Narrative: d. 2. M. i. II.

The diminished funding available from the state to match the federal dollars allotted has impacted the agency’s overall ability to effectively serve many individuals with disabilities in Louisiana who could potentially become employed.

The loss in funding corresponded to a decline in agency staffing, resulting in reduced capacity to administer the program and serve consumers. In 1988, when the Order of Selection (OOS) was implemented, LRS had approximately 565 staff members on hand to administer the programs under the auspices of LRS. In 2017 this number declined to 177 (69% decrease). Specifically, Rehabilitation Counselors have decreased by 46% over the last sixteen years (from 142 in 2002 to 77 in 2018). The agency goal as positions have been lost due to budget cuts, has been to maintain counselors above all other positions as indicated by the slower decline in counselor numbers as compared to other staff.

On March 20, 1988, LRS moved to providing Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services statewide through an OOS. This enabled the agency to continue providing services to those eligible, preserve its ability to accept applications, to provide diagnostic studies, to provide trial work experiences/extended evaluations and to determine placement in the OOS.

Effective July 20, 1999, LRS served all current consumers and new applicants determined eligible and placed in OOS Category I due to decreased funding. OOS Category II was opened in February of 2000. On March 9, 2001 LRS moved from three OOS categories to five OOS categories. In August of 2002, LRS opened OOS Category III and it was closed again in August of 2003.

OOS Category III was opened again in December 14, 2005 and in January 10, 2006, due to a waiver of the state match approved by Congress to assist the state in its recovery efforts after hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, all OOS categories were opened. Due to this waiver, LRS was able to serve all five OOS categories from January 10, 2006 through April 13, 2009. From April 14, 2009 through September 30, 2010, LRS served OOS Categories I & II. Effective October 1, 2010, LRS began serving OOS I only. On January 1, 2014 LRS began serving individuals on the waiting list in Order of Selection Category II. On July 1, 2014 OOS Categories II and III were opened and individuals on the waiting list in Category IV were served. LRS served individuals determined eligible and placed in Categories I - III through February 29, 2016 at which time Categories I - III were closed. On June 3, 2016, Category I was opened and individuals on the Category II waiting list were served. On February 22, 2017, Category I was closed so all categories remained closed. On July 3, 2017 1,007 were served from the Category I waiting list. On September 1, 2017 1,019 were served from the Category I waiting list. On October 16, 2017 605 were served from the Category I waiting list. On November 8, 2017, LRS fully opened Category 1 and served the 795 on the waiting list. Funding remains unavailable to serve new applicants and eligible individuals placed in Categories II - V at this time. LRS will continue to provide services to those with plans of service in place as long as funding allows.