Narrative: d. 2. Q. i.

ARS continues initiatives to expand and improve Supported Employment (SE) Services for individuals with the most significant disabilities throughout the state. ARS, in partnership with WIOA partners and other state agencies, are reviewing Employment First status for the state of AR. ARS will be updating Interagency Agreements with the state agencies serving individuals with the most significant disabilities or providing employment related services available to individuals with disabilities.

The partners collaborating with ARS include: The Department of Human Services Divisions of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS), Behavioral Health Services (DBHS), Services for the Blind (DSB), Medical Services (DMS), Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), Department of Workforce Services (DWS), and the Arkansas Department of Education, Special Education Unit (ADE SEU). These agreements emphasize competitive integrated employment as a desirable outcome for individuals with the most significant disabilities, and the partnership, roles and responsibilities between the agencies.

Another purchased service agreement is in place with SE service vendors to implement strategies to expand the SE system including job placement services and extended services. Strategies include increasing the number of vendors offering SE and job placement statewide through enhanced incentives; utilizing a performance based approach with CRPs and SE providers; revised CRP fee schedules; and commitment from partnering state agencies to emphasize employment as a high priority outcome as a result of the Governor’s Executive Order Employment First Initiative for People with Disabilities.

• ARS collaborated with a group of stakeholders (20) to develop and update the job coach training certificate program. The stakeholders group included new and long standing SE leadership who represented large, small, and rural providers, potential SE providers of developmental disabilities, the Developmental Disabilities Providers Association, the Arkansas Waiver Association, and the Arkansas APSE Association. ARS developed a training program and updated the testing requirements for job coaches.
• ARS hosted job coach certification training at four regional venues and initiated the free online training with a total of 343 participants. Initiated in FY 2015, the free web–based job coach certification training, hosted on the Arkansas Waiver Association website, includes testing with results forwarded to ARS to certify job coaches and track job coaches by certified vendors.
• ARS provided training on updates to SE policy requirements in the agency manual updated January 2014, Basic SE, and 21st Century Supported Employment to 380 participants.
• ARS, in partnership with the DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Services and other state partners, has extensively reviewed the current MOUs and will initiate revised MOUs based on the WIOA, and new rates and reimbursement methodology created through the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment “Vision Quest” initiative for Infusing Integrated Employment in Medicaid Waiver and State Plan Options.

Over a two year period, active SE cases went from 278 in FY 2013 to 603 in FY 2015, a 46 percent increase in individuals served. However, SE outcomes constituted only 4.1 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively, in FY 2014 and FY 2015; substantially lower than the national average for all VR General Agencies of approximately 12 percent.

ARS provides Supported Employment (SE) Services in compliance with the Definitions in the Act based on a determination of the needs of an eligible individual, as specified in an individualized plan for employment. When job training is provided, it is provided on–site.

SE services include placement in a competitive integrated setting for the maximum number of hours possible based on the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice of individuals with the most significant disabilities. SE providers are utilized statewide. All providers of SE services to ARS consumers agree in writing to provide extended services for the consumer as long as the consumer has the current job.