VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OF LOS ANGELES (VOALA) AND VET TECH AT HOME (VTAH) STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAM
VOALA is in the process of developing funding sources for job training and career placement in various industries. At the same time, the available job training programs for Transitional Age Youth (TAY) are runaway and homeless, including LGBTQ and Veterans struggle to keep up with market demands of basic skills, required on-site training, and meaningful career placement. VTAH, in a collaboration with VOALA, is working on educational/career funding sources to educate Veterans and TAY in establishing careers as home Vet tech care technicians as well as establishing a critical partnership of training and providing jobs through VTAH. Volunteers of America of Los Angeles and Vet Tech at Home are developing funding sources to provide job training resources within the Pet Care Industry. The program is aimed at ensuring long term financial career stability for the Veterans and TAY.
Companion animals are family members. Along with the joys of animal companionship is also a level of stress as they age or get in trouble medically. Unfortunately, there is a growing trend, with age, illness or the guardian’s convenience, to euthanize family member pets earlier than necessary leaving family members conflicted and distraught. Companion animals with appropriate care, can overcome acute or chronic health crisis or be managed for a substantial amount of quality time under the appropriate medical care. The primary issues are, high cost veterinarian home visits, as well as the inability to schedule and accommodate multiple re-occurring vet visits. Vet Tech at Home’s goal is to decrease these costs by providing a Pet Home Care program, with multiple available options. The service will provide reliable, affordable in-home pet care allowing the guardians the ability to enjoy their time with their animals without the stress of having to give injections, provide fluids, and additional in-house animal services.
The latest American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey show pet ownership is up. Sixty-eight percent of American households now own a pet, accounting for 84.6 million pet-owning households, up from 79.7 million pet owning households in 2015. While pet ownership is growing, there is a shortage of qualified skilled labor to meet the demands of guardians who require at home pet care services in an affordable program. The entre into training and placement programs to fill these labor needs has been largely unmet through current educational and training programs leaving guardians and animals vulnerable.
Veteran and TAY /Career Program Overview:
VOALA/VTAH is developing a proactive solution to address these issues of affordable at home vet care through one simple education platform that leads to jobs and long-term careers.
The solution is providing affordable Vet tech services at home and access to training programs that provide for the licensing of new Vet techs into the industry via funding of grants to eligible at-risk persons to become licensed Veterinary technicians. The training program develops funding sources for veterans and TAY who qualify for the Vet Tech training and certification. The process will include incorporating screening of applicants, basic job and communication skills and directly working with animals.
The educational training program that would qualify for funding:
1. Complete an A.S. degree in Veterinary Technology. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are many programs Accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities. Nine programs are offered completely online. Students should check with the Veterinary Board for Accredited Programs in their home State, specifically to pilot, as well as educational requirements for licensure.
Pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam. Most states use the National Exam which is administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards to license veterinary technicians. Vet techs who pass this exam are referred to as Certified Veterinary Technicians.
- Member of NAVTA. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America is the preeminent industry group for professional veterinary technicians. Although not a prerequisite for employment or certification, membership provides many different professional and personal benefits. We are also working in conjunction with CARVTA (CALIFORNIA REGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION) locally in CA.
- Job Placement in a Veterinary Clinic.
- Since we have an affiliation with CARVTA one of our goals will be career placement.
- Maintain Certification. Continuing education is a requirement to maintain certification. There are many different resources available to complete continuing education.
Licensure is granted by each State’s Veterinary Board and ensures candidates have the competency and knowledge as well as the ethical and legal responsibilities that come with being a Veterinary Technician.
Vet techs can choose from on-campus programs at local community colleges and career schools, fully online programs or hybrid programs that blend on campus instruction with learning in a digital environment. Students can determine which approach best suits their need. Community colleges and vocational schools typically provide the most affordable options for earning an associate degree. Online programs are sometimes preferred by the student due to the convenience but can sometimes have higher tuitions. Employment opportunities and salaries for Veterinary Technicians is expected to increase significantly in the coming years as more and more homeowners open their homes to pets. The combined goals of Volunteers of America and Vet Tech at Home can help fill the growing need for affordable /on demand in-home care for ailing and elderly companion animals by developing funding sources to train Veterans and TAY in obtaining successful careers.
Other Job training/Education/Career Programs offered by VOALA:
Affordable housing throughout Southern California is increasingly difficult to secure and the pressure on available real estate compounds the problem for the future. Even though housing development is extremely face paced, there is a shortage of qualified skilled labor to meet the demands of developers. The entre into training and placement programs to fill these labor needs has been largely unmet through current educational and construction training programs.
VOALA has developed a solution that addresses both issues of affordable housing and training programs through one simple product. An opportunity for construction training programs to gain the invaluable experience of on-site training. The solution to the affordable housing shortage and unmet construction training programs is the development of an internal training program to support and deliver the resources needed for the manufactured housing on available properties. The training program will incorporate screening of applicants, basic job and communication skills, classroom and on-line education of the construction industry, on-site construction training/Apprentership program, preparation for construction certifications and contractors licensing programs, and job/career placements. The primary focus for candidates is Veterans and Transitional Age Youth. The current Youth Build programs inherently face challenges that can be overcome through interaction with our internal program. Defining and securing a talented and available General Contractor to oversee the construction training program is problematic due to the high demand on their skill set and the high salaries associated with a General Contractor. Additionally, most General Contractors are not skilled in teaching their trades to Veterans and TAY.
We have identified several General Contractors capable of filling this void. Secondly, ensuring a stable and meaningful workload for the trainees for the contractual on-site experience and training has been difficult to deliver. Our program will ensure long term on-site experience for our students. Lastly, it is important to recognize the contract supplies roughly half of the needed funding for construction training thus increasing demand on the hosting agency.
VOALA’s business model will allow proceeds to go directly into the training program to alleviate the shortfall from the contract. The Construction Apprentership Program for Veterans will entail an 8-week training program at the site of a Manufactured Housing Warehouse. This 6 hour a day, 5 day a week program will address nonskilled labor needs such as painting, drywalling, carpet installation, framing, mud and tape, cabinetry and siding installation to name a few. Once the training program is completed the trainee can apply for a full-time position and within two years become a skilled laborer.