Federal Manager's Daily Report: Thursday, October 14, 2004 FEDweek is the largest information resource in the federal government with now over one million weekly readers. To Subscribe, Go to http://www.fedweek.com/subscribepopup.htm *********************************************************** Valuable Information for the Federal Family
Federal Job Search http://www.fedweek.com/Jobs/default.asp Job Bulletin Board http://www.fedweek.com/Jobs/default.asp Brand New Federal Manager's Daily Report--FREE Daily Electronic Briefing http://www.fedweek.com/subscribepopup.htm ********************************************************** In This Week's Issue 1. GAO: VA Faces Large Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Case Load 2. OPM, HUD Attempt to Fix Hiring Process 3. Seminar: Strategic Management of Human Capital http://www.leadership.opm.gov/content.cfm?CAT=SMOHC 4. New Publication Announcement http://www.fedweek.com/Publications/default.asp ************************************************************ 1. GAO: VA Faces Large Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Case Load The Department of Veterans Affairs needs more information to determine if it can meet an increase in demand for post-traumatic stress disorder services, the Government Accountability Office has said. It said experts anticipate that about 15 percent of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will develop PTSD, and that VA�s efforts to inform vets about increased availability of VA health care services will meet increased demand for them. VA uses the "combat stress control program," to raise awareness of the signs of early onset-PTSD or combat-stress symptoms -- such as insomnia and difficulties coping with relationships -- that can lead to PTSD, as well as the "post-deployment health assessment questionnaire" to identify at-risk service-members, according to GAO-04-1069. However, it said VA does not know the total number of patients currently enrolled in PTSD services at its medical facilities and vet-centers -- something it needs to know to determine how many new cases it can accommodate. "VA has two reports on the number of veterans it currently treats, with each report counting different subsets of veterans receiving PTSD services," said GAO. It said patients may be counted in either one or both reports, or not at all, and that VA does not get demographic data from the Department of Defense that could help it predict which of its facilities will see an increase in activity, even though it�s not possible to be entirely certain which veterans will develop PTSD. 2. OPM, HUD Attempt to Fix Hiring Process The Office of Personnel Management has announced that it is partnering with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help it "bring about sustainable and measurable changes" in HUD�s recruiting and hiring practices. OPM said the "extreme makeover" would help HUD better manage its hiring practices and human capital efforts, and that the two agencies are working to streamline several personnel operations. OPM and HUD have conducted focus groups throughout the nation with HR staff, hiring officials, and recent hires, compiled staffing activity data for the past two years, established a set of essential hiring steps to identify redundancies, and compiled "staffing metrics," according to OPM. It said an inefficient approval process resulting from centralized procedures, and the lack of delegation of authority and effective automation processes are main barriers to timely hiring -- and noted the need for "more effective coordination and planning, as well as "clarity in roles of managers and human resources staff during the hiring process." So far, OPM said HUD has eliminated two hiring-approval layers, implemented a hiring pipeline report to track recruitment and hiring actions to help it meet a 45-day hiring target, established weekly status meetings among senior officials, and has "started utilizing the full range of USA staffing functionalities." 3. Seminar: Strategic Management of Human Capital The Office of Personnel Management has scheduled a seminar for Nov. 15-19, for key senior program staff, senior human resources managers, and experienced managers with broad responsibility to implement and execute their agency efforts to achieve "green" status and increased organizational effectiveness. Given at the Eastern Management Development Center in Shepherdsville, W.Va., "Strategic Management of Human Capital, Getting to Green on the Scorecard," is designed to enable federal managers to succeed in transforming the employment, development, and evaluation processes of their organization with results in mind. Participants use the human capital assessment and accountability framework to refine their human capital efforts and plans as well as study the link between the PMA government-wide initiatives and strategic human capital management. The $2,000 fee includes meals, lodging, tuition and course materials. Learn more and register at: http://www.leadership.opm.gov/content.cfm?CAT=SMOHC 4. New Publication Announcement: The Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide http://www.fedweek.com/Publications/default.asp Passman & Kaplan announces the October 2004 publication of the SECOND EDITION of the Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide. This comprehensive book, first published by Passman & Kaplan in 1999, has been called the definitive how-to guide for enforcing the rights of federal employees. The second edition of the Guide includes 100 PAGES OF ADDITIONAL NEW MATERIAL (now 616 total pages) and useful advice. New features include information on internet legal research, preparing for and conducting a hearing, sample discovery requests, and up-to-date contact information for federal personnel agencies. The Guide also includes a listing of frequently used civil service acronyms and practical appendices of sample forms, charts illustrating appeal rights, and commonly-needed deadlines. As with the first edition of the Guide, Passman & Kaplan has attempted to move away from the "legalese" which so often complicates an already-bewildering array of regulations and policies. Although the Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide, Second Edition is clearly an invaluable resource for practioners, Passman & Kaplan has maintained its commitment to target the book to the average federal employee. *********************************************************** To place your order for The Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide just go to http://www.fedweek.com/Publications/default.asp and place your secure order online. The cost of this publication is only $49.95 Plus $6 s&h--Remember, this is a 616 page reference that is chalked full of invaluable information that every federal manager must have! Or you can mail your order with payment of $55.95 to FEDweek, PO Box 5519, Glen Allen, VA 23058. 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