. § 4211(6) as a veteran who was discharged or released from active duty within the last three years.
- Has been referred for employment services by a representative of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Is experiencing homelessness, as defined in Sections 103(a) and (b) of the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. § 11302(a) and (b)).
- Is justice-involved, as defined in WIOA Section 3(38), 29 U.S.C. § 3102(38) (definition of “offender”)
- Is between the ages of 18–24 years of age at the time of enrollment.
- Is educationally disadvantaged, meaning that the individual lacks a high school diploma or equivalent certificate.
- Is economically disadvantaged, which means any of the following: 1) Meets the definition of a low-income individual in WIOA Section 3(36), 29 U.S.C. § 3102(36); 2) Unemployed; 3) Heads of single-parent households containing at least one dependent child.
Additional Populations.
- Transitioning Service Members who, at the time of enrollment, have participated in any part of the Transition Assistance Program, including self-paced online modules and Individualized Initial Counseling.
- Wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces who are receiving treatment in military treatment facilities or warrior transition units.
- Spouses or other family caregivers of those wounded, ill, or injured service members.
DVOP services in the affiliate AJCs are typically available by appointment only. AJC staff will assist veterans and eligible spouses in determining whether they qualify for referral to a DVOP based on information provided when registering in CTHires or completing the DVOP Eligibility Screening Tool. For additional details about some of the above statutory references, refer to form DOL-228A/Veterans Triage Supplement. The DVOP Eligibility Flow Chart helps to explain the DVOP referral process.