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Office of Budget

Fiscal Year 2005 Performance and Accountability Report
Published November 15, 2005

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Strategic Goal One: Restoration and Improved Quality of Life for Disabled Veterans

Strategic Objective 1.3: Suitable Employment and Special Support

Provide all service-disabled veterans with the opportunity to become employable and obtain and maintain suitable employment, while providing special support to veterans with serious employment handicaps

Performance Trend and Impact of FY 2005 Result

Performance Trend FY 2005 Impact
Key Measure: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Rehabilitation Rate
2001 65%
2002 62%
2003 59%
2004 62%
2005 Result 63%
2005 Plan 66%
2006 Plan 66%
Strategic Target 70%
A primary goal of the VR&E program is to assist service-disabled veterans in becoming employable. The rehabilitation rate is the key indicator of the program's success as it illustrates the number of veterans successfully reentering the workforce following completion of the VR&E program. An increase in the rehabilitation rate means that a higher percentage of veterans are exiting the program successfully and have attained suitable employment or maximum independence in daily living. While slightly below the 2005 target, the rehabilitation rate has steadily increased since 2003.

Related Information

Major Management Challenges

Neither VA's Office of the Inspector General nor the Government Accountability Office identified any major management challenges related to this objective.

Program Evaluations

In May 2003 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs approved a charter to create a Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Task Force. In March 2004 the VR&E Task Force completed its work and released its findings including more than 100 recommendations. The Task Force's recommendations largely focused on increasing efforts to aid veterans in finding suitable employment. A key recommendation was that VR&E adopt a 5-Track Employment Model to move veterans quickly into a program of services. Information on the implementation of some of the major recommendations is provided below.

Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) Evaluation

The PART review of the VR&E program is scheduled for 2006.

New Policies and Procedures

In response to the VR&E Task Force's recommendations, several new policies and procedures were implemented in support of Objective 1.3 during 2005. These included:

  • Established four pilot sites for the new Job Resource Labs. These self-service job resource labs will aid veterans in their job search process through the use of an on-line employment preparation and job-seeking tool.
  • Increased training for VR&E officers and counselors, including training sessions on Corporate WINRS and the new Evaluation & Planning Standards of Practice.
  • Introduced the Managerial Enhancement Program for VR&E counselors as a means of succession planning and developing future leaders.
  • Continued focus on outreach efforts to veterans transitioning from military careers to civilian careers through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP). VR&E has issued a video and presentation materials to all regional offices so that DTAP presentations are standardized across the Nation.
  • Signed various memoranda of understanding to develop partnerships with potential veteran employers. VR&E has signed agreements with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation programs, United States Army Materiel Command, Home Depot, and Helmets to Hardhats.

Other Important Results

Performance results related to two VR&E performance measures, Accuracy of Decisions (Services) and Accuracy of Program Outcomes, have shown significant improvements over the past year. This is due to quality assurance reviews and site visits to regional offices, which have assisted VR&E officers and counselors in identifying best practices as well as areas needing more focused attention.