Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) is a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinical vocational rehabilitation program that provides evidence based and evidence informed vocational rehabilitation services; partnerships with business, industry and government agencies to provide Veteran candidates for employment and Veteran labor, and employment supports to Veterans and employers.

CWT programs strive to maintain highly responsive long-term quality relationships with business, government agencies, and industry promoting employment opportunities for Veterans with physical and mental health challenges.

CWT programs are located within all VA medical centers. Many of our CWT programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) – an independent accrediting body of health and human service providers.   CARF accreditation confirms that CWT programs are committed to continuous quality improvement, accountability for its performance through outcomes evidence, and monitoring the satisfaction of the persons served.

Employment is a critical protective factor against suicide, homelessness and substance use. CWT is a vital employment and therapeutic work program assisting Veterans with job barriers faced from mental health or physical disabilities.

The Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) program provides a cost-effective means of achieving your company’s goals of managing labor costs and improving service delivery, while maintaining high quality standards. CWT is a national vocational rehabilitation program that assists Veterans return to competitive employment; making a living wage and building their self-esteem while contributing to the community.

Using a business model, CWT program staff specialize in working with facility management, human resource, and/or production personnel to address labor force deficits. If your company is searching for prescreened workers to address staffing shortfalls, please email PSRHQ@va.gov. 

Cost Management

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) programs are located at VA medical centers across the nation! Visit the “Find VA locations” page on VA.gov for more information on how to contact your closest VA health care facility.

Services

Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) provides a wide range of services for business and industry including: work site and job assessment, staff training and consultation services, employee assessment and screening, and job matching and follow-up services. CWT supports Veterans through vocational case management and workplace supports to facilitate continued employment success. In conjunction with the CWT program, industry can expand its applicant pool and develop a pre-screening opportunity for future employees.

Our mission is to find employment opportunities that match the skills, abilities and preferences for the Veterans we serve. To achieve this mission, we develop partnerships with companies, organizations and government agencies who need workers with proven abilities to produce high quality work and become a valued team member.

CWT can help your company by providing:

• Labor services as well as candidates for employment positions within your business.
• Professional employment support including staff education, assistance with job modifications, and ongoing support to the Veteran and employer.
• CWT staff who are knowledgeable about ADA, reasonable accommodation and assistive technology.
• An efficient and effective source for temporary (temp to hire allowing a company to pre-screen Veterans observing them in action before making a decision regarding competitive employment) and permanent workers.  We have Veterans looking for full-time, part-time as well as seasonal work.
• A partnership alliance to meet your company’s labor needs with our nation’s very best trained military Veterans, backed by dedicated CWT vocational staff and managers. 

Top Reasons to Partner With CWT:

“Our CWT staffs are as committed to YOUR success as we are to the success of the Veterans we entrust to you!”

Thomas McNally
Former CWT Manager
Battle Creek, MI
US Army Veteran, Captain Infantry Viet Nam

“We provide qualified pre-screened Veterans who understand the importance of the organization’s mission and above all else they value loyalty and selfless service.  We believe that long term employment success is best achieved through building relationships with community employers so that we fully understand their organizations needs and values.”

Noah McDade
CWT Manager
Tampa, FL
US Army Veteran, Staff Sergeant

“The CWT program uses vocational counselors instead of salespeople to help our candidates identify the right position and then take the necessary steps to achieve their goals. You’re already paying for our services. Why not get your money’s worth?”

Kevin Fields
CWT Manager
Richmond, VA

“Veterans, regardless of the time that they served, bring a unique set of skills to the workplace. They understand and live by LDRSHIP values: loyalty, dedication, respect, selfless-service honor, integrity and personal courage. Things like teamwork, flexibility and working with a variety of nationalities is second nature. Also, when you work with one of our Veterans you not only get a Veteran, but a CWT staff member as well.”

Nicola Laury
CWT Manager
Philadelphia, PA
US Army Veteran, Staff Sergeant,
Albania & Kosovo conflicts

“First of all, a partner walks with you, through the good and the bad. A partner has your best interest at heart and a partner is willing to work hard toward a common goal. The CWT Program is all of that and more. We are committed to our Veteran and to employers who partner with our program to ensure a win-win for everyone involved. You don’t just get an employee…you get me, and the full support of the Department of Veterans Affairs…and trust me, there is nothing better that being a part of changing a person’s life for the better, and along the way, we too change and grow for the better…give us a try…you won’t be disappointed. This is a program that allows employers to observe, groom and mold their employee of choice without any strings. By their service, Veterans have already proven they are dedicated, can follow or lead, and will put it all on the line, if necessary. When can we start the process?”

Carolyn Carpenter
CWT Manager
Alexandria, LA

“Partnering with CWT gives you a double win. First, Veterans make excellent employees. Secondly, the CWT program provides an extra level of support, whenever needed, that other applicants do not have.”

Glenn Shalton
CWT Manager
Chicago, IL (Jesse Brown)

Success Stories

Over 52,000 Veterans are served annually by Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) programs across the nation. Rehabilitation counselors, vocational rehabilitation specialists and managers working in the CWT program will affirm: there’s no greater sense of professional fulfillment than guiding those who took the oath of enlistment to bear true faith and allegiance to our nation, in returning to the workforce, carving out their desired next career path.

Employer Success Story:

“I became the new HR Generalist with Specialty Resources in late June 2018. Specialty Resources, Inc is a global sourcing and inventory management company for precision components & specialty products. We are a small organization, so I’m the only person in the HR department. As you can imagine, I was faced with several difficult decisions about our hiring needs. On my first day at the job, I had a great conversation with Coatesville CWT vocational staff, Chris Hartson and Marcus Blanks, about the benefits of employing hard-working Veterans. I agreed that it was the right thing to do for our community and organization. Now that I’m three months into my new role, I whole-heartedly believe that I made the right decision! We hire Veterans to perform all general warehouse duties. The Veterans tell us every day how grateful they are to be working here and we enjoy providing them with full-time employment. I continue to talk to Chris and Marcus on a regular basis, and they always bend over backwards to help SRI and the Veterans.”

Lauren DiCandilo, HR Generalist, Specialty Resources, Inc., Chester Springs, PA

Employee Stories:

“CWT taught me how to retrain my mind to doing the right thing, how to be a team player, and how to be accountable,” said Jerry Weaver, a CWT graduate and VA employee. “[The CWT staff] didn’t give up on me and kept welcoming me back with open arms.” Weaver credits CWT with helping Veterans finding their way back from mental health, substance abuse, and other employment challenges. His journey with CWT began in Spring 2017 after completion of the Substance Treatment and Recovery (STAR) program at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. Two years later, he was a full-time VA employee. He says his current success contributes to the self-esteem, self-confidence, and determination gained through showing up for work each day. He is the perfect example of how important CWT can be for a Veteran’s wellness and recovery. “They believed that I could be a valuable commodity; and hopefully, I have proved myself to my teammates,” said Weaver. “CWT has really helped me discover new things about myself, and helps Veterans find their way back from mental health and substance use issues.”

Jerry Weaver, a CWT Graduate and VA Employee, Charleston, South Carolina VAMC 2020

“Approximately 4 years ago I was laid off from my company that I had worked at since I left the military some 35 years ago. I had been going to a private health care facility covered through my work. After being laid off I was devastated. I had no direction and for some reason the world began closing in on me. It was at that point I met Robert L. Jones, Sr. (Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist). He listened and we together developed a roadmap to success and later, a roadmap to healing. I put in long hours working on the new me. Thanks to Mr. Jones his roadmap worked. Fast forward to today…I have totally revamped myself. I possess high level computer certifications and hold a very high security clearance doing what I love to do. The dreams and anxiety are a constant reminder of my past. The difference is now I know I am not alone in this journey. I want to thank Mr. Jones and Dr. Christian Defilippo, (psychologist) for helping me restart my life.”

Jeffrey Dusza, CWT Graduate, Hampton VAMC

The testimonials above have been edited for length and clarity.