Department of Veterans AffairsHispanic Employment Program

Office of Diversity and InclusionArlene Gonzalez

January 2013

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

ODI Role and Responsibility• Advises and supports the

Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration in workforce diversity issues

• Supports the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretaries, and Assistant Secretaries in their actions to achieve and sustain a diverse workforce

ASHRA

Deputy Assistant Secretary

Workforce Analysis

Outreach and Retention

Hispanic Employment

Program

Training and Communications

Admin and Resource Mgmt

Plan Vision

To meet mandates in:

• Executive Orders 13171 , Hispanic Employment in the Federal Government;

• EO 13583 , Establishing a Coordinated Government-Wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Workforce;

• EO 13555, White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans;

Plan Vision (cont’d)

To strategically integrate collective human capital actions aimed at improving the representation of Hispanics in the VA workforce, as outlined in:

FY12 – 16 VA Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan;

OPM Hispanic Council recommendations;

MD 715

FEORP

MSI reporting

VA Hispanic Employment, Outreach and Retention Strategic Plan FY13 - 16

Hispanic Plan Goals• To ensure that the VA workforce is diverse, high performing

and reflective of all segments of the Hispanic community.

• To ensure that the VA workplace is inclusive of Hispanic Americans and that work environments leverage diversity and empower all contributors.

• To facilitate outstanding public service and stakeholder relations through effective leadership and accountability.

HEP CrosswalkOPM Hispanic Council Recommendation

VA FY11

VA FY12

VA HEP Initiative

Recruitment & Outreach Strategies have Hispanic focus

XX

X

X

X

X

XX

X

X

X

•VA FY12-FY16 Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan: Hispanic Strategic Plan for FY13-16;•VA Human Capital Plan; •Veterans Employment Service Outreach Plans;•Center for Minority Veterans Outreach Plans;•Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, National Cemetery Administration MD715 , FEORP and Hispanic and Human Capital plans•All VA Medical Facilities Human Capital Plans and MD715 plans(list not all inclusive)

HEP CrosswalkOPM Hispanic Council Recommendation

VA FY11

VA FY12

VA HEP Initiative

Accountability Metrics

X

X

X

XX

•Applicant Flow data; Diversity Index, FEORP, MD715, Diversity and Inclusion Plan for use with vacancies, promotions, career development, SES•Technical Assistance Reviews •VA Diversity Council – Hispanic Work Group

HEPM Revitalization

X X

X

•Annual HEPM Training (HQ and sub-components; virtual and classroom)

•National HEPM monthly meetings

VA Diversity Council … Hispanic Work Group

• Senior level EEO/Diversity/HR (expert) membership

• Alignment of strategic planning and reporting

• Departmental collaboration in addressing barriers

• Leverage agency resources for outreach

HEPM Telecons

• Promote HEPM inclusion – nationwide - in HEP program evolution

• Ensure VA-wide, occupationally diverse, field perspective in strategic planning

• Provides virtual training and career development

• Access to VA and Federal leaders

• Reduces HEPM isolation

HEP CrosswalkOPM Hispanic Council Recommendation

VA FY11

VAFY12

VA HEP Initiative

Outreach to Universities, Veterans, Senior Level Applicants, Non-Profits

XXX

XXX

X

X

•Affinity Organizations Support•National Diversity Internship Program•Spanish Language Marketing;

•Community Outreach and Communications Initiative (COCI)

•Student Outreach and Retention (SOAR) Initiative

California Consortium … a COCI Initiative

• Integrated federal, state, local government and private/non-profit sector approach to service delivery

• Leverage community resources for outreach

• Ensure community is informed on Veterans services, benefits and VA career opportunities

• Veteran Support

S.O.A.R. … Student Outreach and Retention Initiative

• Connect Community Partners/Consortiums, Hispanic Serving Educational Institutions , VA … and students

• Sustained VA Presence at Colleges/Universities– VA Recruiters on Campus (i.e., Nurse Recruiter) – VA Ambassadors– Student Career Mentorship– Staff Exchanges

HEP Crosswalk

OPM Hispanic Council Recommendation

VA FY11

VA FY12

VA HEP Initiative

Performance Plans X

X

X

X

•Diversity Element in SES Performance Plans;•ADR Performance Element in SES

Leadership /Supervisory Development

XX

XX

•SES Diversity training•Cultural competency

Student Pathways XX

XX

•National Diversity Internship Program; •Workforce Recruitment Program

VA Hispanic Strategic Plan Highlighted

A Model Plan!

• VA’s new FY13-16 Hispanic Employment, Outreach and Retention Strategic Plan was highlighted by OPM Director, John Berry, as being a model plan for the federal government. (Cyberfeds, December 17, 2012)

Elements for Success•Dedicated Additional Professional HR and EEO Staff

• A WRP Intern

• Contract Budget/Financial Staff

• Research, research, and more research

•SENIOR LEADERSHIP SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT!

Questions?