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:
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* Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA
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:
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) will provide and improve the quality of supported employment services through the Title VI program to individuals with the most significant disabilities, including youth with the most significant disabilities, through a project designed to improve outcomes for all supported employment consumers.
DESCRIPTION
The Order of Selection assures that individuals with the most significant disabilities receive priority for vocational rehabilitation services.
Supported Employment services will be provided to individuals with most significant disabilities in the following categories:
Order of Selection Category I - Severe limitations in four or more functional capacity areas.
Order of Selection Category II - Severe limitations in three functional capacity areas.
The goals and plans of the program will be:
1. To ensure the quality of supported employment services provided to eligible consumers by monitoring the vendors. The monitoring will utilize site reviews and include quality indicators to evaluate the assessment of employment outcomes and an evaluation of the provision of services. The monitoring will be carried out by the state and field office staff.
2. To investigate, purchase or provide technical assistance and training opportunities for state office and field office staff to improve the supported employment service delivery system. The field staff will receive supported employment training directed at case management and quality supported employment services.
3. To coordinate with the Department of Health & Hospitals (Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities - Support Waivers Program, and Medicaid Purchase Plan), the University of North Texas Workplace Inclusion and Sustainable Employment (UNTWISE), the Louisiana Chapter of the Association for Persons in Supported Employment (APSE), the Jefferson Parish Human Services Agency (JPHSA), LSU Health Science Center Human Development Center, and the Louisiana Work Pays Consortium in order to provide input to vendor agencies providing supported employment services and to solicit input from these agencies in the planning and implementation of quality supported employment services.
4. To coordinate with other agencies (public and private), employers and advocates to establish multiple options for extended services, including the use of natural supports, to ensure more successful supported employment outcomes.
Supported Employment Models Used by LRS:
1. Individual Placement Model
2. Transitional Employment Model for Individuals with Chronic Mental Illness
It is estimated that approximately 450 individuals will be provided supported employment services with the funding available through the Title VI program in FY 2016. Individuals with the most significant disabilities and who have a plan prior to March 1, 2016 will be eligible for this service.