Narrative: d. 2. P. iv.

About 1.8 percent of Minnesota’s VR appropriation in FFY2017 ($736,924) was used for innovation and expansion activities to improve and increase services to historically underserved populations with the most severe disabilities. These activities represent program response to identified need.

State Rehabilitation Council: Ten monthly meetings of the SRC, committee meetings, and public forums are where council members carry out their consultative and participative roles in the work of VRS. Primary contributions are annual participation in development of the VR Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment and State Plan; study of consumer satisfaction, VRS strategic planning, and review of the policies and practices that guide the delivery of services.

Persons with Mental Illness: Collaborative activity at state and local levels between VRS, DHS Mental Health Division, and community partners continues to build supports and services for persons with serious mental illness (SMI), who in FFY2017 comprised 34.2 percent of the VR program’s total caseload and 36.8 percent of employment outcomes. Innovative projects developed with dedicated state funds are increasing the quality of services and outcomes for this population in urban and rural Minnesota.

SSDI and SSI Beneficiaries: SSA and VRS continue to co—host bi-annual meetings of the Employment NetworksTicket—to—Work funding is used to supplement Supported Employment funding or to provide continued job retention services beyond the 90 days VRS typically provides. Benefit coaches have been added to each office to ensure beneficiaries fully understand the impact income will have on benefits.

All counselors participated in SSA sponsored training on how to coordinate VRS and PASS Plan services. There are on average80 consumers receiving coordinated services at any point in time. The most typical PASS Plan services are private college tuition above what VRS pays and the purchase of “gently used” cars for reliable transportation (typically a new car with slight body damage).

Rehabilitation Technology: Rehabilitation technology, also referred to as assistive technology, enhances employment outcomes, leading to better employment outcomes including higher paying jobs. VRS continues to provide training and coaching to increase the use of rehabilitation technology by both experienced and new staff. Implementation of the VR Rehabilitation Technology Services Plan has involved widespread staff participation, brought focus to rehabilitation technology activity, and honored the work of VR program counselors serving as a technology liaison to their own VR teams. Several staff have completed the RSA funded TechSpec program at the U of W—Milwaukee.

Minorities with Most Significant Disabilities: State demographic data indicates Minnesota’s minority populations are growing at a much higher rate than the white, non—Hispanic population. Minnesota has the largest Somali refugee population in the United States.

The New Americans office in St. Paul specializes in addressing the needs of Somali and other East African immigrants who lack fluency in English. Since its inception in 2007, the New Americans Project has served over 140 participants.

Collaborative Projects with Centers for Independent Living: Since 2008, the VRS—IL collaboration has served Minnesotans with the most significant disabilities that require both vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to meet their goals for working and living in the community. In FFY 2017 DEED—VRS dedicated $1,204,226 in SSA program income to fund locally designed collaboration grants with each of Minnesota’s eight Centers for Independent Living. The employment rate for consumers who received coordinated services continue to exceed the rate for people who received only VR services.

VECTOR Youth Project for Deaf/Deaf Blind: $1.9m in school district funding supplemented with $475,000 in VRS managed state funding support enhanced transition services for youth who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf blind in Minnesota. Enhanced services include work readiness classes, college preparation classes, driver’s education, community based work experiences, and paid internships in competitive employment. For students who transition to college, high school instructors work with the college for the first semester to make sure all needed accommodations are in place and the person is making adequate progress. Ninety percent of VECTOR students are either working or enrolled in college at time of high school graduation. Minnesota Employment Center (MEC): a unique collaborative program that is supported by two Community Rehabilitation Programs, provides ongoing supported employment services statewide. These services are funded through a grant supported by state legislative dollars and are offered only to people who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf blind. Currently housed in five different cities, and staffed by people fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), this program has provided services for over twenty years. Services aim to help people who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf blind retain their jobs and secure advancement in competitive employment settings. MEC also provides education and training for employers in how to support their employees who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf blind.