Narrative: d. 2. O. i.

Goal 1 To obtain at least 1000 successful closures for DVR clients in FFY 2018 and 2019. Thereby substantially maintaining solid employment outcomes for DVR clients in Maine. These employment outcomes and goals from 2018 through 2019 will be impacted by the change in serving more youth in school. DVR has seen a decrease in their overall employment outcomes, as DVR will not realize successful outcomes from these in school youth for a few years. In addition, with the focus of DVR’s resources to in school youth, there may be fewer VR resources for adults with disabilities. Objective: To reduce early exit from services from 42% in 2015 to 35 % during FFY 2018. Strategies: a. Collect and analyze data on reasons for drop out for cases closed in status 30/found eligible no plan developed b. Provide staff training on case management techniques that promote engagement. Objective: To provide access to Pre—Employment Transition Services - or Pre-ETS (as defined under WIOA) to students with disabilities Strategies: a. During FY2018, DVR will engage in Phase II of a “Progressive Employment” pilot initiative to increase work experience activities for 200 youth and young adult clients in the Lewiston and Portland offices. b. During FY 2018, DVR will continue to engage in a pilot with AlphaOne (Maine’s Center for Independent Living) to provide services to at least 100 students in two high schools that will increase their self—determination skills and independent living skills. c. During FY 2016, DVR will explore partnerships with Career and Technical Education regional schools and Adult Education as a means to deliver Pre-ETS services d. During FY 2018, DVR will increase summer youth work experience opportunities for Pre-ETS eligible clients e. During FY 2018, explore opportunities to partner with the Maine Department of Health and Human Resources — Office of Children and Family Services to blend and braid funding to deliver Pre-ETS services for jointly served youth. f. During FY 2018, will continue to work closely with WIOA partners to develop a service pathway for youth g. Beginning in FFY 2018, all youth clients will have at least one paid work experience before exiting high school Objective: To increase the percentage of successful employment closures for individuals who receive services from community rehabilitation providers. Strategies: a. Provide joint training opportunities for CRP’s on topics to promote best practices in employment supports for people with disabilities. Objective: Through lessons learned from the Progressive Employment pilot, expand the number of Maine employers who implement diversity hiring activities through engagement with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and with workforce system partners Strategies: a. Continue to actively support the Maine Chapter of the US Business Leadership Network. b. Partner with the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, local Chambers, and the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) to expand business outreach/network. c. Take a lead role with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) core partners and others in the workforce development system to grow and diversify Maine’s workforce through targeted outreach to employers, reinforcing the message that “We need every Mainer”. Goal 2 To serve all individuals with the most significant disabilities in a timely manner, which means determining eligibilities within 60 days and developing plans for employment for all consumers within the new 90 day time frame. DVR will continue to maintain no wait list for those individuals in categories 1 and 2, and will monitor the ability to again serve those in category 3 in the future. Objective: To reduce the average time in plan development from 217 days in FFY 2014 to 92.6 days in FFY 2017 to the federal standard of 90 days in FFY 2018 Strategies: a. Increase use of the Career Exploration Workshop, which has been shown to decrease case length time. b. Work closely with the Maine Department of Education to ensure implementation of the joint Cooperative Agreement and best practice guidelines on referral and timely application for transition age students c. Deliver staff training and supervision on best practices in IPE plan development and Order of Selection (OOS) determination Objective: To determine if there could be efficiencies in how DVR processes the work of providing services across the state by building on the recommendations of a process mapping report completed for DVR in summer 2015. Strategies: a. Convene a steering team made up of a representative from the State Rehabilitation Council, at least one clerical staff, three VR counselors, three casework supervisors, the three regional managers, and four Central Office staff. b. Beginning in January 2016, establish and launch five work groups to review DVR processes in the following areas: • Case Flow Process • Clerical Support work flow • Technology • Training and Communication • Review of policies and procedural directives Objective: To increase the number of individuals with significant intellectual disabilities who access the available waiver employment support for long term employment support needs after closure from BRS. Strategies: b. Continue to work with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that all individuals who have the waiver — but have not taken advantage of employment services — are aware of employment supports open to them through coordination between the two Departments c. Continue to provide access and training to the BRIDGE —Career Exploration Workshop, appropriate for individuals with intellectual disabilities Objective: Maine DVR will undertake efforts to continue to embrace and implement an “Employment First” philosophy during the next year as documented by a decrease of 5% in the statewide unemployment rate of people with intellectual disabilities. Strategies: a. DVR will continue to participate in the implementation of recommendations of Employment First Maine’s coalition, to improve employment outcomes for individuals with significant disabilities. Goal 3 3. The outreach procedures that will be used to identify and serve individuals with disabilities who are minorities, including those with the most significant disabilities, as well as those who have been unserved or underserved by the VR program. Goal 3 To ensure that individuals with disabilities who may be unserved or underserved or who have minority status have access to DVR services. Objective: Maine DVR will work closely with Maine’s Section 121 VR Grant — Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation, to increase and maintain co—enrollment to 10 individuals in FFY 2018 — 20. Strategies: a. Maine DVR will include Wabanaki Vocational Rehabilitation in training and technical assistance opportunities. b. Wabanaki VR will provide technical assistance to Maine DVR on issues related to cultural competency and best practices in Native employment supports. c. According to the joint MOU, Maine DVR and Wabanaki VR will meet at least annually to review the agreement. Objective: Maine DVR will collect data on the numbers of individuals served — belonging to the following categories in FY 2012 to establish a baseline and future goals: a. individuals involved with the correctional system b. individuals who are veterans c. individuals who are “older workers” d. individuals who are “New Mainers” e. individuals with dual sensory impairments (Deaf/Blind) Strategies: a. DVR will develop and utilize special indicators in its case management system to track individuals who belong to one of the above groups. Objective: DVR will ensure that all materials distributed or published by the agency will be accessible and demonstrate cultural competency. Strategies: a. To promote more efficient use of resources and increase access for individuals who use ASL, DVR will explore the benefits of hiring staff interpreters versus contracting for ASL interpreting services. Objective: Maine DVR will develop new strategies to increase the employment of people with mental health disabilities Strategies: a. DVR will partner with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services to explore opportunities available through the I SPA b. DVR will work with the Department of Corrections through its quarterly joint meetings to identify effective practices in referring and supporting individuals for whom mental health is a barrier to employment. Objective: Maine DVR will maintain statewide consistency in its practices with regard to “Clubhouses” offering services to DVR clients as measured by client case review. Strategies: a. DVR will maintain a liaison to the local Clubhouse in each office. b. DVR will invite Clubhouse program staff to participate in DVR training opportunities. Objective: In keeping with WIOA legislation, ensure individuals working at sub—minimum wage are aware of and have access to DVR services Strategies: a. DVR will partner with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Aging and Disability Services(OADS) and the Bureau of Labor Standards (BLS) to identify individuals who are currently working at sub—minimum wage b. DVR will develop an outreach strategy to these workers in collaboration with OADS and BLS c. DVR will develop procedural guidance and training for staff on conversion of workers from sub—minimum wage settings to competitive, integrated employment Goal 4 4. The methods to be used to improve and expand VR services for students with disabilities, including the coordination of services designed to facilitate the transition of such students from school to postsecondary life (including the receipt of VR services, postsecondary education, employment, and pre-employment transition services). Goal 1 To obtain at least 1000 successful closures for DVR clients in FFY 2018,2019 and 20. And 2020thereby substantially maintaining solid employment outcomes for DVR clients in Maine. These employment outcomes and goals from 20 18 through 2020will be impacted by the change in serving more youth in school. DVR has seen a decrease in their overall employment outcomes, as DVR will not realize successful outcomes from these in school youth for a few years. In addition, with the focus of DVR’s resources to in school youth, there may be fewer VR resources for adults with disabilities Objective: To reduce early exit from services from 42% in 2015 to 3 5% during FFY 2018 Strategies: a. Collect and analyze data on reasons for drop out for cases closed in status 30/found eligible no plan developed b. Provide staff training on case management techniques that promote engagement. Objective: To provide access to Pre—Employment Transition Services — or Pre-ETS - (as defined under WIOA) to students with disabilities Strategies: a. During FY2018 DVR will engage in Phase II of a “Progressive Employment” pilot initiative to increase work experience activities for 200 youth and young adult clients in the Lewiston and Portland offices. b. During FY 2018, DVR will continue to engage in a pilot with AlphaOne (Maine’s Center for Independent Living) to provide services to at least 100 students in two high schools that will increase their self—determination skills and independent living skills. c. During FY 2018, DVR will explore partnerships with Career and Technical Education regional schools and Adult Education as a means to deliver Pre-ETS services d. During FY 2018, DVR will increase summer youth work experience opportunities for Pre-ETS eligible clients e. During FY 2018, explore opportunities to partner with the Maine Department of Health and Human Resources — Office of Children and Family Services to blend and braid funding to deliver Pre-ETS services for jointly served youth. f. During FY 2018, will continue to work closely with WIOA partners to develop a service pathway for youth g, Beginning in FFY 2018, all youth clients will have at least one paid work experience before exiting high school. Objective: To increase the percentage of successful employment closures for individuals who receive services from community rehabilitation providers. Strategies: a. Provide joint training opportunities for CRP’s on topics to promote best practices in employment supports for people with disabilities. Objective: Through lessons learned from the Progressive Employment pilot, expand the number of Maine employers who implement diversity hiring activities through engagement with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and workforce system partners Strategies: a. Continue to actively support the Maine Chapter of the US Business Leadership Network. b. Partner with the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, local Chambers, and the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) to expand business outreach/network. c. Take a lead role with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) core partners and others in the workforce development system to grow and diversify Maine’s workforce through targeted outreach to employers, reinforcing the message that “We need every Mainer”. Goal 5 Maine DVR will partner with Adult Education, the SWIB, and the larger workforce development system to incorporate and apply the new rules related to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Objective: To learn, and apply all rules of WIOA with the DVR program, including drafting a unified state plan, adopting new performance measures and continued collaboration with the One—Stop system. Strategies: a. New rules will be reviewed and adopted by DVR within the time frames given in the new law. A steering committee has been formed with all affected partners and a project plan developed to address the changes agencies face with the advent of WIOA.