OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION(ODI)

OFFICE OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION(ODI)

U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsAugust 2013

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Mission

The mission of the VA diversity and inclusion program is to build a diverse workforce and

cultivate an inclusive workplace to deliver the best services to our Nation’s Veterans, their families,

and beneficiaries.

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Vision

VA is a leader in creating and sustaining a high-performing workforce by leveraging diversity and

empowering employees to achieve superior results in service to our Nation and its Veterans.

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Values

VA’s diversity and inclusion program adheres to the Department’s core values of integrity,

commitment, advocacy, respect, and

excellence (I CARE).

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ODI’s Three Goals

1. A Diverse Workforce: Build a diverse, high-performing workforce that reflects all segments of society.

2. An Inclusive Workplace: Cultivate a flexible, collaborative, and inclusive work environment that leverages diversity and empowers all contributors.

3. Outstanding Public Service: Facilitate outstanding, culturally competent public service and stakeholder relations through effective leadership and accountability.

To address these goals, ODI has three teams.

ODI Structure

Georgia CoffeyDeputy Assistant

Secretary

Workforce Analysis TeamManages the workforce planning and analysis system, conducts technical assistance and training, creates diversity tools for managers and supervisors, and prepares

ad-hoc reports.

Outreach and Retention TeamDevelops diversity and affirmative employment policy, manages special emphasis programs, provides guidance on diversity internships, produces a majority of the Department's annual diversity reports, conducts Technical Assistance Reviews (TARs), and facilitates outreach with community and VA supervisors to increase diversity awareness and opportunities.

Training and Communications TeamProvides diversity and inclusion training (online and onsite), distributes weekly diversity news updates and bimonthly newsletter, produces monthly video news program, and prepares various how-to guides and special reports, and maintains the ODI Web site.

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WORKFORCE ANALYSISWORKFORCE ANALYSIS

Office of Diversity and InclusionU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Functions

Establish strategies and guidance for achieving diversity Department-wide

Workforce planning and analysis

Conducting technical assistance and training

Create analytical applications for managers and supervisors to evaluate diversity initiatives

Prepare ad hoc reports and analysis

Responsible for the collection and analysis of information for the Department's annual EEOC MD 715 report.

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Workforce/Barrier Analysis

Less than expected participation

Hires

Promotions

Separations

Ethnicity/National Origin/Gender

Veterans/Disabled Veterans

Targeted Disabilities

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OUTREACH AND RETENTIONOUTREACH AND RETENTION

Office of Diversity and InclusionU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Responsibilities

Provide affirmative employment policy

Manage Special Emphasis Programs (SEP)

Advocate use of diverse student internships, training and education

Submit Agency Diversity Reports to the Office of Personnel Management, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and White House Initiatives.

Prepare plans to address identified barriers in employment

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Responsibilities Cont’d

Prepare correspondence to inform Departmental employees of special events and initiatives

Conduct Technical Assistance Reviews (TARs)

Create partnerships with Affinity Organizations

Support Affinity groups at National Conferences

Provide training in Reasonable Accommodations and Schedule A.

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Special Emphasis Programs

Federal Women’s Program

Disability Employment Program

Hispanic Employment Program

Black or African-American Program

Asian American and Pacific Islander Program

American Indian and Alaska Native Program

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) Program

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Annual Reports/Plans

Management Directive 715 (MD-715)

Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Program (FEORP)

Hispanic Employment Program (HEP)

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI)

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) which includes Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)

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Diversity Recruitment Outreach, Development, and Retention Initiatives

Reasonable Accommodation Centralized Fund

Reasonable Accommodation Tracking System

Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students and Recent Graduates with Disabilities Centralized Fund

Secretary’s 3% Hiring Goal for Persons with Targeted Disabilities

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Diversity Recruitment Outreach, Development, and Retention

Initiatives Cont’d

National Diversity Internship Program

Diversity Training

Workforce Barrier Analyses

SES Performance Element

Corporate Outreach and Recruitment Strategic Planning Work Group (CORSPWG)

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TRAINING AND COMMUNICATIONSTRAINING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Office of Diversity and InclusionU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

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Training Program

Consultant services for VA clients nationwide seeking customized diversity and inclusion trainingDiversity and inclusion training for:

New VACO supervisorsVA managers and supervisorsVA leadership development program candidatesVA Senior Executive Service members and title 38 equivalentsAt request of VA organizations, ad hoc training customized to their specialized D&I needs

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Communications Products

External Web site

NewsLink

Diversity@Work newsletter

Diversity News video

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ODI Web sitewww.diversity.va.gov

Internet site housing:Laws and regulationsPolicies and directives such as VA’s EEO PolicyVA’s Strategic Plan for Diversity and InclusionEEOC Management Directive 715 software and reportsOther EEOC reports and resourcesDiversity@Work newsletterDiversity News videoDiversity calendarDiversity organizationsGuidance from National SEPMsDiversity, Inclusion, and EEO TrainingNational Diversity Internship program information

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NewsLinkSummaries and links to recent diversity-related articles, research reports, or other publications gathered from a variety of online sources that help managers and staff step outside of VA

Monthly production; distributed Wednesdays

Distributed via e-mail to subscribers

8,000 current subscribersApprox. 97 percent internal to VA

Approx. 3 percent external to VA

E-mail odi@va.gov with the words “Subscribe News” in the subject line to subscribe

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Diversity@Work NewsletterDiversity news, calendar events, highlights of special activities, and information on practical tools that help managers and staff promote workplace diversity, equity, and inclusionMonthly productionDistribution:

Published electronically (www.diversity.va.gov/products/daw.aspx)Distributed via e-mail to subscribers

Approx. 8,000 current subscribersApprox. 98 percent internal to VAApprox. 2 percent external to VA

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Diversity News Video15-minute video program on diversity and EEO news, studies, surveys, interviews, book abstracts, training seminars, special emphasis issues, events, and activities

Bi-monthly production with support of Employee Education System studio and staff

Distribution:VA Knowledge Network Communications Channel 2 (immediately following VA News)

ODI Web site (http://www.diversity.va.gov/products/dn/aspx)

DVDs (by special request)

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Secretary’s Programs

VA Diversity CouncilCorporate advisory body established in 2008

ODI provides technical and administrative support to Council

Co-Chairs manage, monitor, coordinate SMC or ELB assignments to Council

Council charter approved by Secretary on March 23, 2010

Vehicle to call for annual performance and accomplishments in alignment with VA’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan

Secretary’s Diversity and Inclusion Annual Awards Program A panel of VA Diversity Council members review and rank nominations

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

Office of Diversity and InclusionU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

(202) 461-4131odi@va.gov