America's Heroes at Work

I received an email the other day and was trying to come up with a synopsis to post, but then I decided to quit hurting my brain and just cut and paste. But then I had to deal with all the garbage html codes that do not compute in blogger. Blah, so I used a pdf converter and then cut and pasted. Had to go back and put the links in but it was better than decoding thousands (hundreds? probably) html garbage. So as you are wondering "What the hell does this have to with anything?" Well this is my website and if I want to ramble on then, well, you are not the boss of me!

Anywho, America's Heroes at work looks like a credible attempt to help our soldiers and veterans with invisible wounds.



e-News, Spring 2009

Dear Friends of America's Heroes at Work:

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) are pleased to update you on news related to the America's Heroes at Work initiative - an employer-focused, U.S. Department of Labor project designed to help veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) succeed in the workplace.

IN THIS ISSUE

• Announcing updates to the America's Heroes at Work Web site
  
• Ready-to-publish articles on TBI, PTSD and employment now available
  
• Hands-On Employment Pilot matches employers and veterans with TBI and/or PTSD
  
• Join the America's Heroes at Work LinkedIn group
  
• Please link to America's Heroes at Work
  
• Partner News: Introducing DCoE's Real Warriors campaign
• Event Alert: National Brain Injury Employment Conference
  
• Wanted: Veteran candidates for corporate mentoring program

(Full news briefs below)

Announcing updates to the America's Heroes at Work Web site

Perhaps you've noticed some changes to the America's Heroes at Work Web site, located at www.AmericasHeroesAtWork.gov. Additions include new presentations and training tools, an updated online News Room, new links to resources and more success stories about veterans with TBI and/or PTSD and the employers who hired them. Please check the site often and encourage your colleagues and stakeholders to do the same.

Ready-to-publish articles on TBI, PTSD and employment now available

One addition to the America's Heroes at Work Web site is an enhanced library of "drop-in" articles that we encourage you to customize and publish in your own newsletters, e-blasts and other publications. Article topics include how to support employees with PTSD and brain injury, as well as a veterans-focused article on finding a job and achieving success in the civilian workplace. Please check them out and consider publishing or sharing these helpful articles.

Hands-On Employment Pilot matches employers and veterans with TBI and/or PTSD

America's Heroes at Work has embarked on a new hands-on endeavor - an Employment Pilot designed to coordinate successful employment experiences for veterans with TBI and/or PTSD, while studying individual experiences. DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) is managing this "learning lab" concept with support from workforce development professionals and a steering committee comprised of representatives from key federal partners. Through the Pilot, DOL will study, validate and disseminate best practices related to helping employees with TBI and/or PTSD succeed on the job. The initial phase of the Pilot will concentrate on employers and veterans located in the Greater Washington, D.C. area, all of whom will benefit from hands-on support. Workforce development professionals on the team will consult with organizations interested in employing veterans with TBI/PTSD, match them with qualified veteran workers, provide ongoing support; and monitor experiences and track best practices. For more information, visit the America's Heroes at Work Web site.

Join the America's Heroes at Work LinkedIn group

America's Heroes at Work is now on LinkedIn - the business-oriented social networking Web site. Members of the new America's Heroes at Work LinkedIn Group include employers, HR professionals, veterans and other individuals interested in connecting online to discuss TBI, PTSD and employment issues. DOL will be using the group to update members on America's Heroes at Work news, while individual group members are posting discussion topics related to employment challenges and solutions. You can join the group by visiting this link. Or, you can visit www.LinkedIn.com and search for "America's Heroes at Work" under "SEARCH GROUPS." You must have or sign-up for your own LinkedIn account to participate. (Note: LinkedIn is a non-federal Web site. The Department of Labor does not endorse; takes no responsibility for; and exercises no control over the LinkedIn organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the LinkedIn server.)--------[same goes for me to here at PASP]

Please link to America's Heroes at Work

We make it easy for you to establish a link to America's Heroes at Work on your own Web site. To do so, simply send the following link to your Web master:www.americasheroesatwork.gov/linktous.html. We provide HTML code that can easily be copied-and-pasted into your Web site. The result? A linked America's Heroes at Work logo that will enhance cross-promotional efforts and highlight your support of our initiative. Thanks for helping us spread the word about our project.

Partner News: Introducing DCoE's Real Warriors campaign

On May 21, our partners at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) launched a public awareness campaign to combat the stigma associated with seeking care and treatment for psychological health concerns. Conveying the campaign theme "Real Warriors. Real Battles. Real Strength," the Real Warriors Campaign Web site is located at www.realwarriors.net. The Web site features articles and resources on a variety of psychological health issues, as well as video interviews with service members, their families and others dealing with psychological health or TBI issues. America's Heroes at Work encourages you to visit the Web site and support this important campaign. In addition, the DCoE Outreach Center, available 24/7 by dialing 866-966-1020, provides information on the care and treatment of these invisible wounds.

Event Alert: National Brain Injury Employment Conference

DOL's own Ron Drach, director of Government and Legislative Affairs for the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, will be speaking at the third annual National Brain Injury Employment Conference June 17-18, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. To learn more about this conference, visit the conferenceWeb site.

Wanted: Veteran candidates for corporate mentoring program

American Corporate Partners (ACP) is on the lookout for transitioning service members and veterans to participate in its nationwide mentoring program. ACP is a mentoring initiative dedicated to helping veterans transition from the armed services to private enterprise through career counseling and networking. Currently, ACP has more than 300 mentors across the country available to work with veteran proteges. Mentors are employees of leading U.S. companies including GE, PepsiCo, Verizon and others. To learn more, please visit: www.acp-usa.org.

This issue of e-News brought to you by America's Heroes at Work--www.AmericasHeroesAtWork.gov.