Federal Daily - December 8, 2009

VA Launches National Survey of Vets, Servicemembers

In an effort to see if the Department of Veterans Affairs is getting its message out, VA has launched its first National Survey of Veterans since 2001. The survey—only the sixth such study since 1978—will seek the opinions of vets, active-duty servicemembers, activated National Guard, reserve members and their families.

The survey gathers information to determine if those who stand to benefit from VA programs are aware of them, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said in a Dec. 3 statement. “By hearing directly from veterans and their family members, we gain valuable information to help us serve them better,” he said.

In addition to assessing awareness levels, the survey will collect data on health care, benefits, employment, and demographics that VA will use to inform its policy decisions and improve benefits. This is the first time VA has included veterans’ family members in its survey population, a decision the agency said it made out of recognition that VA serves a broader base than just the vets themselves.

VA is mailing out survey “screeners” to more than 130,000 households to identify potential survey participants. Those who do take the survey will be able to select a preferred survey method—mail, phone or online. VA expects about 10,000 respondents will complete the full-length survey, which is slated to be wrapped up by the end of February.

To see more, go to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1827.

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DoD Needs to Bolster Efforts to Address Sexual Assault, Task Force Says

DoD needs to ramp up its sexual assault response efforts, and develop better ways to prevent such attacks, according to an internal task force that looked at DoD’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.

In a report released Dec. 4, the DoD Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services found that reports of sexual assault increased 8.2 percent in Fiscal Year 2008 compared to FY 2007, from 2,688 to 2,908. That is probably just a fraction of the assaults that occur; the report estimated that less than 10 percent of sexual assaults are reported.

According to the report, DoD has made significant progress in responding to victims’ needs since the creation of the prevention program in 2005—but the task force cited a number of needed improvements.

Specifically, DoD should elevate oversight of SAPRO to the jurisdiction of the deputy secretary of defense until the program meets established goals—and should change the budgeting process to ensure more consistent funding among the military services, the report said.

The task force also recommended strengthening SAPRO’s policy and oversight functions, and called for the military services to develop prevention strategies in collaboration with national experts in sexual assault prevention.

“Eliminating sexual assault requires a culture change, which reinforces the military’s core values of honor, integrity, excellence, commitment, courage, loyalty, and selfless service,” the report said. “The Task Force believes that change in military culture must occur from the strategic to the tactical levels. Sexual assault is contrary to military values.”

The task force also recommended that Congress enact a comprehensive military justice privilege for communications between a victim advocate and a victim of sexual assault.

To see more, go to: www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13165.

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Agencies Need to Follow Up on Telework Emergency Plans, Group Says

As agencies brace for widespread absenteeism during the height of the flu season, a telework advocacy group says managers should make sure that employees actually can work remotely during an emergency.

Telework Exchange, a public-private partnership, released a survey Dec. 7 that evaluated the continuity plans of the public and private sectors in the face of a pandemic. The study, underwritten by Intel, showed that 81 percent of government and business IT decision makers who responded to the survey have written business continuity plans. However, the study also found that both sectors still report implementation challenges and lack assurances that employees could work remotely during an emergency.

For example, 60 percent of public-sector respondents reported their workforces would not telework immediately if a national emergency prevented them from coming to the workplace—a significant proportion, given that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects up to 40 percent of Americans may get the flu this season.

Among its recommendations, the group suggests that organizations assess their inventory of mobile equipment, establish tech support for teleworkers, prepare to accommodate increased bandwidth needs during an emergency, and ensure employees are aware of remote procedures.

To see more, go to: www.teleworkexchange.com/mobilizingagainstpandemic/pdf/Telework-Exchange-Mobility-Against-Pandemic-120709-FINAL.pdf.

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