Vocational Rehabilitation: VA Needs to Emphasize Serving Veterans With Serious Employment Handicaps
HRD-92-133
Published: Sep 28, 1992. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) vocational rehabilitation program, focusing on VA ability to provide required and special services.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should reemphasize to VA field offices that disabled veterans with serious employment handicaps are to be: (1) provided special outreach services; and (2) given priority when scheduling initial counseling and evaluation appointments. |
Closed – Implemented
VA is taking action by: (1) emphasizing outreach in monthly management periodicals; (2) exploring closer coordination between VA hospitals and vocational rehabilitation programs; and (3) monitoring activities to provide outreach services. Other actions being taken to give priority when scheduling initial counseling and evaluation appointments include: (1) emphasizing to field staff the need for prioritization if appointments cannot be scheduled within 21 days; (2) training in the need for prioritization in future inservice training programs; and (3) requiring that this area to be specifically examined in station surveys.
|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | The Secretary of Veterans Affairs should recognize the additional time required to provide services to these veterans in the employee productivity standards. |
Closed – Implemented
VA revised its Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling Officer Performance Standards and issued a circular incorporating the revisions.
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Topics
Employment of the disabledPerformance measuresProductivity in governmentVeterans employment programsVocational rehabilitationVeteransDisabilitiesDisabled veteransHealth care centersDisabled veterans