Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Labor introduced two new programs to help wounded and injured service members returning from the War on Terrorism, prepare for civilian careers and land gainful employment as veterans.
REALifelines
REALifelines, short for Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines, helps wounded and injured veterans and transitioning service members prepare for civilian careers through a Web site and a personalized assistance network.
The program is a cooperative effort among the Department of Labor, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. Among other free services, program specialists will meet one-on-one with wounded or injured individuals at the hospitals, to help each find and prepare for a career that suits his or her particular needs.
REALifelines also provides assistance to family members of wounded and injured veterans and transitioning service members.
Did you know? Under new rules for the Family and Medical Leave Act, eligible workers have the right to take up to 26 workweeks of unpaid leave to care for a family member who was seriously injured or became seriously ill during active military duty.
For more about the program, browse the REALifelines Web site. Alternately or additionally, call 1-888-774-1361 and ask for a REALifelines (real lifelines) representative.
America’s Heroes at Work
America’s Heroes at Work focuses on resolving the employment challenges faced by veterans and transitioning service members who suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), especially those who served in the Iraq or Afghanistan War on Terrorism.
The program equips employers, One Stop Career Centers, and the state workforce development system to help such afflicted veterans and transitioning service members succeed in the workplace.
America’s Heroes at Work is an effort shared among the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, and other federal government agencies. For more information, browse the America’s Heroes at Work Web site.
Did you know? The Veterans’ Preference Program entitles eligible veterans and disabled veterans to receive preferential treatment in hiring and retention for federal government jobs. In states that have equivalent programs, eligible veterans and disabled veterans are entitled to similar preferential treatment for state government jobs.
