Narrative: d. 2. O. vi.

• ARS has developed a data sharing agreement and is working with the Arkansas Research Center to develop baselines for the performance accountability measures using historical data from the DSU’s case management system along with corresponding employment data. • ARS will work with the other core programs in consultation with the Arkansas SRC and RSA’s State Liaison, to facilitate a common intake process and electronic protocols that will allow for near real-time evaluation of performance accountability measures. • ARS will provide training and establish performance goals for VR counselors and business relations representatives to improve outreach activities to unserved and underserved minority populations. • To improve outreach to unserved and underserved minority populations, ARS will continue to participate in Community Connection and Partners in Progress events targeted in regions with a distressed economy and poor performing school systems. Representatives from every service component including Field Services, ACTI, Special Programs, and Business Relations participate in these events. Employers are encouraged to participate in mini-job fair activities. • Access and Accommodations in collaboration with Increasing Capabilities Access Program (ICAN), State AT Program, will provide and disseminate brochures printed in Spanish to reach more Arkansas residents and inform them of the benefits of assistive technology. • District managers and business relations consultants will continue to promote VR services on morning radio and TV talk shows to increase consumer awareness of services and to educate businesses about the availability of the qualified and dependable workforce represented by ARS consumers. • ARS will recruit qualified rehabilitation counselors, including bi-lingual English Sign Language VR counselors, to fill vacancies to meet or exceed past performance in employment outcomes. • ARS will increase performance in Supported Employment for adults and youth with disabilities with emphasis on serving an increased number of individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities, behavioral health concerns, and cognitive disabilities. • ARS will use the comprehensive monitoring instrument for CRPs, including ACTI, developed in response to RSA compliance findings from the FY 2011 monitoring review that remain unresolved as of date. The monitoring instrument will establish performance indicators including substantial increases in employment outcomes. The recently developed monitoring instrument will likewise evaluate if Field Services’ needs are met for service provision to ARS consumers. • Access and Accommodations in collaboration with Increasing Capabilities Access Network will work with the Division of Services for the Blind to develop a certification review team for compliance of the one stop delivery system with section 188 of WIOA and applicable provisions of the ADA.