DLIS Logo
Project Compass Workforce Recovery
November 2012
Quick Links...
Upcoming Events
Returning Balance to Your Life

 

December 3, 2012

10:30-11:30 a.m.

and

December 6, 2012

2:00-3:00 p.m.

 

Do you dread the hustle-bustle of the holidays? Already feeling out-of-balance and they aren't even here yet? How do we achieve balance? Attend this eye-opening two-part webinar series, where you'll learn how to take back control of your life.

 

Instructor Linda Bruno.

 

Register here.

SAVE THE DATE!

 

Greetings from Florida - Florida Library Snapshot Day

 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Greetings! 

 

During the month of November we honor the men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces.

 

Figures released in early October show that the national unemployment rate for all veterans was 6.7 percent -- more than a full percentage point lower than the national average.

 

Although the numbers show a definite downward trend, there are still 81,000 unemployed veterans in Florida who may need libraries to search for employment and benefits. This month's newsletter focuses on some of those resources available specifically for these patrons.

 

Please let me know if I can help you with your efforts, and don't forget to share your ideas and resources on the Project Compass Florida website.

  

Pam Thompson
850.245.6633 

FDVA Launches New Outreach Campaign to Connect Veterans with Earned Benefits
  

Florida veterans may be missing out on millions of dollars in benefits to which they are entitled, so the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA) has launched a statewide multimedia campaign to connect them with federal and state benefits and services they have earned.

 

Florida's 1.6 million veterans range from the nation's largest population of World War II vets to those returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.  Just as the state's veteran population spans the generations, so does the outreach campaign - utilizing everything from traditional newspaper ads and displays to a new website and smart phone app.

 

"Some of Florida's veterans fought for our freedom in the days before television while others never knew a time without personal computers, yet they all share the admiration of a grateful nation," said Mike Prendergast, executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.  "If they aren't receiving the benefits and services they rightfully earned, we must use every approach available to reach them and set things right."

 

Currently, Florida veterans draw down more than $13.7 billion a year in federal compensation, education and pension benefits, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical services and military retired pay, but agency leaders say veterans are leaving millions more on the table.

 

For example, of Florida's 1.6 million veterans, only 260,000 are receiving service-related compensation or pension from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

In addition, many of Florida's 449,000 Vietnam veterans may be unaware they could be entitled to a monthly payment for a service-connected disability if they suffer from one of several diseases associated with exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange. Currently, only one-third of Vietnam veterans nationally are enrolled in VA health care or have applied for benefits they earned as a result of military service.

 

"We strongly encourage our eligible Vietnam veterans to enroll in health care and apply for service-related disability payments," said Prendergast.  "We want our veterans to be identified, treated and compensated for any effects they may be having as a result of exposure."

 

To help bring a fresh new awareness to the situation, the 23-year-old state agency unveiled a new logo, website, smart phone app, collateral materials, public service announcements, and outreach strategies, and reframed its mission, vision and motto.

 

The department embraced a renewed commitment to reach Vietnam veterans, Florida's largest veteran demographic; women veterans, who number more than 140,000; and younger returning veterans, since more than 230,000 veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom call Florida home.

 

The new, easier-to-navigate website will act as a portal to help veterans find the information that they need to access benefits and services more efficiently and effectively. All of the English and Spanish public service announcements and radio spots will raise awareness about FDVA and its services, while also directing veterans to the website.  In addition the mobile application will not only integrate with the website and offer veterans reminders and updates about services through push notifications, but also lead veterans to Employ Florida Vets, the state's veteran employment website to help them find jobs.

 

For more information, contact R. Steven Murray, Communications Director, Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, at [email protected]

Online Job Resources for Veterans  
   

Employ Florida Vets is a Web portal your patrons can use as a gateway to information and resource links that will assist veterans, veterans' families and employers in accomplishing their employment goals.

 

Military.com offers a careers section with the "largest veteran job board in the world." Individuals can search for jobs, create and post resumes, network with other veterans and find nearby career fairs. There's a list of military friendly employers and a section dedicated to transition resources, including information about education benefits and relocation. The employment section features popular career choices for veterans including jobs for individuals with security clearance.

 

VetJobs has been in existence since 1999 and is considered one of the leading job boards for veterans, having reached more than 10 million individuals. The site is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Registration is free and individuals can post resumes and search for job openings on the site. VetJobs includes a listing of upcoming military career fairs and also offers a spouse portal.

  

FedsHireVets is the official website of the U.S. Government, operated by the Office of Personnel Management, to help vets find jobs in the federal government. Veterans, transitioning service members or family members can search for jobs.

 

One unique feature of this site is the list of Veteran Employment Program Offices, which provides contact names, emails and phone numbers. The site encourages veterans to contact these individuals for information about employment opportunities. 

 

National Veterans Foundation (NVF) serves the crisis management, information and referral needs of U.S. veterans and their families. The informational resources include: a blog, a legal resource center and an employment center with job listings. The NVF operates a toll-free helpline for all veterans and their families. There is also a live chat and an online request form that your patrons can access.

 

MilitaryHire.com is a site developed and maintained by a team of military veterans and corporate hiring authorities. Its mission is to "serve those who served." Your veteran patrons can sign up for free to search their job database, apply for jobs online and post their resumes. They can also check out the homepage for a list of upcoming career fairs.

 

The Quick Career Tools section of the site will provide your patrons with information on resume writing, interviewing, transitioning from active duty and a special section for young veterans.

Veteran Entrepreneurship Programs
      

Your veteran patrons will find that there are numerous programs designed to support their efforts to create small businesses.

 

Operation Boots to Business: From Service to Startup is a three-phase program developed to introduce and train transitioning service members to business ownership. 

  

Veterans as Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-Wise) is committed to women Veterans by providing them the tools to become successful entrepreneurs. The program enables women Veterans to find their passions and to learn the business-savvy skills to turn their ideas or businesses into growth ventures.

 

Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' Families (EBV-F) is an education and training program that utilizes the flexibility of owning a small business to provide a vocational and economic path forward for military family members who are now caregivers or for the surviving spouse of a military member.

 

Operation Endure and Grow is a new online training experience focused on the fundamentals of launching and growing a small business. The eight-week training program is open to National Guard and Reservists as well as their family members. 

Veteran Training Programs
    
There are many opportunities for your patrons who need training or who would like to explore requirements for different careers.

 

The Veteran Gold Card provides post-9/11 veterans with extra support as they transition out of the military. Services include six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling at their One-Stop Career Centers. The Gold Card initiative is a joint effort of the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS). 

 

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) is part of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed Veterans.

 

Hire Heroes USA (HHUSA) provides personalized employment training to create job opportunities for U.S. military veterans and their spouses. HHUSA's services are provided at no cost to the veteran.

  

My Next Move for Veterans website allows your patrons to search for their dream careers or use their military classifications to search for civilian careers with similar work. 

 

Industry Specific Career Training from the National Resource Directory provides information and links to training programs to help with transition back to civilian life. Government-sponsored programs are highlighted. A wide variety of careers are included as well as information on apprenticeship programs.

Can You Help?
HelpWanted


Thanks to Steve Murray for providing the article on the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs new outreach campaign.

 

Watch for information on the next E-Government in Florida Public Library's webinar on Resources for Florida's Veterans coming in January 2013.

 

How is your library supporting workforce recovery efforts? Send your article to Pam Thompson at [email protected] to be included in the next newsletter.

This program is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Florida Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services.