Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan* must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA:
__________
* Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 2. F. Arrangements and Cooperative Agreements for the Provision of Supported Employment Services
Current Narrative:
DRS continues to focus on providing technical assistance and coordinating training for vendors of supported employment services, DRS staff members, and staff members of other public and private agencies. DRS keeps current on changes and advances in supported employment through documented research, literature, and reviews of best practices.
Other agencies with which DRS collaborates for the provision of time–limited supported employment services are:
1. West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council funds;
2. West Virginia Title XIX––Home and Community–Based Waiver Program for intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) recipients; and
3. Social Security Administration work incentives programs.
In implementing school–to–work transition services for individuals exiting the school system, DRS also collaborates with family resource networks.
Through a combined effort with other disability organizations, $100,000 was appropriated by the West Virginia Legislature for supported employment follow–along services (extended supported employment services). DRS serves as the fiscal agent for these funds. DRS has created program guidelines governing the use of state–appropriated funds for extended services under the supported employment program created by state statute in 1993. The sole use of the state funds attached to this program is to provide extended services for individuals not eligible from any other funding source. All providers of supported employment services may access these funds for individuals who are eligible under the guidelines. At the end of FY 2015, DRS had sponsored 67 individuals in the extended supported employment program so they could maintain and retain their jobs within the community. This figure represents the cooperative efforts of 13 CRPs.
Agreements between DRS and all acknowledged providers of supported employment services document collaboration for extended services. Each agreement details the time–limited and extended services that DRS will secure through the vendor.
Extended services specified in the agreement will be provided by the vendor and include, at minimum, monitoring two hours per month (no more than eight) at the job site of each individual unless the individual can be better served through off–site monitoring. If off–site monitoring is determined to be appropriate, it must, at a minimum, consist of two hours per month with the individual and at least one contact with the employer during those hours. The vendor also agrees to provide other support services as needed and specified in the Individualized Plan for Employment.
In addition to the basic vendor agreement identifying the time–limited and extended services to be mutually provided by DRS and the vendor, DRS has attempted to collaborate with other agencies and organizations to provide funding for extended services.
These sources of extended supported employment services are:
1. West Virginia Title XIX––Homes and Community–Based Waiver Program for I/DD recipients;
2. DRS program funds for persons receiving extended services at DRS–acknowledged CRP work centers; and
3. Social Security Administration programs such as Impairment Related Work Experience and Plan for Achieving Self Support for approved Social Security recipients.
DRS continues its efforts to expand the number of acknowledged vendors of supported employment services, particularly in areas underserved and unserved within the current system. As of November 2015, the number of supported employment service providers was 68, an increase of 30 providers since FY 2006.