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:
__________
* Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- d. Coordination with Education Officials
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- O. State's StrategiesDescribe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):
- O. State's Strategies
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- d. Coordination with Education Officials
d. 2. O. i. The Methods to Be Used to Expand and Improve Services to Individuals with Disabilities.
Current Narrative:
All strategies identified to achieve goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities and overcome barriers to accessing the VR and the supported employment programs in PYs 2018 and 2019 are listed below. The following strategies have been developed and reviewed by MVR and the State Rehabilitation Council:
Goal 1: Increase the number of employment outcomes for youth with disabilities.
Strategies
1. Develop joint training activities with MVR, school and CRP staff. Training will be focused on improving services and outcomes for students with disabilities.
2. Expand pre-employment transition services statewide.
3. Coordinate services with workforce development programs that target youth.
4. Expand IPS services to target youth with disabilities receiving services from DMH.
5. Provide opportunities for youth in identified workforce job-driven training programs and STEM degree/certificate programs.
Goal 2: Increase competitive integrated employment outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Strategies
1. Develop and maintain close working relationships with state and local partners (e.g., Department of Mental Health, WIOA partners, Centers for Independent Living, CRPs, etc.) to maximize resources and develop appropriate services and support systems.
2. Coordinate joint training activities for MVR counselors and direct services CRP staff to improve services and outcomes for clients with ASD.
3. Continue to develop capacity of regional specialists.
4. Expand specialized employment services for individuals with ASD.
Goal 3: Expand services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness receiving Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services.
Strategies
1. Training staff on IPS evidence-based practices.
2. Training staff using Motivational Interviewing.
3. Collaborate with DMH BH on the implementation of evidence-based practices.
4. Increase the number and service capacity of IPS providers in the state.
5. Explore integration of evidence-based practices/fidelity into other CRP/MVR services.
6. Expand services to include youth with disabilities.
All of the above strategies will be used to expand and improve services to individuals with disabilities.