Narrative: d. 2. E.

Division of Workforce Services - ARS has cooperative agreements with Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) throughout the state as part of the Purchased Service Agreements. ARS and representatives from CRPs developed and implemented standard procedures for the referral process and outcome indicators resulting in a fee for service schedule for individuals served by CRPs. ARS’ standard procedures for external Employment First private non-profit and public VR service providers and CRPs are standards of compliance ensuring VR consumers achieve acceptable outcomes related to employment. The procedures for a CRP to be accredited as a vendor and to maintain accreditation are: (1) The CRP submits a vendor application documenting required experience in working with consumers with disabilities and employers. (2) ARS reviews the application to assure ARS requirements are met, and submits a certificate and agreement documents to the ARS Commissioner for signature. (3) The CRP is required to sign certification agreement documents assuring the ARS requirements as a vendor will be met. (4) Once accredited, ARS provides a current vendor packet and provides training to the entity, as needed. ARS informs the ARS district manager and the VR counselors of the vendor. (5) The VR counselor refers the consumer to the CRP and monitors the consumer’s progress. (6) A VR counselor liaison is assigned to each CRP and provides monthly reports to the appropriate ARS personnel. (7) ARS case review personnel from Program Planning, Development and Evaluation perform a standardized audit of CRP consumer files to ensure training criteria is met, the CRP demonstrates acceptable consumer progress/plans, appropriate documents are in the file, and the amount billed meets accepted guidelines of cost to value. CRP personnel files are reviewed to assure performance standards are acceptable and staff training requirements are met. ARS will initiate new cooperative agreements focused on moving CRPs from fee for service to performance based outcomes. ARS, in partnership with the Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities Services, will establish pilot projects focused on transitioning from facility based services to community based services.