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. Coordination with Education Officials
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- I. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development(Formerly known as Attachment 4.10)). Describe the designated State agency's procedures and activities to establish and maintain a comprehensive system of personnel development designed to ensure an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professional and paraprofessional personnel for the designated State unit, including the following:
- i. Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
- I. Qualified Personnel Needs.Describe the development and maintenance of a system for collecting and analyzing on an annual basis data on qualified personnel needs with respect to:
- I. Qualified Personnel Needs.
- i. Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
- I. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- d. Coordination with Education Officials
d. 2. I. i. I. a. The number of personnel who are employed by the State agency in the provision of VR services in relation to the number of individuals served, broken down by personnel category;
Current Narrative:
In FFY 2014, Maine DVR experienced a turnover rate just over 15 percent among its Rehabilitation Counselors. In FFY 2013 the turnover rate was at 20 percent and prior to that DVR has averaged greater than 15 percent annual turnover rate of Rehabilitation Counselors. There are currently 7 RC II positions that are vacant. Maine’s turnover rate continues to be deeply affected by retirement; the age of its workforce and low wages when compared to private sector employment. Turnover rates over the past five years, average just below 16%. Assuming retention levels remain consistent, it can be projected that DVR staffing needs could require as many as 19 new Rehabilitation Counselors in the next 5 years. The average turnover rate for non–rehabilitation counselor staff has been relatively consistent, approximately 13–15 percent annually, until this year. In examining staffing patterns of all other DVR staff, the turnover rate is approximately 20 percent. During this reporting year of 2015, Maine DVR has replaced:
1 Casework Supervisor
13 Rehabilitation Counselor II
9 Clerical/Support Personnel
4 Rehabilitation Consultants, with one Rehabilitation Consultant position that continues to be unfilled.