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January 17, 1997
Veteran's Program Letter No. 6-97
Memorandum for: All Regional Administrators and Directors for Veterans'
Employment and Training and All State Employmnet Security Agency Administrators
(SESAs) and All Regional Administrators, Employment and Training
Administration
From: Preston M. Taylor Jr.
Subject: Government Accounting Office (GAO)
Review of the Disabled Veterans' Outreach
Program (DVOP) and Local Veterans'
Employment Representative (LVER) Program
I. Purpose: To inform VETS' staff and SESAs of the impending GAO review
of the DVOP/LVER Program, the timeline phases, and who will be directly
involved.
II. Background: The House Veterans Affairs Committee has requested that
the GAO undertake a review of the DVOP/LVER Program. VETS understanding is that
the review is to be a "descriptive" review of what DVOPs and LVERs do and their
relationships with other agencies (See Attachment). GAO staff have already
contacted several VETS, staff and made some field visits (Colorado, National
Veterans' Training Institute (NVTI), Pennsylvania, the DV/LV Regional Lead
Center and Massachusetts).
III. Guidance: The next phase of the review involves a survey of all
Directors for Veterans' Employment and Training,(DVET) during December and
January. GAO staff will contact VETS' staff to arrange for the phone
interviews.
The followup phase, scheduled for February and March 1997, will involve
a written survey of all DVOP/LVER staff. Several more site visits will occur
early in the year.
IV. Action: Both VETS' and SESA staff, including DVOPs and LVERS,
involved in the survey, should be prepared to respond fully to GAO inquiries
and requests for information. It is expected that VETS' and SESA staff will be
completely candid when providing the information requested.
V. Inquiries: VETS' staff will be kept informed as schedules are
finalized. DVETs should keep SESA staff apprised of changes as they occur. If
you have any questions about the GAO review contact Ron Benson directly at
(202) 219-9110.
I have every confidence that the interaction between the GAO staff,
VETS' staff and SESA staff will be positive and the review will be helpful.
VI. Expiration: September 30, 1997
Attachment
GAO
United States
General Accounting Office
Washington, D.C. 20548
Health Education and
Human Services Division
December 6, 1996
The Honorable Steve Buyer
Chairman, Subcommittee on Education, Training
Employment, and Housing
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
House of Representatives
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Your letter of April 7, 1995 information on the status of two Department
of Labor programs that provide employment assistance to veterans- Local
Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVERs) and Disabled Veterans' Outreach
Program Specialists (referred to as DVOPs). This letter confirms our commitment
to provide descriptive information on these programs. As agreed with your staff
during our October 28, 1996 meeting, we will complete our work and issue a
written product to you by October 17, 1997. The enclosure sets forth the
understanding reached with your staff on the key aspects of the study.
We look forward to working with you and your staff on this assignment.
If you should have questions, you may contact me on (202) 512-7014 or Sigurd
Nilsen, Assistant Director, on (202) 512-7003.
Sincerely yours,
Carlotta C. Joyner
Director, Education and
Employment Issues
Enclosure
TERMS OF WORK
Veterans' Employment Services Provided by
Local Veterans' Employment Representatives and
Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program Specialists
Code 205320
I. Objective and Key Questions
GAO will provide descriptive information on the status of two DOL
programs that provide employment assistance to veterans-Local Veterans'
Employment Representative (LVERs) and Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program
Specialist (referred to as DVOPs). For both the DVOP and LVER programs, GAO
will examine:
(1) the national funding trend over the last 10-year period;
(2) how funds are allocated;
(3) how performance is measured;
(4) qualifications and characteristics of DVOPs/LVERs;
(5) how DVOP/LVER time is spent ; and
(6) how DVOPs/LVER integrate with other veterans' employment services
including VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling (VR&C).
II. Scope
For national funding trends, we will obtain historical data from 1986
through 1996. For a national perspective on DVOP and LVER program operation, we
will interview national Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
officials; we will also contact national VA officials to obtain information
about the MOU between VETS and VR&C. We will conduct semi-structured
telephone interviews with all 50 states VETS directors (DVETs) to obtain
state-specific information. Additionally, to obtain information from the
DVOP/LVER perspective, we will administer a mail survey to all DVOPs and LVERs.
Further, we will make several site visits to document how DVOPs/LVERs spend
their time and integrate with other veterans' employment services.
III. Methodology
To document the 10-year national funding trend, we will obtain data from
VETS for FY 1996 through FY 1996. To explain how DVOP and LVER funding is
allocated, we will describe the federal funding formula and report on how to
formula is translated into federal funds to states. We will also conduct
semi-structured telephone interviews with all 50 VETS state directors to
determine how and why states may differ on how they spend their DVOP and LVER
allocations and to what extent states supplement federal funding in providing
employment services to veterans. We will also obtain information form state
directors regarding the qualifications form DVOP and LVER positions in each
state.
To report on DVOP/LVER program performance, we will describe the
compliance requirements for DVOP and LVER programs. We will report on the
national quantitative performance standards and whether any states have
additional performance standards for the DVOP/LVER program. We will also
describe the process for monitoring performance and report on states' DVOP LVER
program performance.
Because no data base exists showing the demographics of DVOPs and LVERs,
we will administer a population survey to identify certain characteristics.
This information will provide an overview of DVOP/LVER characteristics on
national basis as well as state-by- state. We will also rely on the DVOP/LVER
population survey and site visits to provide qualitative measures of how DVOPs
and LVERs spend their time and how they integrate with other veterans
employment services such as Vocational Rehabilitation & Counseling.
IV. Product Delivery Date
Our written report will be issued on October 17, 1997.
V. Special Conditions
None.
VI. Reporting on Job Status
We will be available at any time to discuss the assignment with you or
your staff.
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