To serve Virginia’s veterans, members of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves, and their family members, by ensuring they receive timely transition, employment and education assistance, benefits, health care and long-term care and recognition they have earned through service to our country and Commonwealth.

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services will maximize services to enable Virginia's veteran and military family population to STAY, WORK, and THRIVE in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Excellence: Provide exemplary service to Virginia’s veterans and their families.

Commitment:  An enduring commitment to helping Virginia’s veterans and their families receive all earned federal and state benefits; and create an economic environment that promotes veteran-owned businesses and Virginia companies hiring veterans.

Innovation: Continually find new methods to reach and serve Virginia’s veterans and their families.

The Department of Veterans Services (DVS) serves Virginia’s over 700,000 veterans and their eligible beneficiaries by ensuring they receive the benefits, support, quality care, and recognition they have earned through service and sacrifice.

DVS is organized into seven service lines:  Benefits Services, Education Services, Transition and Employment Services, Veterans Care Center Services, Veterans Cemetery Services, the Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) program, and the Virginia War Memorial. 

Two boards work closely with the agency to support the effective delivery of services to Virginia’s veterans:  the Board of Veterans Services (BVS) and the Joint Leadership Council (JLC) of Veterans Service Organizations.

The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (VVFS), a separate agency reporting to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, accepts donations and raises funds in order to provide supplemental funding to support DVS programs and services that are not covered by other federal or state sources.

Title 2.2, Chapter 20 provides for the establishment of a Department of Veterans Services and the appointment of a Commissioner of Veterans Services. It sets forth the responsibilities of the department and the powers and duties of the Commissioner.

Compact with Virginia's Veterans: Making Virginia America's most veteran friendly state.

The Code of Virginia (§2.2-2004.17) requires the Commissioner of Veterans Services to: "Establish and implement a compact with Virginia's veterans, which shall have a goal of making Virginia America's most veteran friendly state. The compact shall be established in conjunction with the Board of Veterans Services and supported by the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations and shall: (i) include specific provisions for technology advances, workforce development, outreach, quality of life enhancement, and other services for veterans and (ii) provide service standards and goals to be attained for each specific provision in clause (i). The provisions of the compact shall be reviewed and updated annually. The Commissioner shall include in the annual report required by this section the progress of veterans services established in the compact."

In support of the Compact, the Department of Veterans Services (DVS), in conjunction with the Board of Veterans Services (BVS) and the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations (the JLC) established the following overarching goals:

1. Ensure Virginia veterans and eligible family members receive timely assistance in filing for federal and state disability benefits.


2. Deliver long-term skilled nursing care, assisted-living (domiciliary) care, Alzheimer’s/ memory care, and short-term rehabilitation services to Virginia veterans at Virginia’s Veterans Care Centers.


3. Connect veterans, Guardsmen and Reservists not in federal service, and their family members to a network of services designed to help them overcome the challenges of stress-related and traumatic brain injuries and rehabilitative needs that result from military service.


4. Provide Virginia’s veterans, their spouses, and other eligible family members an honored final resting place at state veterans cemeteries that meet national shrine standards.


5. Ensure veterans and their dependents have approved educational programs through which they may receive their educational benefits.


6. Ensure that veteran homelessness is a rare, brief, and nonrecurring experience.


7. In conjunction with other state agencies, create employment opportunities for Virginia veterans in state government and the private sector.


8. Honor Virginians who served and sacrificed in the cause of freedom and liberty for the Commonwealth and the nation in time of war, and honor all of Virginia’s veterans by preserving their history, educating our youth, and inspiring patriotism in all Virginians.


9. Coordinate with other state agencies to afford Virginia’s veterans business, employment, transportation, and other appropriate opportunities through technology advances, workforce development, outreach, quality of life enhancement, and other services for veterans and their families.

Overview of the current state of IT in the agency:

DVS provides direct service to Veterans through seven service delivery business lines: Benefits, Virginia Veteran and Family Support, Veterans Education; Transition and Employment, Care Centers, Veterans Cemeteries and the Virginia War Memorial. DVS IT maintains a variety of technology solutions and services that are collectively used to deliver services. Apart from supporting IT Applications, DVS IT provides IT Security, Infrastructure and day-to-day IT Operations to 34 field offices, eight VVFS offices, four Veterans Care Centers, three Veterans Cemeteries, the Virginia War Memorial and 1,382 staff members spread across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

DVS IT strives to provide timely and effective IT services and excellent customer service to our agency employees and customers. We have employed Keystone edge ticketing system to track incidents, and IT requests, measure response times and quality of service. Several projects were initiated across the agency to convert paper documentation to digital format using SharePoint platform.

DVS IT Security program continues to protect the agency by ensuring compliance with COV security policies. The security awareness program is provided by SANS/LITMOS platform. Security team ensures the yearly security awareness training and new employee training are completed as per VITA Sec 527 Policy. A variety of additional methods such as security tips, newsletters and oral presentations are used to deliver security awareness training to DVS staff regularly throughout the year to reinforce how to apply security best practices and appropriately report security incidents.

DVS IT Security have engaged VITA Centralized ISO Security Services (CISS) to facilitate and document Business Impact Analysis (BIAs), Business Processes, Risk Assessments, and System Security Plans for sensitive systems.

DVS service lines uses sensitive and mission critical IT applications such VMSDEP Portal, DMS (Zoho), Point Click Care, Kronos, Vetraspec, onShift, Cardinal and DVS websites.  DVS IT provides IT support, reviews ECOS reports and web applications scan reports and ensures the vulnerabilities are resolved in a timely manner.

Other operational initiatives that the DVS IT must manage are: VITA/NG Partnership program requests and projects, DVS information security and data integrity, and DVS systems and applications support; all of which are critical to the agency being able to meet its mission and objectives.

Factors impacting agency IT:

DVS has 1,382 staff and contractors supporting operations that are spread across the state of Virginia, with 34 field offices, eight VVFS offices, four Veterans Care Centers, three Veterans Cemeteries, the Virginia War Memorial. Current infrastructure needs extensive improvement in terms of security. IT infrastructure at 34 field offices, the Dublin Cemetery, the Amelia Cemetery and the Suffolk Cemetery needs extensive improvement in terms of IT security and VITA Compliance. These geographically dispersed sites do not have a standard network configuration or monitoring tools, making them vulnerable to cybersecurity threats such as Ransomware attacks. We need improved resilience that addresses high availability, risk management and disaster recovery needs.

VDVS has grown significantly over the last few years and we anticipate continued growth going forward. Many existing applications have not kept pace with this growth, requiring significant overhaul or replacement. In order to keep up with the increased volume and support programs, the Agency needs more sophisticated IT solutions and a stronger IT development and IT security staff. This would allow more secure, robust, future proof systems to better support growth.

Most DVS Applications were designed and developed several years ago. It is becoming increasingly more difficult for these aging systems to keep up with the needs of the agency, especially with respect to growth, more diverse initiatives, and increased volume of transactions. The DVS Applications need better access and privilege management to comply with the state security standard (VITA Sec. 501). This involves strengthening the systems in terms of authentication and authorization.

Anticipated or desired changes to agency IT:

DVS is embarking on new journey to leverage technology to efficiently deliver services, increase communication and outreach. These major initiatives are planned to be completed by end of Fiscal Year 2023.

Gold Standard Digital Hub: a virtual network which connects veterans and veteran families to organizations whose missions include providing services and support to veterans and create opportunities to share referral and service information.

Veterans Case management system is Department of Veterans Services’ enterprise case management and referral system. The system is intended to connect service lines, streamline referral processes, and automate workflows across the agency. VIMS will improve efficiency and quality of work while allowing VDVS staff to focus their efforts on connecting veterans and their families to benefits, provide support and services.

Identity and Access Management System will bring DVS into compliance with VITA Sec 501 Access Management Controls. Additionally, IAMS will allow to monitor and audit application logins and act when an atypical system behavior is noticed.

Infrastructure improvements to benefit offices and Cemeteries will bring the network configuration under to COV Security Compliance and improve network capability at these facilities.

The two new Veterans Care Centers: the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center in Virginia Beach and the Puller Care Center at Warrenton are each 128-bed facilities featuring all private rooms that will be organized into households. The care will be provided by nearly 250 staff. DVS IT will provide wired and wireless networks, telecommunications, personal computers for the personal and nursing stations, tablets, printers, med carts, IT systems for facility management, IT applications for patient management and other equipment.

As noted in the "Key Risk Factors" section, the Department of Veterans Services faces several challenges in the area of workforce development, including:

• Veterans Care Center section staffing and funding:  industry-wide shortage of health care workers (particularly RNs, LPNs, and Certified Nursing Assistants - CNAs) and competition from other nursing facilities and hospitals;


• Benefit Services section funding and staffing (hiring/training/retention);


• Cemetery Services staffing (must keep pace with increased number of burials and workload);


• Virginia Veteran and Family Support funding and staffing (increased service demands/service delivery); and


• Virginia War Memorial funding and staffing (increased number of visitors and expanded education mission).

The DVS Physical Plant (agency owned/operated) consists of two veterans care centers (with two more under construction) and three veterans cemeteries.  The Virginia War Memorial is operated by DVS in conjunction with the Virginia Department of General Services (DGS), which is responsible for all executive branch buildings in the vicinity of the state capitol.

The Benefit Services section; Education, Training, and Employment Services section; Virginia Veteran and Family Support program; and Administrative Services section operate from state-owned or leased offices, or from space provided by community partners.

The veterans of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and, indeed, all of its citizens, hold DVS facilities to the highest standard. The Virginia War Memorial is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s monument to honor the memory of Virginia’s men and women who demonstrated a willingness to serve and fight to defend our way of life from World War II to the present. Virginia state veterans cemeteries are held to the highest standards. Virginia's veterans care centers are held as model facilities for the delivery of skilled nursing, Alzheimer's/memory, and short-term rehabilitative care.

The Department's physical plant is excellent, due to the exceptional work and dedication of all DVS employees and to the continued support of the Governor, General Assembly, and Department of General Services. Operating, maintaining, and improving the DVS physical plant will continue to be a top priority of the Department. However, continued growth will require additional office space.

The cemeteries are developed in phases to add additional burial capacity.  Phase expansion projects are funded through federal grants from the USDVA/NCA Veterans Cemetery Grants Programs (VCGP).  The USDVA has approved expansion projects at the Amelia and Dublin cemeteries to add additional columbaria for the above-ground interment of cremated remains.  Design is complete, and DVS is awaiting release of USDVA grant funds to begin construction.  DVS has submitted a grant application funds to add additional columbaria at the Suffolk cemetery and make other improvements.  Virginia will be considered for this grant in the FFY23 USDVA funding cycle.

At present, the USDVA/NCA/VCGP does not provide funding for maintenance or renovation projects - only for phase expansion and new construction.  Funding for maintenance reserve projects comes from state General Fund or Maintenance Reserve funding.

Virginia Public Building Authority (VPBA) bond funding and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant funding has been approved for five renovation projects:  three at the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center (Richmond) and two at the Virginia Veterans Care Center (Roanoke).  VBPA bond funding has been approved or requested for future renovation projects at all four veterans care centers.  DVS has submitted or will submit requests for federal grant funding through the USDVA's State Home Construction Grants Program (SHCGP).

Key Risk Factors

Hiring and Retention: Human services fields experience significant turnover in direct services due to fatigue/burn out from client services and higher compensation in private and Federal jobs. This is a significant risk across the agency and especially for the Veterans Care Centers, including the two new Care Centers opening in 2022 – 2023. The COVID-19 global pandemic has led to an industry-wide shortage of healthcare workers, particularly Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Certified Nursing Assistants - CNAs).  Competition from other nursing facilities and hospitals, coupled with the overall shortage, has put significant pressure on recruitment and retention.  In line with other facilities, DVS has raised salaries and offered recruitment and retention bonuses to attract and keep staff.  DVS continues to pursue other solutions, such as in-house training and increased partnerships with local training facilities.

While state human resource (HR) policies provide agencies with HR tools to help agencies recruit and retain qualified staff, the ability to use these tools is limited by available funding.  The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the mental health workforce staffing concerns across the Commonwealth. Post pandemic, human services providers often seek jobs with higher salaries (in private and Federal agencies) and/or telework opportunities. Hiring quality personnel and retaining critical talent is essential to agency operations. DVS operates 34 benefits services offices. Staff turnover impacts the section’s ability to keep all offices fully staffed and operational. This is especially significant because it takes approximately one to two years for a new Veterans Service Representative (claims agent) to become fully trained and proficient.  The Governor and 2022 General Assembly approved funding for, and DVS implemented a Northern Virginia (NoVa) location pay differential - the first time DVS has been able to do so.  The Governor and General Assembly also approved a salary adjustment (based on pay compression) for agency Appeals Attorneys, as well as funding and positions for additional personnel in high-demand offices.  These measures will greatly help.  The Agency will closely monitor resource levels to ensure that recent successes are sustained into the next decade.  

Overwhelmingly, employees identify the agency mission and the ability to support our veterans as the reasons they remain with the agency. Greater use of social media platforms, such as Linkedin, will increase prospective candidates’ awareness of our mission and interest in employment.  

Infrastructure and Equipment:  DVS operates three state veterans cemeteries. The Agency must ensure it has sufficient operating funds for a phased equipment replacement plan in order to maintain the cemetery grounds to national shrine standards.  DVS must also continue to plan at least 3-5 years in the future to ensure federal grant funding is available to support phase expansion of in-ground and above-ground burial capacity at each cemetery.

DVS operates two (soon to be four) veterans care centers.  DVS has submitted grants for federal funds to renovate the veterans care centers in Richmond and Roanoke, as well as to purchase additional equipment for the new centers in Virginia Beach and Fauquier County.  State matching funds have already been committed to most of these projects, with additional state matching funds requested.

Information Technology: The Information Technology (IT) infrastructure remains vulnerable given the geographically dispersed operations across the Commonwealth that lack a standard network configuration. Many IT applications have not kept pace with the growth of the agency and require significant overhaul or replacement.of IT systems within the agency are fragmented, greatly inhibiting the agency’s ability to provide cohesive and holistic services. DVS is working to leverage technology to efficiently deliver services and increase communication and outreach.

The department’s funding comes from a variety of general and nongeneral fund sources.

General Fund:

• All operations for the Benefit Services section, the Virginia War Memorial, the Military Medics and Corpsmen (MMAC) program, the Military Spouse Liaison, and the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) and;


• The majority of operations for the Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) program, the Veterans Cemetery Services section, the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program, the Virginia Women Veterans Program, and the Administrative Services section.

Nongeneral Fund (Federal Trust):

• G.I. Bill program certification and audit operations of the VETE section;


• A portion of the operating budgets for the Veterans Care Center Services section (in the form of a USDVA per diem paid per patient day and from USDVA payment for care of veterans with a 70-100% service-connected disability rating); and


• A portion of the operating budget for the Veterans Cemetery Service section (in the form of a plot allowance).

Nongeneral Fund (Special Revenue):

• Medicaid and Medicare (Part A and B) reimbursement covers a portion of the operating costs of the Veterans Care Center Services section and the administrative services section; 


• A portion of the Veterans Care Center Services comes from private funds (fee for service); and


• A portion of Veterans Cemetery Services sections' operating budgets comes from private funds (fee for service) from the spouse burial charge, the Guard/Reserve burial charge, and vault sales.

Nongeneral Fund (Dedicated Special Revenue):

• The Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (Virginia), a separate agency, accepts donated funds and allocates funds to DVS to support DVS programs and services.  These supplemental funds primarily support the Virginia Veteran and Family Support program and the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program.  VVSF also allocates funding to support the Veterans Care Centers, the Veterans Cemeteries, and the Virginia Women Veterans Program.  Donors are able to earmark their donations to VVSF for specific DVS programs.

Department of Veterans Services (DVS) special fund revenues are received as reimbursement for services provided.  Almost all of the revenue collected is a result of direct patient care provided at the veterans care centers.  This revenue comes from Medicaid, Medicare, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) per diem, USDVA pay for care of veterans with a 70-100% service-connected disability rating, and private pay.  The remaining revenue collected is a result of burials performed at Virginia’s three veterans cemeteries, and comes from the USDVA burial reimbursement (plot allowance), the fee charged for spouse/dependent burials, the fee charged for Guard/Reserve burials, and the sale of burial vaults (crypts).

Over 700,000 veterans reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  One in every 12 Virginians is a veteran.  Virginia ranks #8 in the nation in overall veterans population.  In FY22, the Department of Veterans Services:

• Filed 19,726 disability compensation claims on behalf of Virginia veterans and families (86,847 total submissions). Served 13,360 new veteran clients contributing to $4.63 Billion in federal compensation and disability payments to Virginia veterans. 


• Increased outreach and briefings to educate transitioning service members (TSM) on military installations in Virginia, which resulted in 1,722 Benefits Delivered at Discharge (BDD) Claims since January 2022.


• Virginia Veterans & Family Services (VVFS) delivered 2,683 individual supportive services to veterans and their families.  VVFS and Benefits screened 6,379 veterans for suicide risk (January - June 2022).


• Provided higher education access through over 900 programs approved for GI Bill use.  Virginia veterans received more than $800 Million in G.I. Bill benefits.


• Performed 2,413 burials at Virginia’s three state veterans cemeteries.


• Hosted 41,134 visitors at the Virginia War Memorial.


• Had over 131,000 contacts with transitioning service members and spouses through outreach conducted by Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Transition Program.


• Helped 124 medically trained Veterans and military spouses find healthcare related employment in Virginia.

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) Veterans Population Forecasting Model 2018 (VetPop2018) show that veteran population population will decline for next 25 years nation-wide, including in Virginia.


• Virginia’s veteran population is estimated at about 700,000;


• Virginia ranks #1 in:
  
  
  
  • Veteran Full-Time Employed Rate
  
  
  • Labor Force Growth Rate;
  
  
  • Veteran Labor Force Participation Rate;
  
  
  • Veteran Owned Small Businesses; and
  
  
  • Women veterans as a percentage of the total state veteran population.
  
  
  
  


• The two new veterans care centers scheduled to open in 2022/2023 will greatly expand our ability to serve veterans in need of high-quality skilled nursing care or short-term rehabilitative care services. The Puller Veterans Care Center (VCC) will be a 128-bed facility in Fauquier County, to serve Northern Virginia; and the Jones & Cabacoy VCC will be a 128-bed facility built in the City of Virginia Beach to serve Hampton Roads.


• Several years ago, it appeared that Culpeper National Cemetery would run out of available space for new burials and would close to new interments, meaning that Virginia would need to work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) to construct a fourth state veterans cemetery in the Amherst County area to meet the burial needs of Virginia veterans.  However, the USDVA purchased additional land for Culpeper National Cemetery, which now has burial capacity for several more decades.  DVS will continue to monitor the burial depletion rate at Culpeper National Cemetery, but it does not appear that USDVA will consider funding the construction of a fourth state veterans cemetery in Virginia for some time.

Transition and Employment Services: The Transition and Employment (T&E) Directorate houses the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program, the V3 Transition Program and the Military Medics and Corpsmen Program, the Virginia Women Veteran Program and the Military Spouse Liaison. The directorate and these programs also work with the Education directorate on initiatives related to workforce development such as Skillbridge, on the job training and apprenticeships.

Veterans Education Services: Ensures access to higher education opportunities for Virginia veterans and eligible dependents by certifying that programs of instruction at post-secondary education institutions in Virginia meet federal requirements, enabling Virginia veterans and eligible dependents to use their G.I. Bill education benefits. Audits education programs to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Leads DVS activities in support of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP).

Veterans Benefits: Provides free assistance to Virginia veterans and eligible dependents in accessing federal and state veterans benefits. DVS operates 34 benefit services offices.

Virginia Veteran and Family Support: In cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), VVFS works to help Virginia's most vulnerable veterans and family members by providing timely assessment, treatment, and support through an extensive network of federal, state, and local partnerships, to promote recovery and resilience. VVFS serves veterans of any era who are Virginia residents, members of the Virginia National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service, and family members of those veterans and service members. VVFS serves our most vulnerable veterans, including justice-involved veterans, incarcerated veterans, and those at risk for, or experiencing homelessness. VVFS specializes in closing service gaps and enhancing response systems for all veterans in the Commonwealth and their families, by referring them to mental health, physical rehabilitation, and other services as needed.

Veterans Care Centers: Delivers skilled nursing care, Alzheimer's/memory care, and short-term rehabilitative care to Virginia's veterans, predominantly those 65 and older, at veterans care centers in Richmond (Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center, 200 beds) and Roanoke (Virginia Veterans Care Center, 224 beds). New 128-bed care centers are being built in Virginia Beach (the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center, opening in late 2022), and Fauquier County (the Puller Veterans Care Center, opening in Spring 2023).

Veterans Cemeteries: Serves the memorial needs of Virginia veterans and eligible dependents at state veterans cemeteries in Amelia (Virginia Veterans Cemetery), Dublin (Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery), and Suffolk (Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery).

Virginia War Memorial: The Virginia War Memorial is the Commonwealth of Virginia’s monument to honor the memory of Virginia’s men and women who demonstrated a willingness to serve and fight to defend our way of life from World War II to the present. Through its Education Center, the Memorial serves as the Center of Excellence for the Commonwealth in education of Virginian’s experience of war from the birth of our nation to the present.

In FY22, the Department of Veterans Services:

• Filed 19,726 disability compensation claims on behalf of Virginia veterans and families (86,847 total submissions), contributing to $4.63 Billion in federal compensation and disability payments to Virginia veterans.


• Increased outreach and briefings to educate transitioning service members (TSM) on military installations in Virginia, which resulted in 1,722 Benefits Delivered at Discharge (BDD) Claims since January 2022. 


• Virginia Veterans & Family Services (VVFS) delivered 2,683 individual supportive services to veterans and their families.  VVFS and Benefits screened 6,379 veterans for suicide risk (January - June 2022)


• Provided higher education access through over 900 programs approved for GI Bill use.  Virginia veterans received more than $800 Million in G.I. Bill benefits.


• Performed 2,413 burials at Virginia’s three state veteran cemeteries.


• Hosted 41,134 visitors at the Virginia War Memorial.


• Had over 131,000 contacts with transitioning service members and spouses through outreach conducted by the V3 Transition Program.


• Helped 124 medically trained Veterans and military spouses find healthcare related employment in Virginia.


• The Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) received 4,511 applications and 2,841 were eligible and approved.


• The Military Education & Workforce Initiative (MEWI) partnered with the Veterans Services Foundation and Altria to provide 30 laptops to Virginia Commonwealth University for distribution to service members, veterans, or their spouses who are actively enrolled.


• MEWI provided 120 laptops to John Tyler/ Brightpoint Community College and 100 laptops to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College for distribution to service members, veterans, or their spouses who are actively enrolled.


• MEWI partnered with Altria and the Veterans Services Foundation to provide 117 certifications at no cost to active duty, veterans, and military spouses via the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA). 


• Approved 60 Hire Vets Now Fellowship SkillBridge Program providers.


• MEWI reviewed and processed 83 Transitioning Service member Hire Vets Now Fellowship Skillbridge applications.


• The Virginia State Approving Agency helped to provide higher education access through over 900 facilities approved for GI Bill use.


•  49,558 Virginia veterans and family members used their GI Bill benefits in FFY21


•  69 Virginia Post 9/11 beneficiaries used OJT/APP Programs in FFY 21


•  $732,815 Million in GI Bill payments were received by Virginia’s beneficiaries


• 962 Virginia facilities are currently approved for GI Bill use, including colleges, universities, vocational schools, licensure and certifications exam providers, and OJT and apprenticeship programs


• Of these 962, there are 400 active GI Bill approved facilities (at least one GI Bill student)
  
  
  
  • 180 Institutions of Higher Learning
  
  
  • 101 Non-college degree programs
  
  
  • 68 Apprenticeships
  
  
  • 43 OJT
  
  
  • 8 Flight schools
  
  
  
  

Increase the proportion of transitioning service members who STAY in Virginia (or return to Virginia) upon separation

Increase the proportion of transitioning service members who stay in Virginia (or return to Virginia) upon separation

• Gain access to all transition assistance program (TAP) briefings on Virginia military bases. Achieve 100% DVS presence at all TAP briefings

• Increase the number of transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses attending Hire Vets Now networking events on military installations

Grow Virginia economy by matching demand (jobs) with supply (Veterans), enabling Veterans and families to WORK in Virginia

Grow Virginia economy by matching demand (jobs) with supply (Veterans)

• 100 transitioning service members complete Hire Vets Now Skillbridge annually

• 1,000 transitioning service members, Veterans and military spouses participate in Hire Vets Now Networking Events on Virginia military installations.

• 3,000 referrals to strategic partners annually

• Build new partnerships through Chambers of Commerce

Promote non-economic quality of life in benefits, education, and community integration to enable Veterans and families to THRIVE in Virginia

Promote non-economic quality of life in benefits, education, and community integration

• Create VMSDEP Newsletter with relevant updates and data and state resources/events

• Work with Benefits service line to promote VSMDEP benefit to qualifying veterans

The 10814 Service Area is no longer used by the Department of Veterans Services (DVS)

In 2018, the General Assembly amended the Appropriation Act to remove Program 10814 [Education Program Certification for Veterans] as a separate appropriation and move it under 46703, Veterans Education, Transition and Employment, to accurately reflect budget and service line alignment within DVS.

The Veterans Care Center Services section operates two long-term care facilities for veterans: the Virginia Veterans Care Center (VVCC), a 224-bed facility adjacent to the Salem Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Roanoke, and the Sitter & Barfoot Veterans Care Center (SBVCC), a 200-bed facility adjacent to the McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond.

Two new veterans care centers are under construction:

The Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center (JCVCC) is a 128-bed facility in the City of Virginia Beach.  It is scheduled to open in late 2022.

The 128-bed Puller Veterans Care Center (PVCC) in Vint Hill, Fauquier County is scheduled to open in Spring 2023

This Service Area directly aligns with and supports the Department of Veterans Services mission of serving Virginia’s veterans by providing health care and comfort to veterans in a clean, safe, caring and dignified setting appropriate for men and women who have served our country with honor.  To do this, DVS:

• Takes a whole person approach that focuses not just on providing physical health care to residents, but also providing recreational, therapeutic, spiritual, and social opportunities that contribute to overall physical and mental health;


• Operates the care centers as symbols of the Commonwealth’s commitment to her veterans; and


• Serves the greatest possible number of veterans by maintaining the highest practical facility census.

DVS Veterans Care Centers (VCCs) serve veterans of the armed forces of the United States who received an honorable discharge and who currently reside in or entered the armed forces from Virginia. 

Admission to the VCCs is based on medical necessity – the potential resident must require the level of care the VCCs provide and the VCCs must be able to provide the level of care the potential resident needs.

All DVS Veterans Care Centers offer Skilled Nursing, Alzheimer's/Memory, and Short-term Rehabilitative care.  In addition, Assisted Living (domiciliary) care is offered at the Roanoke facility.

Nursing Care Services and Skilled Care Services: Administration of medication and treatments, monitoring behavior, changes in medical condition, and care for residents by licensed nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech language therapists.

Alzheimer’s/Memory Care Services: Secure units with administration of medication and treatments, monitoring behavior, changes in medical condition, and care for residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Short-term Rehabilitation Services: In-house rehabilitation services for service members and veterans in need of short-term rehabilitation services.

Assisted Living Services (VVCC Only): Provides residents with a limited number of activities of daily living, medication administration, and/or monitoring of behavior patterns.

Ancillary Services: dietary, physical therapy, activities, recreation, family and community involvement..

Virginia's veterans care centers receive no regular operating support from the general fund; current operations rely on nongeneral fund revenue from Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and a per diem from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

This service area assists Virginia veterans and family members in the development and submission of service-connected disability and pension claims, as well as death and survivor benefits, to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It represents veterans in the appeals process, assists with eligibility for state veterans benefits, and works in conjunction with partners to connect veterans to their federal and state veterans benefits.

This service area directly aligns with the department’s mission of ensuring that Virginia’s veterans and their families receive the federal and state veterans benefits they have earned through service and sacrifice.

Claims development and submission: Prepare and submit disability compensation, pension, and other claims to the VA at one of our 34 offices around the Commonwealth. Gathering and developing evidence (medical records, unit histories, etc.) necessary to support the claims application package.

Legal representation of veterans: Represent veterans and family members in the appeals process, including hearings at the USDVA Regional Office in Roanoke, and before the Board of Veterans Appeals in Washington, D.C.

Service Disabled, Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Program: In support of the Small Business and Supplier Diversity agency (SBSD), Benefits staff certifies that an applicant for the SDVOSB Program qualifies or not.

The operations of the Benefit Services section are supported entirely by the General Fund (GF).  46701 does not have a NGF revenue source.

The 46701 appropriation includes $2.5M (FY23) and $3.75M approved in Chapter 2, Item 470(H).  A portion of these funds will be allotted  to other DVS service areas (ex. 46702 and 46703) by a budget execution adjustment.

The Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) program is operated by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), in cooperation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), and many other federal, state, local, and community partners.

VVFS was established in 2008 (as the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program) in response to the growing need to improve and expand services to our nation’s veterans and their family members coping with the impact of deployment, military service, posttraumatic stress (PTSD), operational stress and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI). VVFS monitors and coordinates the delivery of behavioral health, rehabilitative, and supportive services for Virginia veterans and their families.

VVFS works to ensure Virginia veterans do not slip through the cracks by providing timely assessment, and linkages to treatment and support through an extensive network of federal, state, and local partnerships, to promote recovery and resilience. VVFS serves transitioning service members, veterans of any era who are Virginia residents, members of the Virginia National Guard and Armed Forces Reserves, and family members and caregivers of those veterans and service members. VVFS direct services providers including Resource Specialists, Peer Specialists, and Veteran Justice Specialists help veterans and families achieve identified goals and periodically monitor their progress toward achieving those goals. VVFS core services include peer and family support, and hand-on assistance navigating resources. VVFS also provides outreach, care coordination, and peer support services to our most vulnerable veterans, including justice-involved veterans, incarcerated veterans, and those at risk for, or experiencing homelessness.  

The mission of VVFS aligns directly with the Department's mission of serving Virginia veterans and their families. VVFS helps Military Service Members, Veterans, and their families thrive by supporting their health and wellness goals, and providing peer and family support and care coordination services.

The Virginia Veteran and Family Support (VVFS) program is supported primarily by the General Fund (GF).  The GF appropriation includes up to $200,000 per fiscal year to support the Granting Freedom program operated by Virginia Housing and $24,000 per fiscal year for Angel Wings for Veterans.

The bulk of the Nongeneral Fund (NGF) appropriation - averaging $3M per FY - is for the Office of Economic Adjustments (OEA) grant managed by the Office of the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs (VADA).  DVS serves as VADA's fiscal agent for the OEA grant.

The remaining VVFS NGF appropriation ($282,054) reflects spending authority in case DVS should receive grant funds to support VVFS operations.  VVFS has not been awarded any FY23 grants yet.

Donated funds also support VVFS operations – these are held in the Veterans Services Fund and are allocated to support VVFS programs and services (this spending is accounted for in Program 46704).

Education Services

This service area is responsible for:

• The State Approving Agency (SAA) is responsible for approving education institutions and establishments operating in Virginia, in order that eligible veterans and their dependents may enroll and receive financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) while pursuing an approved educational course or program through the G.I. Bill.  Approved educational programs, include state colleges/universities, private and for-profit colleges/universities, technical/trade schools, licensing/certification programs, and OJT/Apprenticeship programs.


• 
  

  The State Approving Agency also conducts compliance surveys of approved educational facilities with at least one veteran/dependent enrolled to verify enrollment data, awards actions, and previous payments for accuracy; and to ensure that payments made to eligible veterans and their dependents are within USDVA regulations.

  
  


• The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service.  The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is responsible for managing the program and collaborates with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and Virginia’s public colleges and universities to assist spouses and children of qualified military service members and Veterans in attaining their educational goals.


• The Military Education and Workforce Initiative (MEWI) enhances employment opportunities for Virginians who served in the United States Military, and their spouses, by providing a pathway to education, training, certifications, and technology.  MEWI partners with the Veterans Services Foundation and education institutions to provide free credentialing and free laptops to student veterans and spouses currently enrolled in higher education programs.  MEWI administers the Hire Vets Now Fellowship, a DoD-approved SkillBridge program.

Employment and Transition Services

This service area is responsible for:

• Supporting the creation of employment opportunities for Virginia veterans through the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program.
  
  
  
  • Assisting veterans transitioning from military service to achieve success through employment, education, or entrepreneurship through the V3 Transition Program (V3T).
  
  
  • Providing transitioning military service members with specialized medical training an opportunity for employment at partner healthcare providers through the Military Medics and Corpsmen (MMAC) Program.
  
  
  
  


• Virginia’s Women Veterans Program (VWVP) provides access to community resources to educate, unify, and empower Virginia’s women veterans, who have served in the military in all eras; by ensuring they receive timely yet appropriate transition and benefits support/ employment and education outreach; health and community advocacy.
  
  
  
  • Providing outreach and targeted services to Virginia’s women veterans through the Virginia Women Veterans Program Manager and Annual Virginia Women Veterans Summit.
  
  
  
  


• The Military Spouse Liaison works with all VDVS service lines to assist military spouses of Active Duty, Reserve, National Guardsman, and Veterans of ALL military branches; Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Virginia National Guard. Also includes surviving widows(ers) and caregivers.

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) recognizes the importance of providing educational, transition, and employment opportunities for veterans and their eligible dependents. The Veterans Education and Transition & Employment sections' mission aligns with the departmental philosophy to support the education, transition, employment, and personal development of veterans and their families.

V3, V3T, MMAC, MEWI, and the Virginia Women Veterans program are funded through the General Fund. The number of veterans these programs can serve is dependent on funding levels. As the number of veterans served by the programs grows in future fiscal years, additional resources may be required to meet demand for services. V3 utilizes non-general (donated) funds to enhance employer outreach and training programs. The Virginia Women Veterans Summit also utilizes partnership/sponsorship funds to make the annual conference a successful event.

The 46703 FY23 General Fund appropriation includes $250,000 for Hero's Bridge and one-time funding for the development of a customer relationship management system and a VMSDEP application portal.

46703 Nongeneral funds are for the State Approving Agency for Veterans Education and Training (GI Bill program approval) which operates through a contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

This service area is responsible for distributing the nongeneral appropriation funds transferred to DVS by the Veterans Services Foundation (VSF), as of July 1, 2017.

As of July 1, 2017 the Veterans Services Foundation is a separate agency of the Commonwealth, governed and administered by a board of trustees, through the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. DVS and VSF continue to maintain strong ties and work together to fund DVS programs and services for Virginia veterans.

The majority of funds coming into the VSF are earmarked by donors for specific programs and service lines within DVS. The Foundation also solicits and accepts non-restricted donations that can be allocated to support any DVS program/service

The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners lead agency operations. They are supported by the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Technology Officer, the Directors of Human Resources; Communications; Policy & Planning; and Research, Development, and Partnerships; and by the Administrative Services team. The Administrative Services section provides fiscal, payroll, procurement, information technology, human resources, development, legislative, and budget support for agency operations. Legal services are provided by the Office of the Attorney General.

The Administrative Services section supports the department’s seven service delivery sections in serving Virginia veterans and family members. The Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners lead the agency.  The Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Technology Officer, the Directors of Human Resources; Communications; Policy & Planning; and Research, Development, and Partnerships and the Administrative Services team provides multiple services to the department's service-delivery sections. 

Fiscal management and financial reporting: Budgeting, auditing, accounts payable/receivable, payroll processing, procurement, construction project tracking and cost reporting, and coordination of receipt and spending of donated funds to the Veterans Services Foundation.

IT/COOP: IT systems architecture and infrastructure planning, support, and project management; information security management and data integrity planning, support, and oversight; Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Disaster Recovery lead.

Human Resources: Employee recruitment and selection, evaluations, position classification and compensation, grievance processing, and administration of benefits plans.

Communications: Marketing and outreach, agency brochures and information to media, veterans, other agencies and the public.

Legislation and Policy: Coordination of budget and legislative strategy with key stakeholders, tracking and disseminating information on veterans legislation during Session. Development and promulgation of agency operating and management policies. Coordination and management of BVS and JLC. Management of the agency’s strategic plan. Management the policy and regulations for §§ 58.1-3219.5, 58.1-3219.9

Research, Development, and Partnerships: Research, Data Analysis, New Program Development, Partnership Building, Process Improvement and business process transformation supported through key metric decision making and support for strategic initiatives.  

Legal: Provided by the Office of the Attorney General

The majority of funding for the Administrative Services section comes from a General Fund appropriation, while a portion comes from Nongeneral Funds transferred from the Department's service sections.

The 50202 Service Area is not used by the Department of Veterans Services (DVS)

The 50203 Service Area is not used by the Department of Veterans Services (DVS)

.

Virginia’s three state-operated veterans cemeteries provide honorable burial and memorial services to Virginia’s veterans and eligible dependents. The Virginia Veterans Cemetery is located in Amelia; the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk; and the Southwest Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Dublin.

This service area directly aligns with the department’s mission of ensuring that Virginia’s veterans and their eligible dependents receive the perpetual care they have earned through service and sacrifice. 

All three state veteran cemeteries must meet U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/National Cemetery Administration (USDVA/NCA) rules and requirements.

Interments: three types of interments are offered:

1. In-ground casketed remains,


2. In-ground cremated remains; and


3. Above ground columbarium for cremated remains.

Perpetual care of gravesites, cemetery grounds, and facilities.

Advanced planning for interment and inurnment services:

1. Explaining burial benefits and helping determine eligibility;


2. Conducting outreach to communities, veterans service organizations (VSOs) and our veterans boards; and


3. Assisting veterans and families to complete a pre-applications to be buried at a Virginia state veterans cemetery.  The pre-application does not commit the Veteran to be buried there, but it does help gather all the necessary documents (DD-214, etc.) in one place.

Coordination with funeral directors, local, state and federal agencies: Upon the veteran’s death, collect all paperwork, verify eligibility and enter forms in the Burial Operation Support System (BOSS) for space assignment and ordering the requested grave marker.

Coordination and Burial of unclaimed cremated remains: DVS partners with the government entities, funeral homes and private organizations to identify the unclaimed remains of veterans. Remains stored at funeral homes, crematories, and medical examiners facilities are transferred to DVS, and we provide a dignified ceremony and final resting place at one of our state veterans cemeteries.

Funding for the Cemetery Services section comes from a mix of state, federal, and private funds.

Nongeneral fund revenue comes from two sources. DVS receives a plot allowance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for each veteran buried which was $828 in FY22 and is adjusted annual according to changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). A $400 fee is charged for each spouse or dependent buried. This fee was raised from $300 on 1 July 2021. Nongeneral funds received are based on the number of burials performed.

The Virginia War Memorial is the Commonwealth’s memorial to honor its war dead from World War II to the present, and all patriotic Virginians who rendered faithful service and sacrifice in the cause of freedom and liberty for the Commonwealth and the nation in time of war. The Memorial honors these Virginians by passing their stories of sacrifice forward through various education programs, “Virginians at War” documentary films, lectures, seminars, teacher institutes, conferences, exhibits, and ceremonies. The Memorial includes the Shrine of Memory with the statue of Memory, reflecting pool, eternal flame, amphitheater, memorial plantings an, Galanti Education Center, and the C. Kenneth Wright Pavilion. 

The mission of the Virginia War Memorial, as defined in the Code of Virginia, "shall be to honor patriotic Virginians who rendered faithful service and sacrifice in the cause of freedom and liberty for the Commonwealth and the nation in time of war, honor all of Virginia's veterans, preserve their history, educate the public, and inspire patriotism in all Virginians."

The mission of the Virginia War Memorial aligns with the Department of Veterans Services mission of serving Virginia's veterans and their eligible dependents.

Honoring Virginians who served through historic preservation: In addition to the Shrine, recording the Missing in Action as a result of the Vietnam War, preserving the dignity of military medals, ribbons, certificates or other artifacts that come into our possession and making reasonable efforts to determine the rightful owner; Virginians at War documentary film series; Research library and artifact displays preserve Virginia’s war history and stories.

Indoor and outdoor venue space for DVS, boards, legislators, VSOs and community groups: Paul & Phyllis Galanti Education Center, Heilman Amphitheater, Hargrove Plaza, and the new Wright Pavilion are available to DVS and outside groups for educational, legislative or community events (non-political).

The Shrine of Memory-21st Century, dedicated February 29, 2020 honors those lost in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terrorism and those who may be lost in future conflicts. The new C. Kenneth Wright Pavilion was also dedicated on February 29, 2020, greatly enhancing the Virginia War Memorial’s ability to provide world-class preservation and education programs. It houses a Virginia Medal of Honor Gallery, Distance Learning Studio, Veterans Art Gallery, Research Library, and a 350-seat divisible Lecture Hall.  By relocating the Memorial's administrative space, a major Exhibit Hall was built in the Memorial's Galanti Center.

Funding for Virginia War Memorial operations and maintenance comes entirely from General Funds. The number of visitors to the Memorial has steadily increased as a result of the many patriotic events and educational programs offered at the Memorial.

The Virginia War Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)(3), supports the Virginia War Memorial's education programs and capital projects. Educational programs developed by the Memorial and funded through the Foundation, such as the Virginians at War film series, are now used in middle and high schools statewide.