Thomas k powell

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• Thomas k powell
• Veterans Resource and Referral specialist
• Texas veterans leadership program
• Jason K. Doran, Director
• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Texas Workforce Commission

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• Introductions
• Administrative Information

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• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• OIF/OEF
• Veteran Numbers and Facts

• 1.99 Million Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans
• 123,000 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans in Texas
• 24-25,000 Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans separate
  from the service and return to Texas annually
• 40-50,000 Service members rotate in and out of
  Texas to and from Iraq and Afghanistan annually

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• History of the Texas Veterans Leadership Program
  Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program

• April 17, 2008 - Major Initiative Established to
  Assist Texas Veterans

Governor Rick Perry Chairman Tom Pauken
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History of the TVLP VVLP

• TVLP modeled after the Vietnam Veterans
  Leadership Program (VVLP)

• Notable Members
• Tom Pauken
• Chairman Texas Workforce Commission, Author
• Rick Eilert
• Author, Adventurist
• James Webb
• Author, Former Sec of the Navy, Senator (D-Va)
• Rich Kolb
• Editor of the VFW Magazine
• John Fales
• Writer for the Washington Post, President of
  Blind American Veterans Foundation

The White House, Rose Garden Address November
10, 1981
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President Reagans Rose Garden Address

• I hope that every American will follow the
  example of the Vietnam Veterans Leadership
  Program volunteers and reach out individually to
  extend a helping hand where needed to all our
  fine Vietnam Veterans. Recognition and
  appreciation for all they went through is long
  overdue.
• A nations future is only as certain as the
  devotion of its defenders, and the nation must be
  as loyal to them as they are to the nation.
• President Ronald Reagan

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History of the TVLP VVLP

• The VVLP Goals and Missions were concentrated in
  six general areas
• Build a volunteer network
• Enhance the Vietnam Veterans image and gain
  symbolic support
• Employment and training opportunities
• Small business development
• Fundraising
• Collaboration with other organizations on Veteran
  Affairs

• Notable VVLP Members
• John McCain
• Presidential Nominee, Senator (R-Az)
• Al Gore
• Former Vice President of the United States
• Chuck Hagel
• Senator (R-Neb)
• Tom Ridge
• Former Homeland Security Secretary
• John Garcia
• Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of
  Veterans Services

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History of the TVLP

• Issues and Challenges Vietnam Veterans and the
  VVLP dealt with
• An indifferent or hostile reception upon
  returning
• Unemployment and underemployment
• Stereotyping
• Readjustment issues

• Notable VVLP Members
• John Furgess
• Former Commnader-in-Chief of the VFW
• John McKinney
• Director, Dept of Labor- Veterans Employment and
  Training Services
• Bill Jayne
• Director of the Veterans Affairs State Grant
  Program
• Ed Timperlake
• Former Director of Mobilization, Planning and
  Requirements for the Secretary of Defense
• Bill Elmore
• Associate Administrator , Office of Veterans
  Business Development, US SBA

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• 24, 782 Veterans were counseled on employment
• 11,788 Veterans were referred for help and
  interviews
• 6,088 job leads were developed
• 2,943 Veterans were placed into jobs
• Hundreds of recognition events and ceremonies
  were organized
• Counseled 2,000 Veterans in small business
  opportunities
• 5,879 nationwide volunteers stepped up

• Success of the VVLP During a 36 Month Federal
  Funding Period

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• To provide critical resource and referral
  services
• Employment
• Training Services
• Existing Resources
• Ancillary Services

• Texas Veterans Leadership Programs Mission
  Statement

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• Establish an extensive resource and referral
  network
• Use our common experience to help the
  returning OIF/OEF Veterans.
• Provide proactive assistance
• Work in conjunction with other organizations
• Develop a leadership group of Veterans
• Conduct a media and outreach campaign

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Key Tasks for Success

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• The Resource and Referral network may consists of
  these different agencies and types of programs
• Employment
• Training
• Medical Care
• Mental Health and Counseling
• Veterans Benefits
• State Agencies
• Federal Agencies
• Education Benefits/ Services

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Key Tasks

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• VRRS will draw on common experiences from Iraq
  and Afghanistan to build trusting relationships.
  

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Key Tasks

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• Providing Proactive assistance to help handle
  challenges before they become major problems.
• Understanding the Veterans needs allows the TVLP
  to deal with multiple issues or challenges
  quickly.
• Work in conjunction with other agencies and
  organizations.
• Our number one priority is the Veteran.

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Key Tasks

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• The outreach campaign will focus on the
  leadership traits and skills these returning
  Veterans possess
• Portraying these Veterans as a valuable resource.
• Portraying these Veterans as a productive part of
  their communities.
• Ensuring that these Veterans understand that they
  can find gainful employment.
• Ensuring that they are appreciated for answering
  their countrys call.

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Outreach Campaign

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• Works closely with the Workforce Centers Staff,
  government agencies, community organizations,
  faith base organizations, and Veteran service
  organizations

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Veteran Resource and Referral Specialist

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• Four Phases of Veteran Transition
• Locate and Outreach OIF/OEF Veterans
• Identify and Evaluate Veterans Needs
• Guide Veterans and their Families through the
  different processes to Achieve Solutions to their
  Needs
• Ongoing Follow-Up and Reevaluation of Veterans
  Needs

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Veteran Resource and Referral Specialist

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• Job Search Skills, Resume Writing and Training
• Lack of Necessary Skills, Training, and or
  Education that leads to good civilian jobs
• Employment
• Viewing help as a Handout
• Service Connected Injuries that require a
  significant adjustment period
• Severely Injured
• Dependence on Alcohol and Drugs

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Returning Veterans Issues and Challenges

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• Readjustment Counseling
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Suicide
• Mental Health Services
• High Risk Behavior
• A feeling of not belonging or unable to
  communicate with others
• Tendency to withdraw from family, friends, and
  society at large

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Returning Veterans Issues and Challenges

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• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Returning Veterans Issues and Challenges

• Health Care
• Homelessness
• Housing
• Financial Matters
• Stereotyping
• Military Service Discharges
• Lack of readily available assistance in the area
  where the Veteran lives

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• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Some of the Resources we use to address the
  issues and challenges

• Some of our valued resources
• Department of Veteran Affairs
• Texas Veterans Commission
• Military Organizations
• Unit Family Coordinators
• Texas Veteran Land Board
• TWC Unemployment Insurance Division
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• American Legion
• Samaritan Center

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• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• What We Do Not Do

• TVLP will not duplicate services offered by other
  federal, state, or local agencies
• TVLP will not be a direct service delivery
  mechanism or a top heavy bureaucracy

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• Texas OIF/OEF Veterans utilize available
  resources to make the successful transition to
  civilian life, lead productive lives, and enjoy
  the full benefits of the society they have
  willingly served.

Texas Veterans Leadership Program End State
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How We Deploy the VRRS Across Texas

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Veterans Resource and Referral Specialists

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• List of VRRS by Workforce Development Boards
• 1. Panhandle Norman Bearden
• 2. South Plains Shamona Richard
• 3. North Texas Michael Ratcliff
• 4. North Central Robert Kelley
• 5. Tarrant County Christopher Lowery
• 6. Dallas Robert Aiken
• 7. North East Donald McDaniel
• 8. East Texas Joseph Ewers
• 9. West Central Scotty Henderson
• 10. Upper Rio Grande Sergio Cuevas
• 11. Permian Basin Jeremy White

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Veteran Resource and Referral Specialist

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• List of VRRS by Workforce Development Boards
• 12. Concho Valley Steven Galigowski
• 13. Heart of Texas Steven Pullin
• 14. Capital Sherman Weeks
• 15. Rural Capital Bob Gear
• 16. Brazos Valley Pablo Garzon
• 17. Deep East Texas Brian Heffernan
• 18. South East Texas Adia Smith
• 19. Golden Crescent Jeremy Radcliffe
• 20. Alamo Thomas Powell
• 21. South Texas Gabriel Lopez
• 22. Coastal Bend James Sullivan

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Veteran Resource and Referral Specialist

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• List of VRRS by Workforce Development Boards
• 23. Lower Rio Grande Valley
• Juan Gonzales
• 24. Cameron County Mario Vela
• 25. Texoma Charles Connor
• 26. Central Texas Odalis Delacruz
• 27. Middle Rio Grande Joel Salido
• 28. Gulf Coast Shane Linnel

• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Veteran Resource and Referral Specialist

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Timeline for Success

• The first class was from 7 to 11 July, 2008.
• The outreach campaign began July 14, 2008 in most
  areas.
• The second class was from 11 to 15 August, 2008.
• The VRRS will began service delivery September 1,
  2008.
• There will be a two-day conference on the 3 and 4
  of September, 2008.

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For Additional Information

• Please contact
• Thomas k powell
• Texas veterans leadership program
• Texas workforce commission
• Your.name_at_TWC.STATE.TX.US
• [phone]