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Plan: Arkansas PYs 2016-2017
Combined Plan C

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Narrative: d. 2. N. i.

Published
Located in:

d. 2. N. i. Specify the State's Goals and Priorities for Funds Received Under Section 603 of the Rehabilitation Act for the Provision of Supported Employment Services.

Current Narrative:

Expanding and enriching the availability of Supported Employment (SE) Services to consumers through technical assistance, specifically intense training to vendors and increase the number of referrals for SE services is the DSU’s targeted result via the distribution of section 603 SE funds. The strategy employs technical assistance and key incentives to SE providers, including CRPs, designed to increase the availability of SE services to consumers. At the same time, the agency will place greater emphasis on proven and innovative supported employment outcomes and community integrated services, which result in performance based outcomes. The strategy involves an increased focus on SE outcomes resulting in a competitive wage in integrated employment culminating in a career outcome in contrast to the traditional sheltered employment.

Based on WIOA, ARS will update interagency agreements with the state agencies serving individuals with the most significant disabilities including Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, Special Education, Behavioral Health Services, and the Division of Services for the Blind. These agreements place an emphasis on competitive employment as a desirable outcome for individuals with the most significant disabilities including those with developmental disabilities, and the partnership, roles, and responsibilities between the agencies. ARS is developing marketing strategies to increase additional certification for rural SE service providers.

ARS will maximize the ability of individuals with most significant disabilities to achieve competitive employment through customized employment, supported employment, and other individualized services.

ARS will collaborate with WIOA partners, private funding, and other state agencies to help individuals with most significant disabilities to receive extended services to increase employability in an integrated environment.

Based on the success rate for competitive employment outcomes in the inaugural Project SEARCH initiative, ARS in collaboration with ACCESS Group, Inc., other community partners, and Project SEARCH International will expand the Arkansas Project SEARCH.