Narrative: d. 2. Q. i.

Indiana’s Supported Employment (SE) services are highly individualized and involve ongoing support services and other appropriate services needed to support and maintain an individual with the most significant disability (MSD), including youth with the most significant disabilities in SE for a period of time that generally does not exceed 24 months. Such services, such as job coaching, are for individuals who have SE and long–term supports identified on the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). Often, because of the nature and severity of the individuals’ disability, there is a need for extended services that are provide by a State agency, private nonprofit organization, natural supports, or any other appropriate resources that are funded outside of VR.

Consumers with the most significant disabilities obtain SE services through Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) across the state. The service delivery requirements are to provide appropriate ongoing support services to individuals with MSD for whom competitive employment has not traditionally occurred, or for whom competitive employment has been interrupted or intermittent as a result of the significance of the disability, and who requires SE services. SE services are provided from the time of job placement through achievement of stabilization and retention (90 days after stabilization). The expected outcome of SE services is to ensure stabilization on the job has appropriately occurred after a period of fading (of the necessary supports). The intensive level of support needs should be well–documented by the CRPs in the Employment Support and Retention Plan, and the expectation of fading (i.e., decreasing the amount of support as a consumer becomes more proficient in completing job duties) is important to reach optimal independence. VR acknowledges that fading may not always occur in a completely linear process, and levels of SE support may ebb and flow depending on the needs of the consumer. However, a fading pattern should be evident prior to the identification that stabilization has occurred for a consumer needing SE services. More specifics regarding Supported Employment may be found in the Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation Services – Manual of Employment Services at www.vrs.in.gov.

• The scope of SE services may include, but not limited to, the following: Preparation for employment, job development and placement services;
• Intensive job coaching (on–site or off–site);
• Gathering information regarding the persons referred (e.g., through appropriate Discovery activities);
• Analyzing the information to determine opportunities for employment in the labor market geographically accessible to them;
• Providing counseling or training to obtain and maintain the desired employment;
• Identifying and/or developing job opportunities;
• Providing on–site job analysis, consultation, and recommendations for worksite and job modifications when appropriate;
• Maintaining an organized system of recording job openings and contacts;
• Developing appropriate natural supports; or
• Providing feedback to persons seeking employment.

VR implemented major revisions to VR employment services in July 2015. Prior to these revisions, VR purchased employment services primarily through a Results Based Funding (RBF) approach. One significant revision that occurred is that SE services are no longer fully funded through employment milestones (or the previous RBF model). Because many individuals with MSD will require SE services that extend beyond the employment milestone payments, SE services are funded in addition to the current employment milestone payments. VR funding for SE services is outlined in the Table below. (Please note that the complete employment service model, implemented July 2015, can be viewed at www.vrs.in.gov).

Note: SE monthly level funding may begin sooner than four weeks, and/or could extend beyond stabilization if the consumer’s level of support extends beyond what is provided through the Milestone 2 and/or Milestone 3 payments.