Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan* must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA:
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* Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 2. P. i. I. Identify the Strategies That Contributed to the Achievement of the Goals.
Current Narrative:
2016-2020 STATE PLAN GOALS
Goal 1: Increase opportunities and outcomes for training and employment services for youth with disabilities.
Objective 1.1: By June 30, 2017, provide 2,000 additional students with competitive integrated work experience placements with employers at an average of 100 hours per student for Pre-Employment Transition Services.
Achieved: Over 2,000 CDOR consumers received work-based learning (work experience) through the WE Can Work contracts and Transition Partnership Program contracts during FFY 2017.
Goal 2: Outreach to potentially eligible students with disabilities to enhance awareness of, and the opportunities to receive, CDOR services.
Objective 2.1: By June 30, 2016, conduct a needs assessment in each CDOR District, focused on outreach to schools without a Transition Partnership Program that provide services to Pre-Employment Transition Services eligible youth to identify service gaps and the number of unserved students.
Achieved: In October 2015, CDOR’s Cooperative Programs Section collaborated with CDOR districts and conducted a local needs assessment that gathered information on the transition service needs in each of the 14 CDOR districts. As a result of the needs assessment, the CDOR conducted an innovation survey with CDOR staff to gather new and existing practices and services for youth and students with disabilities.
Furthermore, the CDOR convened a “Transforming Youth Services” informational and brainstorming event with CDOR executive leadership and statewide managers across all districts to identify service gaps for students with disabilities. This group will continue to meet to further identify innovative practices and implementation strategies as it relates to student services.
In FFY 2017, the CDOR began enrolling potentially eligible students with disabilities in Pre-Employment Transition Services. The CDOR staff also conducted statewide outreach to potentially eligible students with disabilities not participating in a Transition Partnership Program. The CDOR developed a fact sheet and forms to facilitate a student’s request for Pre-Employment Transition Services consistent with the students’ individualized needs and informed choice.
Objective 2.2: By June 30, 2018, CDOR will develop a process that schools can use to identify eligible students, make referrals, and conduct outreach.
Achieved: The CDOR is maintaining and updating a list of over 500 local educational agencies serving students with disabilities. This list serves as a resource for CDOR districts to conduct outreach to students with disabilities to initiate referral for CDOR services. This list was also used to establish a CDOR staff liaison to each of the local education agencies to ensure that schools have a single point of contact with CDOR that can provide them with outreach information and offer technical assistance to identify and refer eligible students.
Goal 3: Increase coordination of services between CDOR and other partners to support youth with disabilities.
Objective 3.1: By June 30, 2017, release approximately $1.0 million dollars in Request for Proposals for self-advocacy training, as well as summer youth employment readiness and work experience training.
Achieved: In June and July of 2017 two CDOR self-advocacy contracts provided self-advocacy services to youth with disabilities. The two contracts, one in Northern California and one in Southern California, were awarded through the Request for Proposals process. The curriculum included instruction in self-advocacy skills in an educational and home setting, self-knowledge and planning for future employment, personal self-advocacy planning, and identifying resources and needs. Approximately 50 youth received self-advocacy services through the contracts.
Goal 4: Increase partnerships with local businesses to develop or expand work experience, internship, and employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities.
Objective 4.1: By June 30, 2018, develop relationships and provide direct services to at least 100 new business partners.
Achieved: In FFY 2017, the CDOR launched its “Hot Jobs” website, with more than 6,000 jobs posted to the website monthly. The CDOR hosted virtual job fairs with Wells Fargo and CVS Health that CDOR consumers attended. Also, the “Lead” Business Specialist position has been implemented in CDOR’s fourteen Districts to assist with business engagement and outreach and establish business partners at the individual district level. The Lead Business Specialists work to develop business relationships at the local level, increase business engagement, and promote best practices. Through these efforts, the CDOR exceeded the objective of establishing at least 100 new business partners and established approximately 150 new business partners across the state.
Goal 5: Promote participation in career pathways (which are multi-entity, partnership efforts) to meet business sector and consumer employment needs.
Objective 5.1: By June 30, 2018, develop at least two pilot partnerships with businesses focused on using sector strategies to meet business sector and consumer employment needs.
Achieved: The CDOR partnered with CBS to release a “Lights Camera Access 2.0” pilot. The event focused on media to provide a mentoring opportunity for individuals with disabilities.
The CDOR also partnered with Amazon to develop a business-based services pilot in the Bay Area to assist with the placement of CDOR consumers in Amazon’s Fulfillment Centers.
Objective 5.2: By January 2017, provide field guidance to CDOR Districts on how to use current local and regional labor market data during the consumer planning and placement process.
Achieved: In FFY 2017, the CDOR provided guidance to CDOR districts on how to use current local and regional labor market data during the consumer planning and placement process. In June 2017, the Lead Business Specialists were provided with training on both Local and Regional Workforce Development Plans and how these plans incorporate labor market information. The Business Specialists also receive monthly training on using labor market information and Cal Jobs, California’s online resource to help job seekers and employers navigate the state’s workforce system.
Goal 6: Establish or enhance partnerships with the WIOA core programs to improve service delivery for adults and youth with disabilities.
Objective 6.1: By June 30, 2018, develop and implement a work plan to enhance the WIOA core program partner’s capacity to serve individuals with disabilities.
Achieved: In FFY 2016, the CDOR developed and implemented a work plan to enhance the WIOA core program partners’ capacity to serve individuals with disabilities. In FFY 2017, the CDOR continues to implement its work plan with the CDOR district administrators meeting with their respective workforce development boards to develop memorandums of understanding, which will include the local and regional strategic plans.
Objective 6.2: By June 30, 2018, develop and implement a work plan to leverage partnerships with WIOA core program partners to increase CDOR’s capacity to serve consumers.
Achieved: In FFY 2017, CDOR’s Workforce Development Unit, in partnership with the California Workforce Association, developed resources and materials for use in cross-training and technical assistance efforts with WIOA core program partners. By sharing information about programs and services, partners can identify opportunities to leverage resources to provide person-centered services seamlessly for persons with disabilities, particularly for youth 24 years old and under. CDOR released the training and technical assistance resources, the California Workforce Association Awareness and Etiquette training, in late 2017.
Goal 7: Increase competitive integrated employment opportunities and outcomes and supports for adults and youth with disabilities, particularly those with the most significant disabilities and those underserved.
Objective 7.1: By June 30, 2018, implement a statewide cross-departmental partnership for increasing competitive integrated employment opportunities, outcomes and supports for adults and youth with disabilities.
Achieved: In FFY 2017, the CDOR, in collaboration with the California Department of Education and the California Department of Developmental Services, released its final California Competitive Integrated Employment: Blueprint for Change (Blueprint). As part of the Blueprint implementation, the CDOR and its partners drafted a Local Partnership Agreement to assist local educational agencies, CDOR districts, and California Department of Developmental Services regional centers in establishing agreements; and a joint written guidance that will describe what is possible through collaboration. The guidance will support local collaboration leading to systems change, a refocusing on person-centered and driven processes resulting in increased opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to prepare for and engage in competitive integrated employment.
Factors Contributing to the Achievement of VR Goals
In FFY 2016 and 2017, CDOR was successful in achieving all seven of its VR goals. Factors that contributed to the success included:
Goal 1
• Increased availability of work experience opportunities for students with disabilities.
• Developed a mechanism to track Pre-Employment Transition Services work experience placement.
Goal 2
• Developed a fact sheet and forms to facilitate a student’s request for Pre-Employment Transition Services.
• Conducted statewide outreach to enroll students with disabilities in Pre-Employment Transition Services.
Goal 3
• Awarded contracts to programs to provide students with disabilities Pre-Employment Transition Services, specifically self-advocacy.
Goal 4
• Conducted outreach to the business community by distributing posters, brochures, flyers, and quick response code cards at the local level.
• Provided Windmills training to local businesses.
Goal 5
• Partnered with CBS to release a “Lights Camera Access 2.0” pilot. The event focused on media to provide a mentoring opportunity for individuals with disabilities.
• Held monthly calls for CDOR Business Specialists to provide training on labor market information and Local and Regional Workforce Development Plans.
Goal 6
• Collaborated with Workforce Development Boards to develop resources and training materials.
• Identified opportunities to leverage resources to provide seamless person-centered planning among the core programs.
Goal 7
• Coordinated and collaborated with state partners, the California Department of Education and the California Department of Developmental Services, through an Interagency Leadership Workgroup to implement a statewide cross-departmental partnership.
• Coordinated with local 14 (c) certificate holders to provide information about competitive integrated employment opportunities to individuals employed at subminimum wage.
• Educated partners and employers regarding competitive integrated employment opportunities, outcomes, and supports for adults and youth with disabilities.
PERFOMANCE ON THE STANDARDS AND INDICATORS
Strategies Contributing to the Successful Passing of Performance Indicators
This information is not yet available - the baseline indicators are currently still being established for the new performance accountability indicators. However, the CDOR is engaged in local partnerships with community partners to help provide VR services to consumers. These partners included third-party cooperative programs, CRPs, and Individual Service Providers who will contribute to or support consumers’ employment outcomes.