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2 Year Modification

Plan: Minnesota PYs 2018-2019
Combined Plan C

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Narrative: a. 1.

Published
Located in:

a. 1. Input Provided by the State Rehabilitation Council, Including Input and Recommendations on the Vr Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan, Recommendations from the Council's Report, the Review and Analysis of Consumer Satisfaction, and Other Council Reports That May Have Been Developed as Part of the Council’s Functions;

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2016-2017

Current Narrative:

The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) provides ongoing input and recommendations to VRS. The council’s annual reports can be found online at: https://mn.gov/deed/job-seekers/disabilities/councils/rehab-council.jsp. The SRC spent a substantial amount of time reviewing the designated State unit’s Priority for Service criteria and Order of Selection in response to significant increases in the number of participants who are found eligible for Category 1 since the implementation of WIOA. In response, the council made the following recommendations: 1. The designated State unit should continue the education of VR staff as it relates to Priority for Service/Order of Selection/Functional Limitations, and monitor efficacy and determine an ongoing education plan to insure organizational vitality. 2. Given the current state of available funds for services, the VR program should gather appropriate data to support analysis of whether the SRC and VR pursue rulemaking processes related to Order of Selection criteria, and to better support potential advocacy needs. This data collection should include thoughtful discussion with the SRC around what data should be collected to best capture the reality of the environment for VR. 3. In the event that funds are not available, VR should be diligent and intentional in the decision to close all categories by providing transparent communication in collaboration with DHS and MDE to share alternative options given category closures. 4. The SRC requests ongoing updates on available funds and category status from the Director, and to revisit the review of changing Order of Selection criteria annually.

Public Forums The State Rehabilitation Council has historically convened one or two public forums each year to gather grassroots commentary and input regarding Minnesota’s Vocational Rehabilitation program. In April 2017, the SRC Executive Committee opted to cancel the public forum planned to discuss Customized Employment scheduled for August. At that time, appropriation of funding that would enable the VR program to keep Category 1 open for a period of time was not included in the senate or house bills. The Council decided it would be more fiscally responsible to use resources for program participants rather than to host a public forum on services that the DSU potentially would not have funding to provide.