Narrative: d. 2. O. viii. I.

Goal 1: To establish baselines and meet benchmarks for state with respect to the performance accountability measures under section 116 of WIOA.

• ARS will increase referrals, enhance job development and placement services, and recruit qualified rehabilitation counselors to fill vacancies to meet or exceed past performance in employment outcomes.

• ARS will increase performance in Supported Employment for youth and adults with disabilities with emphasis on serving an increased number of individuals with the most significant disabilities, including developmental/intellectual, behavioral health concerns and cognitive disabilities.

• ARS will develop performance-based contracts with supported employment providers to increase the percentage of supported employment closures.

• ARS will provide training to improve outreach activities to unserved and underserved minority populations in order to improve performance.

Goal 2: Increase the availability of Supported Employment (SE) services to youth and adults with significant disabilities.

• ARS, in partnership with the AR Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program team, is receiving technical assistance from the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy subject matter experts on methods to use Medicaid Waivers and other partners’ funds in restructuring to expand and improve SE services. The team includes: The Department of Human Services Divisions of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS), Behavioral Health Services (DBHS), Services for the Blind (DSB), Medical Services (DMS), Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), Department of Workforce Services (DWS), and the Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit (ADE SEU).

• ARS, in partnership with the AR Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program, will initiate revised MOUs based on the WIOA, including new rates and reimbursement methodology for braiding services.

• ARS, in partnership with the AR Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program, will provide technical assistance to the pilot projects focused on transitioning from facility based services to community based services.

Goal 3: Improve public relations, marketing, information, outreach, and referrals.

• ARS will continue the marketing plan to increase awareness of VR services to citizens, service providers, and business and industry, and to increase employment outcomes to improve performance accountability measures.

• Access and Accommodations in collaboration with Increasing Capabilities Access Network (ICAN, State AT Program) will provide a new informational website to provide resources for accommodation and assistive technology as it relates to home, education, and employment.

• ARS will develop outreach strategies designed to improve access to VR services for the state’s Hispanic residents with disabilities. Field personnel will distribute materials and information in a variety of formats designed to reach and serve the growing diverse population in Arkansas.

• ARS will develop educational and informational materials designed to inform potential referral sources about the referral process and the scope of ARS.

• ARS will utilize its network of Community Rehabilitation Programs to identify individuals with disabilities who are minorities and/or have the most significant disability. These individuals, who because of rural living, a lack of transportation, or English as a second language, can be referred to ARS and other support service networks needed to reach employment.

• ARS Communications will work with ACTI to increase education and outreach about programs and services provided at ACTI. This includes strategies for internal and external stakeholders.

Goal 4: Increase collaboration with business that leads to increased employment outcomes.

• ACTI will work to expand the success of registered apprenticeships, internships, and part-time employment opportunities for ARS clients.

• ARS has developed the statewide business and industry advisory board and implemented the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP). ARS will expand and grow TAP to increase job potential for agency customers.

• ARS will increase the number of business relations representatives to provide job placement services in all Field Services offices and ACTI.

• A statewide advisory group will be established and composed of individuals from business and industry, counselors, job placement specialists, and other appropriate professionals to explore participating in the National Employment Team.

• ARS will actively support the development of the Arkansas Business Leadership Network. ARS will continue to meet with companies from across the state throughout the year to garner support and identify an anchor employer(s) to facilitate the application process. • The local business advisory group at ACTI will be integrated into the statewide ARS business advisory group with the goal of expanding job placement and employment outcomes.

• ARS will enhance relationships with businesses whose corporate offices are headquartered in Arkansas and partner with senior corporate officers and managers. Through a dedicated full time corporate business relations consultant, ARS will be positioned to build relationships with key decision makers as well as connect with the State Chamber of Commerce to solidify its status as an economic contributor and not just a social service provider. • ARS will actively market ARS’s Business Relations services to companies seeking qualified applicants with disabilities.

• ARS will develop and initiate activities and events to recognize individuals who have overcome their disabilities, and give recognition to employers and businesses, who have demonstrated “best practices,” hired people with disabilities, and made unique and cost-effective reasonable accommodations.

• ARS will develop a presentation to advocate the benefits of hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities.

• ARS will update promotional/educational videos, brochures, mailers, etc., and target businesses.

• Area managers will partner with business relations representatives to effectively market ARS services to business and industry, performing an intentional and active role on the business relations team.

• ARS will evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of current marketing strategies and how ARS is currently engaging employers.

• Through the Stay at Work/Return to Work program, the Access and Accommodations team will continue to be a resource for employers and employees for expertise in seeking information on providing accommodation and comprehensive assistive technology evaluations.

Goal 5: Expand and improve transition services program.

• ARS has been actively engaged in the development of legislation to implement comprehensive transition and postsecondary education programs in institutions of higher education, and will continue to act as a resource in the development and implementation of postsecondary education programs. ARS will also provide information to consumers about these programs.

• ARS will conduct an assessment of transitional services statewide and implement policy and procedures consistent with WIOA.

• ARS will explore combining both transition programs and establish one vision for transition services.

• ARS will develop a transition committee to initiate a statewide plan to provide innovative transition services to students.

• ARS will provide pre-employment transition services such as job exploration counseling, work-based learning experiences including internships that provide integrated environments.

• ARS will provide counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs.

• ARS will provide workplace readiness training to develop social skills and independent living.

• ARS will provide instruction in self-advocacy and peer mentoring.

• ARS rehab area managers will work with WIOA partners, school districts, and educational co-ops to enhance working relations to effectively provide transitional services.

• ARS will explore hiring a Transitional Coordinator who will implement strategies of enhancing transitional services and providing statewide training to counselors.

• ARS will work with business and industry to establish on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and paid work experiences to prepare students for the workforce.

• ARS will collaborate with WIOA partners and other state agencies to utilize braided funding for services.

• ARS leadership will work with the State Department of Education to strengthen relationships between schools and rehabilitation district managers and counselors.

• ARS leadership will work with school districts throughout the state to facilitate and enhance the working relationships between the local high schools and local rehabilitation district managers and counselors.

• ARS will host Transition Expos across the state to market ARS transition services. ARS will continue to partner with Arkansas Transition Services (ATS) to provide technical assistance with transition planning, and will support the bi-annual state Transition Summit for local transition teams to identify local resources and continue to increase awareness of ARS services. ARS will refer consumers to College Bound Arkansas to prepare transition students with disabilities for college, will continue to sponsor the annual Youth Leadership Forum (YLF), and will support the annual Disability Awareness activities.

• ARS counselors will contact all special education teachers of students with an IEP prior to or during the junior year, and when there is staff turnover will notify schools as soon as a new counselor is assigned.

• ARS leadership will promote all students with an IEP be provided eligibility determination for VR services before they graduate high school.

• The ARS Field Program and the Arkansas Career Training Institute (ACTI) will continue to expand opportunities for young people with disabilities to participate in the five-week jointly developed Transition Employment Program (TEP) in which students receive a comprehensive assessment/evaluation, OSHA certification training, job readiness and soft-skill development, and three internship rotations at ACTI.

• ARS will continue to partner with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), and ACCESS Group, Inc. to increase the number of young adults served in the UAMS Project SEARCH site. In addition, ARS will look for opportunities to increase the number of Project SEARCH sites by partnering with other community partners. ARS will continue to support the youth model site in Fayetteville in partnership with Lifestyles, Inc., Fayetteville Public Schools, and Washington Regional Medical Center.

• Access and Accommodations will work with counselors, educators and employers to assist students with disabilities who utilize assistive technology by providing assessments, consultation, and acquisition as part of the transition process from secondary education to postsecondary education and work.

• Access and Accommodations (AT@Work) in collaboration with Increasing Capabilities Access Program (ICAN, State AT Program) and community partners will provide training to appropriate staff as it relates to the legal provisions of assistive technology as an accommodation in education and employment settings.

Goal 6: Develop and improve Community Rehabilitation Programs.

• ARS will continue assigning a rehabilitation counselor as a liaison to each CRP in each District.

• ARS district managers will assume a more active role with CRPs to develop more positive working relationships.

• ARS will train CRPs on the WIOA requirements for services to youth and students with disabilities as it relates to Section 511 Limitations on Sub-Minimum Wage.

• ARS will initiate purchased service agreements focused on moving CRPs from fee for service to performance based outcomes payments.

• ARS, in partnership with the AR Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Program, the Arkansas SRC and the RSA State Liaison, will establish technical assistance guidelines focused on CRPs transitioning from facility based services to community based services.

• ARS and ACTI administrators will review the current and future role and function of ACTI in the provision of services designed to assist in meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities.

• ARS will, in consultation with RSA, develop short-term and long-range maintenance plans for ACTI, a State owned and operated CRP that annually utilizes approximately one third of ARS’ total VR allotment from RSA.

• ACTI will continue to utilize the Professional Career Performance Program designed to reinforce positive behaviors essential to attaining and maintaining employment.

• ARS will expand the OSHA ten-hour training as a weeklong stand-alone program.

• A Call Center Training program will be designed and implemented to help students gain the foundational skills needed for immediate placement with call centers. ACTI is working with several call centers who have recruited students completing the customer service training. This program will address the challenges some students are experiencing when navigating entrance competency examinations and evaluations.

• A Heavy Equipment Operation program will include a collaborative training agreement with a local two-year college to provide CDL training and licensing as well as a six-week hands-on training on hydraulic excavator simulator.

• ACTI will conduct an annual assessment in conjunction with the triennial needs assessment to determine the optimum adequacy of its programs and infrastructure as a state operated CRP. This includes necessary and critical upgrades to infrastructure and accessibility.

Goal 7: Improve training, resources, and continuing education.

• ARS will review the needs identified in the Training Needs Assessment conducted by ARS Staff Development and Training to identify significant training and continuing education activities.

• Staff Development and Training will coordinate and conduct task force meetings representing a cross section of agency personnel to analyze the identified needs submitted. Information from the task force will be incorporated, if appropriate, into the proposed Career Development Enhancement Program and the employees’ training and education plans. Training delivery method will vary depending on the subject matter and all resources available will be considered.

• ARS will train staff on the new services and standards for Community Rehabilitation Programs beginning July 1, 2016.

• ARS will train staff to increase awareness related to Employment First (E1st) Provider Transformation and Integrated Community Based Services as it relates to Community Rehabilitation Programs, Supported Employment Programs, and External Job Placement vendors.

• ARS/ACTI will undertake a feasibility study and memoranda of agreement with Higher Education providers to further the agency’s desire to provide continuing education and training for VR consumers wishing to pursue higher accreditation in skilled trades and to enhance employment outcomes.

• Access and Accommodations (AT@Work) in collaboration with Increasing Capabilities Access Program (ICAN, State AT Program) and community partners will provide training to appropriate staff as it relates to the legal provisions of assistive technology in education and employment settings.

Goal 8: Improve ARS’s ability to act as a resource when assisting individuals with disabilities and employers in addressing accommodation needs.

• ARS will reorganize/realign its Special Programs section to better communicate the availability of resources to assist in the accommodation process. As part of this change Special Programs will be renamed Access and Accommodations.

• ARS will rename its Retaining a Valued Employee (RaVE) program to Stay at Work/Return to Work (SAW/RTW). This language is consistent with programs/practices in private/public sector employment and communicates functional intent.

• As part of the Governor’s Employment First Task Force, ARS will assume a lead role in the implementation of a SAW/RTW program within Arkansas state government.

• ARS will work with WIOA partners at both the state and local level to support SAW/RTW efforts in both public and private sector employment.

• ARS will sufficiently staff its Assistive Technology at Work (AT@Work) program to meet referral demands from the ARS Field Program and SAW/RTW initiative. Staff will have expertise to address accommodation needs in training and employment settings.

Goal 9: Increase the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery for agency consumers.

• ARS will ensure the development and implementation of comprehensive training for district managers and counselors to effectively serve consumers.

• ARS will adequately staff the field program to reduce caseloads and allow counselors to devote additional time to direct consumer contact and provision of services.

• ARS will examine the agency referral sources and ensure counselors are trained to provide effective services to consumers with mental health concerns and intellectual/developmental disabilities.

• ARS will increase the role of the rehab area manager in the areas of outreach and marketing at local levels statewide to cultivate positive working relationships with employers, partners, and stakeholders.

• ARS will implement training that will focus on increasing the number of individuals exiting the system with quality employment outcomes.

• ARS will evaluate the Supported Employment services provided statewide and focus on expansion in rural areas.

• ARS will strengthen the relationships with WIOA partners such as Workforce Services, Services for the Blind, Adult Education, and Department of Human Services to better serve agency customers with resources.

• ARS will implement and develop policies for WIOA and provide statewide training for the field program.

• ACTI will evaluate programs on effectiveness and implement new short term programs that give student’s competitive training for the 2020 workforce.

• ACTI will implement efficient communication processes with the field program to ensure counselors are aware of ACTI programs.

• ACTI will improve marketing and outreach to employers, schools, and prospective consumers.