Texas Veterans Leadership Program

The Texas Veterans Leadership Program (TVLP) is a Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) resource and referral network that serves to connect returning veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan with the resources and tools they need to lead productive lives and enjoy the full benefits of the

society they have willingly served. Veterans Resource and Referral Specialists (VRRSs) will work to find ancillary services in local communities, some of which will be community service organizations, veterans service organizations, and faith-based programs.The VRRSs also will link federal to local governmental agencies and programs as well as community leaders and employers.

Our TWC Program Director is a returning veteran of Iraq. He oversees TVLP and its 28 VRRSs. This network of returning veterans will play an integral role in addressing the needs of other returning veterans, including referrals to address employment, training, medical, educational, and other needs of veterans. One VRRS is assigned to each of the 28 local workforce development areas. Located in a Texas Workforce Center, each local project director works closely with Texas workforce center staff and TVC staff who are co-located in Texas Workforce Centers.

VRRSs will:

* Seek out veterans in need of services;
* Serve as resource and referral agents, directing returning veterans to resources tailored to their needs;
* Make referrals and coordinate with different programs ranging from employment and training to medical care, mental health and counseling, veterans benefits, and other programs to address the varying needs of veterans; and
* Coordinate a chain of volunteer veterans familiar with the obstacles faced by returning veterans to assist in mentoring and serving returning Iraq/Afghanistan veterans.