Narrative: d. 2. O. iii.

IDVR is trending toward a ratio of minority service rate to non-minority service rate of 1.00. Significant gains in service outreach, an emphasis on accurate coding of race and ethnicity status, and Pre-ETS expansion and outreach have raised the current (PY 2018) ratio to .942, up from .921 in FFY 2017 and .891 in FFY 2016.

The Hispanic population is by far Idaho’s largest minority group at 12.0 percent and represents 10.1 percent of the population served by the division in PY 2017 to date. This is contrast with the corresponding figures of 11.7 percent and 7.4 percent two years ago. The second largest minority population, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), is currently overserved by the division: AI/AN represents 2.4% of Idaho’s population and 3.8 percent of IDVR cases. Individuals of Black or African American descent are also overserved representing 1.1 percent of Idaho’s population, and 2.2 percent of IDVR cases to date in PY 2017. Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders are underserved categories, but service rates are within one percent of population estimates for both races.

Idaho’s demographics are changing, and Idaho was the fastest growing state relative to population in the United States in 2017, experiencing 2.2% annual growth. Idaho is a major state for resettlement and has experienced a significant influx of refugees in Regions 3, 4, 7 and 8. In order to best understand the needs of this population, IDVR conducts joint staff training in conjunction with the Agency for New American’s. IDVR works maintains regular contact and outreach with staff at the International Rescue Committee refugee organization and all three resettlement agencies in the Treasure Valley and Magic Valley regions. The Division maintains contact with Family Medicine, a medical provider to newly arrived refugees in the in these regions to coordinate referrals.

Additionally, IDVR conducts ongoing outreach activities to meet the needs of the Spanish speaking population statewide. A number of these individuals engage in migrant seasonal farm work. The Division works collaboratively with IDOL, the Idaho Migrant Council, and the Idaho Division of Hispanic Affairs to identify these individuals and processes to best conduct outreach activities.

The Division conducts various outreach activities to identify and involve individuals with disabilities from underserved backgrounds. These include but are not limited to:

• Monthly participation in the Amigo Round Table hosted by the Mexican Consulate
• Working with community based mental health programs to identify leads for potential outreach
• Continuing meetings with Boise State University’s Hispanic equivalency recruiter
• Meeting with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s bilingual staff as well as ongoing meetings with DHW’s Targeted Service Coordinators to identify potential referrals
• Collaborating with Idaho Youth Ranch to look at ways of better serving individuals who are minorities
• Participation in the multi-partner Refugee Employment Networking and Training group hosted by the Idaho Department of Labor

IDVR also conducts tribal outreach, per agreement, in conjunction with 121 projects to the four tribes located in Idaho and the substantial American Indian population residing in the Treasure Valley.

IDVR has a representative on the Sho-Ban Job Fair and Hiring Event committee in partnership with Shoshone-Bannock VR, IDOL, tribal leadership and employers which connects prospective employees to employers. The last event drew 40 employers and over 500 job seekers and the next event will take place in March 2018.

IDVR has connected with the ESL coordinator at the College of Western Idaho who disseminates information to VR staff on free English language classes and training opportunities for customers.

IDVR regularly engages with qualified interpreters for a variety of languages to better serve VR clients with limited English proficiency.