Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion (ORMDI)

Hispanic Employment Program

Hispanic Employment Program

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proudly leads the effort to build a diverse workforce and cultivate an inclusive work environment.  We do this by developing and implementing policies and programs that promote diversity and inclusion in our workplace as we strive to ensure that VA’s workforce is drawn from the broadest segments of society so that it is poised to meet the present and future needs of our Nation's Veterans, their families and beneficiaries.

The VA Hispanic Employment Program (HEP) is designed to create plans to address potential and validated discriminatory and inequitable practices in hiring and employment and ensure full participation of Hispanics in VA's workforce by implementing plans to eliminate adverse data trends at all levels of the agency.  See 29 Code of Federal Regulation, Part 1614.102(b)(4) for additional information.

Within this framework, some of the specific program objectives include:

• Identify and address barriers to the hiring, development and advancement of      Hispanics.
• Develop and implement programs and initiatives that will enhance the employment      and retention of Hispanics.
• Identify ways to ensure equal consideration for promotions, training, and awards      for Hispanics.
• Monitor separation and disciplinary actions for Hispanics.
• Serve as a liaison between recruiters, employee resource groups, and external      affinity organizations which can assist in diversity outreach and recruitment efforts.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with community, professional      and national organizations, college and universities.

Executive Orders

• Executive Order 11478 – Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal      Government
• Executive Order 13171 – Hispanic Employment in the Federal Government
• Executive Order 13583 – Establishing a Coordinated Government-wide Initiative to      Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce
• Executive Order 13985 – Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved      Communities Through the Federal Government
• Executive Order 14035 – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the      Federal Workforce
• Executive Order 14045: White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity,      Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics
  
• EO 14048 - Continuance or Reestablishment of Certain Federal Advisory      Committees and Amendments to Other Executive Orders

Affinity Organizations

• Florida International University (FIU) 
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 
• Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools (HSHPS)
• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 
• MANA, A National Latina Organization
• National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives (NAHFE) 
• National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
• National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA)
• National Image, Inc.
• Valencia College (VC)

MOUs and Partnership Agreements
VA maintains Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the following partners in higher education.

• Florida International University (FIU)
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
• Valencia College (VC)

External Affinity Conferences Approved for VA-wide Participation
(VA External Affinity Conferences Memo [PDF])
For more information on external affinity conferences approved for VA-wide participation, please visit the following:

• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities' (HACU) Annual Conference
• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Convention &      Exposition

Observances (VA SEP Observances Memo [PDF])

ORMDI provides a SEP Observances Toolkit as guidance to field facilities on implementing activities for special observances, including the following:

• Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)

Employment
ORMDI does not offer or conduct employment services.  Please visit the following:

• VA Careers
• Veteran Employment Program (VEP)
• National Diversity Internship Program (NDIP)
• Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
• Pathways at VA
• Department of Labor, Career One Stop

Internal Resources

• Center for Minority Veterans
• National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics
• VA Benefits and Programs for Minority Veterans

External Government Resources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment status of the Hispanic or Latino population      by sex and age
• Census, Hispanic Data Links
• Census, Hispanic Origin
• Census, Hispanic Heritage Month
• Department of Health and Human Services, Minority Health, Hispanic/Latino      Americans
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Report on the Hispanic Employment      Challenge in the Federal Government by The Federal Hispanic Work Group
• Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Air Force
• Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Army
• Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Coast Guard
• Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Marine Corps
• Hispanic Americans in the U.S. Navy
• Library of Congress: Hispanic Reading Room
• National Archives, Hispanic Heritage Month
• National Archives, Hispanic / Latino Heritage
• National Archives, Veterans Service Records
• National Museum of American History, Latino History
• National Park Service, Hispanic & Latino Military Heritage
• National Park Service, National Hispanic Heritage Month
• Smithsonian Latino Center
• Veterans History Project, Hispanic

Other External Resources

• National Council of Hispanic Employment Managers

Program Contact

Ms. Karen Basnight, VA’s National Hispanic Employment Program Manager (Acting), ORMDI. 

Diversity & Inclusion Section Pages

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