Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Background
Why a survey of this location?
During this meeting our agency was informed that the complaints
from our veterans were both minimal in occurrence and isolated. As a
result, I requested the data that they might have to support that assertion.
They could offer none, stating that, "The VA does not conduct regional
surveys of individual locations” (Leanne Weldin).
On July 6th, 2018 our agency went live with the online survey and
promoted the survey link via social media outlets, as well as submitting
media requests and press releases to all area outlets. On July 9th, 2018
Local News Channel 2 Investigative Reporter, Libba Holland conducted
an interview and ran a story on the survey and the complaints: https://
www.counton2.com/news/local-news/operation-vet-fit-launches-survey-
to-investigate-practices-of-charleston-s-vocational-rehab-facility/
1292367860 .
It is our hope that this survey can compel the leadership at the
Veterans Affairs to instruct this location to share the survey link with all of
their serviced veterans at that location. This request by our agency is cost
neutral and only requires a single email be sent to their veterans that
have used the program at that location.
The results of this survey will be shared with the President of the
United States, US Congress, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Respectfully Submitted,
Survey Questions
The Survey as it appears here: http://
www.operationvetfit.org/vasurvey
Qualifying Question:
Satisfaction Survey *
16. The VA Video about the Voc Rehab program matched my experience
in the North Charleston Voc Rehab office
19. I really felt like a valued member of the veteran community through
this program
21. They seemed more concerned about my prior life "issues" than my
future life goals and objectives
27. I have filed a complaint against this office or my counselor and it was
handled effectively
2. My Gender
3. My Age
4. My VA Disability Rating % is
5. Branch of Service
The survey data was then submitted via "Submit" button and the
data stored in a secure cloud based location in spreadsheet format for
statistical analysis.
Survey Results
As of the date of this publication, "We've not had a single survey
participant demonstrate a positive experience at the North
Charleston VA Vocational Rehabilitation Office." - Daniel R. Gaita, MA,
LMSW
81.7
67.5
45
41.9
22.5
0
Average Age Average Disability Rating
57.14%
0.45
0.3
28.57%
0.15
14.28%
0%
0
E1-E3 E4-E6 E7-E9 Officer
Gender
0.9
85.72%
0.675
0.45
0.225
14.28%
0
Male Female
0.675
0.45
0.225
14.28%
0% 0% 0%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.8% 42.8%
0.375
0.25
14.3%
0.125
0% 0%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.45
0.3 28.6%
14.3%
0.15
0% 0%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.45
0.3
0%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.9%
0.375
28.6%
0.25
14.3% 14.3%
0.125
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.225
0.15 14.3%
0.075
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.6
0.4
28.6%
0.2
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.6
0.4
0.2
14.3% 14.3%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.6
0.4
28.6%
0.2
14.3%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.6
0.4
28.6%
0.2
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.6
0.4
0.2
14.3% 14.3%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.9%
0.375
28.6%
0.25
14.3% 14.3%
0.125
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.6
0.4
0.2
14.3% 14.3%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.9% 42.9%
0.375
0.25
14.3%
0.125
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.6
0.4
0.2
14.3% 14.3%
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.225
0.075
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.33
28.6% 28.6%
0.22
0.11
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.9% 42.9%
0.375
0.25
14.3%
0.125
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.33
28.6% 28.6%
0.22
0.11
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.9% 42.9%
0.375
0.25
14.3%
0.125
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.45
0.3 28.6%
14.3%
0.15
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.45
0.3 28.6%
14.3%
0.15
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.9% 42.9%
0.375
0.25
14.3%
0.125
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.9%
0.375
28.6%
0.25
14.3%
0.125
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
42.9%
0.375
28.6%
0.25
14.3% 14.3%
0.125
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.45
0.3 28.6%
14.3%
0.15
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
0.45
0.3 28.6%
14.3%
0.15
0
Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree
Discussion
Overall findings raise concerns
Individual Examples
The request was sent to both the Regional Director, Mrs. Leanne
Weldin and the North Charleston VA Vocational Rehabilitation Director,
Mrs. Lurlene Scott via email. On July 23rd, 2018 Mrs. Scott replied:
On July 24th, 2018 the requested MOU was furnished per FOIA
request by email from Kimberly Charles (Charles.Kimberger@va.gov) via
Leanne Weldin. The document, (Exhibit 1.), titled:
and the South Carolina Jobs for Veterans State Grant Veterans
Employment Services Unit and the South Carolina Department of
Employment Workforce" Retrievable here: (https://drive.google.com/
file/d/1c8IznScrXV9ui8L8ki4gW8X9RLilcJK_/view?usp=sharing)
Section III - Referral Criteria for Labor Market Information and Employment
Services.
However, it would appear as our agency has argued, that the North
Charleston location is referring 100% of all veterans to the program,
whether or not the veteran has chosen that track of VR&E Services.
As can be seen in
the image to the
left, the
Vocational
Rehabilitation
(VR&E) program
offers far more
than simple job
search help.
(https://drive.google.com/file/d/13fgclFSC7ntx0xJm2fpm9SxWWJKiyOcU/
view?usp=sharing, Page 3-13)
As a result, she has been relying upon Mr. Knight, to manage, direct
and supervise the Vocational Rehabilitation Program in this entire region.
I professionally advised her, in good faith, that Mr. Knight did not appear
to be administering the program as designed. Thus the June 28, 2018
meeting was scheduled.
During the June 28, 2018 meeting, in the presence of Mrs. Lurlene
Scott, the Regional Director, Leanne Weldin, and Paul Knight, another
counselor, Richard Moffet provided another needless barrier based on
misinformation. Specifically when he told one of our veterans that he
could not get his Masters Degree in Social Work through the
program because he had a prior felony conviction and would not be
allowed to get his Social Work license in the State of SC.
While Mrs. Weldin stared at Paul Knight, and Mrs. Scott, they all
nodded their heads in approval to what Mr. Moffet had just stated. At that
time I requested that I be allowed to contact the South Carolina Social
Work Licensing Board to confirm the factual accuracy of his answer which
I questioned. Mrs. Weldin agreed to my request. At which time I
contacted the SC Board of of Licensing at 803-896-8556, where I
inquired if a previously incarcerated person with a felony with a Masters
degree in Social Work was not eligible to become licensed as a social
worker in S.C. The answer was no. A prior felony conviction or
incarceration does not make one ineligible to become licensed.
Mr. Sealey not only told him he would not be able to use the
vocational Rehabilitation program to pay for his tuition, books and
supplies that semester, but told him he would not do well in college
due to his disabilities. He even went further and told him he would
Mr. Sealey did not show care for what I (a licensed mental health
professional) nor the veteran had to say. He was firm in his position that
the veteran would be required to complete the six month work study
program before starting college through his office. I informed Mr. Sealey
that we would be filing a complaint to his manager. At which time he
pointed over his left shoulder at an "I Care" award he received one time,
several years ago, for doing a good job.
5. Mrs. Lurlene Scott, I was told by Mr. Sealey, that Mrs. Scott is the
manager/supervisor at this location. I am not quite sure what she does or
what her actual job description is as she has patently ignored our agency
and our veterans’ complaints. Until the June 28th meeting.
"Mrs. Weldin,
Again to her credit, Mrs. Weldin replied that same day. Within 24
hours we had scheduled the June 28th, 2018 meeting that has been
referred to herein on multiple occasions.
Solutions
Respect, Retrain and Replace
Exhibits
Exhibit 1: Local Memorandum of Understanding between
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation
and Employment Services Columbia Regional Office, The U.S.
Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Services
and the South Carolina Jobs for Veterans State Grant Veterans
Employment Services Unit and the South Carolina Department of
Employment Workforce