Narrative: d. 2. H. i.

DRS maintains an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Medical Services (BMS), the state agency responsible for the State Medicaid plan under the title XIX of the Social Security Act; this is also known as the Waiver program. An advisory group for the program is constituted with the WV Developmental Disability Council (WVDDC). DRS has a position on the council. DRS and BMS interact as part of this advisory group through the WVDDC. The primary involvement of the XIX Medicaid Waiver program in fostering competitive, integrated employment outcomes through vocational rehabilitation is by mandating referral to DRS and providing ongoing support funding for those cases closed by DRS in Supported Employment. The WVDDC also advises BMS on policy development and meeting unmet needs of those participating in the XIX Medicaid Waiver program.

In addition to interacting with XIX Medicaid Waiver staff as part of the WVDDC meetings, DRS participates in two subcommittees; Employment First and Medley Management. The Employment First committee focuses on promoting employment for intellectually/developmentally disabled (IDD) individuals as a first option among services providers, legislators, state policy makers, and the community at large. The Medley Management committee provides oversight and advice to the Bureau for Behavioral Health on the state’s Medley program, which serves a specific group of IDD individuals that are at risk of institutionalization. These are often individuals that are also XIX Medicaid Waiver eligible. On both of these committees, DRS promotes a focus on competitive, integrated employment outcomes.

DRS counselors will, at the time of application, gather information regarding an individual’s third party resources, including Medicaid. If it is determined that the individual receives Medicaid benefits, BMS will provide all Medicaid–covered services to the individual, regardless of that individual’s continued status with DRS. If an individual is approved to receive services from DRS, and begins to receive Medicaid benefits at a later time, BMS will provide all Medicaid–covered services to the individual from that time forward.

Individuals receiving services from BMS will receive information on the eligibility requirements for DRS and the services DRS provides. If an individual receiving services from BMS expresses a desire to work, he or she will be referred to DRS at that time. Similarly, DRS consumers who are Medicaid–eligible will be referred to BMS.

DRS also maintains an MOU with the Division of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD), within the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities (BBHHF), the State agency with primary responsibility for providing services and supports for individuals with intellectual disabilities and individuals with developmental disabilities. DRS interacts with both BBHHF and its subsidiary, DIDD.

DRS, BBHHF, and DIDD agree to interact in the following ways to facilitate delivery of services, including extended services, to individuals with the most significant disabilities: –The DIDD program manager and DRS will interact regularly as part of the WV Developmental Disability Council (WVDDC) meetings, as well as the Employment First and Medley Management committees. The Employment First committee focuses on promoting employment for IDD individuals as a first option among services providers, legislators, state policy makers, and the community at large. The Medley Management committee provides oversight and advice to the BBHHF on the state’s Medley program, which serves a specific group of IDD individuals that are at risk of institutionalization. On both of these committees, DRS promotes a focus on competitive, integrated employment outcomes.

–The BBHHF administers several Customized Employment grants with vendors of DRS. BBHHF and DRS will jointly train the Community Rehabilitation Programs receiving these grants as well as DRS staff working with these programs.

–BBHHF and DRS will work together in mediating problems in cases being served jointly in the programs.

–DRS will meet monthly with BBHHF staff to review applicants for an Unmet Needs funding program to foster assistance to IDD individuals where traditional funding sources do not provide needed supports.

–Individuals receiving services from BBHHF or DIDD will receive information on the eligibility requirements for DRS and the services DRS provides. If an individual receiving services from BBHHF or DIDD expresses a desire to work, he or she will be referred to DRS at that time.

In order to provide quality and timely vocational rehabilitation services to West Virginians with behavioral health conditions who qualify, DRS collaborates with the BBHHF and its partners. BBHHF is the federally designated Single State Authority for mental health and substance use disorders and operates under the auspices of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. The primary programs within BBHHF and their partners that DRS works with are as follows:

–The Office of Consumer Affairs and Community Outreach (CACO), is charged with providing collaborative support to the clinical section of the Office of Programs through the provision of legislative tracking, disaster coordination and response, development and operation of a Consumer Advisory Council, coordination of BBHHF training activities, researching and circulating information on evidence–based and emerging best practices, development of health promotion and wellness campaigns, researching and applying for high priority discretionary grants, and by providing a centralized response to requests for assistance and patient grievances. DRS maintains a relationship with this office and has worked together on anti–stigma campaigns, supporting recovery coaching and peer support, and training in the area of mental health first aid and medication assisted treatment.

–The Division of Adult Behavioral Health assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health and co–occurring needs of adults and transitional age youth, enabling them to live, learn, work, and participate actively in their communities. The Division establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Division sets policy, promotes self–determination, protects human rights, and supports mental health training and research. DRS maintains a relationship with this office and has teamed up with them on several efforts, such as having them present on “Behavioral Health Connections” at the DRS 2014 Statewide Training Conference, assisting them in the planning of their 2015 Integrated Behavioral Health Care Conference and exhibiting at that conference whereby information regarding DRS was disseminated to approximately 700 behavioral health professionals, and serving as a subject matter expert on their Clinical Adult Review Process (CARP), which looks at the needs of individuals transitioning out of state psychiatric facilities.

–The Division of Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health is the Single State Authority for Children’s Mental Health charged with monitoring and improving the children’s behavioral health service delivery system. The Division is responsible for overseeing the implementation and evaluation of the federal block grant. The Division works collaboratively across all child serving systems, at both the state and local level, to ensure access to quality behavioral health services and supports for children and adolescents with and/or at risk for serious emotional disturbances. The Division provides leadership and technical assistance to facilitate an effective system of care for children and their families. DRS continues a working relationship with this office and their partners and, for example, has been working with the Expanded School Mental Health Steering Team Initiative. DRS has also worked together with The Family Advocacy, Support, & Training (FAST) program which is a statewide parent and youth network that engages families in the planning, management, and evaluation of their child’s mental health treatment and service needs.

–The Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, an operating division of BBHHF within the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services, is charged in code with being the Single State Authority primarily responsible for prevention, control, treatment, rehabilitation, educational research, and planning for substance abuse related services. DRS cooperates with this office to share resources and circulate information that comes from attending the Governor’s Regional Substance Abuse Task Force meetings, such as the WV Substance Abuse Services Directory and 844–HELP4WV, the first statewide 24–hour substance abuse call line.

–The Olmstead Coordinator is a part of the WV Department of Health & Human Resources & Office of the Inspector General. Olmstead v. L.C. (1999) is a landmark United States Supreme Court decision upholding the civil rights of people with disabilities (including those with behavioral health conditions that result in disability) to receive services and supports in the most integrated setting in the community. DRS is one of the required state agencies to participate in quarterly Olmstead Council meetings. Currently, the DRS Program Specialist for Behavioral Health and Corrections is the designated representative to communicate information regarding the agency’s activities.

–The West Virginia Behavioral Health Planning Council (WVBHPC) is a unified voice that promotes wellness, recovery, and resiliency for all West Virginians. The primary purpose of the WVBHPC is to advocate for and evaluate the provision of community–based behavioral health services. BBHHF and DRS are two of the principal state agencies that must have membership on the council and attend quarterly meetings working together and with others to accomplish the goals of the WVBHPC.