Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP)

Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists develop job and training opportunities for veterans, with special emphasis on veterans with service-connected disabilities. DVOP specialists provide direct services to veterans enabling them to be competitive in the labor market. They provide outreach and offer assistance to disabled and other veterans by promoting community and employer support for employment and training opportunities, including apprenticeship and on-the-job training.

DVOP specialists work with employers, veterans' organizations, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and Defense, and community-based organizations to link veterans with appropriate jobs and training opportunities.

DVOP specialists serve as case managers for veterans enrolled in federally-funded job training programs such as the Department of Veterans Affairs' Vocational Rehabilitation program, and other veterans with serious disadvantages in the job market. DVOP specialists are available to those veterans and their employers to help ensure that necessary follow up services are provided to promote job retention.

The Department of Labor provides grant funds to each state's employment service to maintain DVOP specialist positions in the state. The staffing formula and current appropriations level support about 1,400 DVOP specialists nationally. DVOP specialists are employees of the state and are generally located in state employment service offices. About one-quarter are stationed full- or part-time in locations other than employment service offices.

DVOP specialists may be stationed at regional offices and medical or veterans' outreach centers of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, state or county veterans' service offices, Job Training Partnership Act program offices, community-based organizations, and military installations.
To contact a DVOP specialist, call or visit the nearest State Employment Service (sometimes known as Job Service) agency listed in the State Government section of your phone book.

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