Narrative: d. 2. O. vi.

• ARS will work with the other core programs in consultation with the Arkansas SRC and RSA’s State Liaison, to facilitate a common intake process and electronic protocols that will allow for near real-time evaluation of performance accountability measures.

• ARS will provide training and establish performance goals for VR counselors and business relations representatives to improve outreach activities to unserved and underserved minority populations.

• To improve outreach to unserved and underserved minority populations, ARS will continue to participate in Community Connection and Partners in Progress events targeted in regions with a distressed economy and poor performing school systems. Representatives from every service component including Field Services, ACTI, Special Programs, and Business Relations participate in these events. Employers are encouraged to participate in mini-job fair activities.

• Access and Accommodations in collaboration with Increasing Capabilities Access Program (ICAN), State AT Program, will provide and disseminate brochures printed in Spanish to reach more Arkansas residents and inform them of the benefits of assistive technology.

• District managers and business relations consultants will continue to promote VR services on morning radio and TV talk shows to increase consumer awareness of services and to educate businesses about the availability of the qualified and dependable workforce represented by ARS consumers.

• ARS will recruit qualified rehabilitation counselors, including bi-lingual English Sign Language VR counselors, to fill vacancies to meet or exceed past performance in employment outcomes.

• ARS will increase performance in Supported Employment for adults and youth with disabilities with emphasis on serving an increased number of individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities, behavioral health concerns, and cognitive disabilities.

• ARS will use the comprehensive monitoring instrument for CRPs, including ACTI, developed in response to RSA compliance findings from the FY 2011 monitoring review. The monitoring instrument is used to establish performance indicators including substantial increases in employment outcomes, and likewise evaluate if Field Services’ needs are met for service provision to ARS consumers. ARS completed its internal agency review of ACTI in December 2017. The monitoring report covered the FFY 2016 to 2017 and included a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of ACTI’s programs and its incorporation of the Rehabilitation Initial Diagnosis and Assessment of Clients and the Learning Education Center as new tools to more accurately assess a VR client’s aptitude and potential for success. The report also made specific recommendations concerning unresolved 2016 findings. Furthermore, the report’s field survey indicated an overall satisfaction with the services offered at ACTI. More specifically, the report noted that approximately 200 field staff received surveys. 52 or 26% of the total were returned. 85% of those respondents refer clients to ACTI. 61% of the respondents expressed satisfaction with ACTI services. Additionally, a majority of the respondents believe the admissions process, which takes 60 days or more, is unnecessarily long. 30% of the survey respondents also indicated their service budget saved between $1000 to $5000 per client using ACTI services. Finally, the survey respondents believed a placement rate of 25% and a lack of documentation and student updates from ACTI counselors is a serious concern.

• Access and Accommodations in collaboration with Increasing Capabilities Access Network will work with the Division of Services for the Blind to develop a certification review team for compliance of the one stop delivery system with section 188 of WIOA and applicable provisions of the ADA.