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Vocational rehabilitation

VHA Vocational Rehabilitation is committed to assisting Veterans with psychiatric or physical disabilities reach their highest level of vocational productivity.

Care we provide at VA Houston

We help Veterans with barriers to employment due to physical and mental health challenges find and keep jobs. We offer 4 services:

  • Vocational Assistance Offers assessments, counseling, referrals, and helps access community resources to support Veterans with job placement or career changes.
  • Community Based Employment Services help Veterans with inconsistent work history or job search challenges gain and maintain employment.
  • Transitional Work Program provides temporary, paid work assignments with skill-building and support to help Veterans transition into long-term employment.
  • Supported Employment provides long-term support for Veterans with severe mental health conditions in securing and sustaining competitive jobs in integrated community settings.

Programs to assist Veterans

  • Compensated Work Therapy (CWT): Provides work restoration services to Veterans in rehabilitation. CWT programs include:
  • Transitional Work (TW): An employment model that uses time limited, wage paying work assignments that combine real work skills development and supportive services to Veterans, so they can transition to, and are successful in retaining meaningful competitive employment.
  • Supported Employment (SE): A recovery-oriented model that assists Veterans with severe mental illness (Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Psychosis, and Polytrauma) obtain and maintain meaningful competitive employment in the community within an integrated setting.
  • Community Based Employment Services (CBES): Provides vocational services to Veterans who have a history of sporadic employment, difficulty maintaining a job, difficulty initiating and following through on their job search, and are not able to obtain meaningful competitive employment independently.

  • Vocational Assistance services consist of vocational assessment, vocational counseling, referrals and navigating access to community resources for job placement services provided by CWT staff. Veterans that seek help may be unemployed, currently working but desiring a career change, or recently disabled and requiring assistance to return to the work force.

    No Veteran is billed for vocational rehabilitation services.

Criteria for acceptance

  • Veteran eligible for VA healthcare.
  • Has barriers to employment resulting from a mental health, medical or psychosocial condition.
  • Referral from a VA provider in a psychiatric or medical rehabilitation program only.
  • Involvement with the Substance Disorders Treatment Program for any Veteran with substance misuse.
  • Motivation and ability to work.

Contact Information

  • Location: 2B-119, main hospital building 100
  • Phone: 713-791-1414, ext. 227193
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

VBA Veteran Readiness and Employment
(VRE or Chapter 31)

VBA Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) services assists with job training, education, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching.

To learn more about the VR&E program, review the VR&E Process page, and the tabs and links on this page. Click on the "How to Apply" tab to apply for VR&E services.

You can also check out their webpage at Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Home (va.gov)

Contact Information

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