Narrative: d. 2. P. iii.

DVR has in place DSAs with Wisconsin’s UI wage section, allowing the capturing of data for quarterly earnings and employment. DVR will update this agreement to allow for the sharing of the UI data with RSA. DVR will need to establish an additional DSA allowing it to capture out of state data to ensure the full measuring of earnings for DVR participants. This will be done via the State Wage Interchange System (SWIS) once it becomes available. DVR will additionally add tools to measure and collect self-employment earnings and successes.

It is anticipated that RSA will assist DVR in developing a benchmark and goal for the first year of participation and negotiating adjustments as needed.

Projection for PY 2017: 51%

Looking at proxy data available WDVR achieved 55% in PY16.

(B) The percentage of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program.

DVR has in place DSAs with Wisconsin’s UI wage section, allowing the capturing of data for quarterly earnings and employment. DVR will update this agreement to allow for the sharing of the UI data with RSA. DVR will need to establish an additional DSA allowing it to capture out of state data to ensure the full measuring of earnings for DVR participants. This will be done via the State Wage Interchange System (SWIS) once it becomes available. DVR will additionally add tools to measure and collect self-employment earnings and successes. It is anticipated that RSA will assist DVR is developing a benchmark and goal for the first year of participation and negotiating adjustments as needed.

Projection for PY 2017: 49%

Looking at proxy data available WDVR achieved 53% in PY16.

(C) The median earnings of program participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program.

DVR has in place DSAs with Wisconsin’s UI wage section, allowing the capturing of data for quarterly earnings and employment. DVR will update this agreement to allow for the sharing of the UI data with RSA. DVR will need to establish an additional DSA allowing it to capture out of state data to ensure the full measuring of earnings for DVR participants. This will be done via the State Wage Interchange System (SWIS) once it becomes available. DVR will additionally add tools to measure and collect self-employment earnings and successes. It is anticipated that RSA will assist DVR is developing a benchmark and goal for the first year of participation and negotiating adjustments as needed.

Projection for PY 2017: $2,600/quarter. We do not have PY16 data available.

(D) The percentage of program participants who obtain a recognized postsecondary credential or a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent during participation or within one year after exit from the program

DVR has updated its case management system to collect information regarding this performance measure. It is anticipated that RSA will assist DVR is developing a benchmark and goal for the first year of participation and negotiating adjustments as needed.

Projection for PY 2017: 31%. We do not have data for PY16.

(E) The percentage of program participants who, during a program year, are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized postsecondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains toward such a credential or employment.

DVR has updated its case management system to collect information regarding this performance measure. It is anticipated that RSA will assist DVR is developing a benchmark and goal for the first year of participation and negotiating adjustments as needed

Projection for PY 2017: 31%. We do not have data for PY16.

(F) The indicators for effectives in serving employers.

Through collaboration with Titles I-IV, Wisconsin selected the Penetration Rate and the Repeat Business as the effectiveness in serving employers measures. Training on these measures and data collection has begun.

Projection for PY 2017: To be determined

In 2013, DVR initiated a business service model in and continues to serve and have strong ties to employers. Twenty project positions were created in 2013 to function as employment specialists (same classification as WP Job Service-Employment and Training Specialists A, B) to conduct business needs assessments, develop job matches, and place consumers in jobs. The employment specialists, called Business Service Consultants are proportionally distributed throughout the state with at least one BSC assigned to each WDA. These positions were originally project positions which have ended. DVR now has 9 permanent BSC positions to cover the state.

BSCs are able to work with businesses to determine if any of the 7,000 job seekers on DVR caseloads who are ready for employment match the skills that are needed by businesses, allowing DVR counselors to spend more time with job seekers who require intensive IPE development and career counseling.

The new positions have also assisted counselors in placing those in the training queue, another 7,000 additional disabled individuals that would be an excellent source of talent recruitment for businesses needing specialized skilled individuals. Internships and work experiences can be especially beneficial to those ending their academic training and needing work experience to better match to employer needs.

DVR Business Service Consultants are part of the Business Service teams located in each of the 11 WDAs. Along with other workforce partners, the BSCs conduct outreach to businesses and share the needs and job openings with all the workforce partners. DVR staffs play a significant role in sharing the business needs with other partners and, in turn, have access to other business leads developed by workforce partners.

DVR has just began using Job Center of Wisconsin Business along with other Title partners to track metrics, services and outreach activities.

(2) An evaluation of the extent to which the Supported Employment program goals described in the SES for the most recent program year were achieved. The evaluation must: (A) Identify the strategies that contributed to the achievement of the goals. (B) Describe the factors that impeded the achievement of the goals and priorities.

DVR has met a goal of providing supplemental funds to serve any individual needing SES. The entire award of Title VI-B dollars is distributed statewide to all DVR Workforce Development areas (WDA) for the provision of SES. Previous annual investments include Title VI-B funds of $413,537 covered approximately 6.1% of the total agency investment of $6.7 million expensed on SES for individuals in all OOS categories needing supported employment. The remainder of the service is funded with Title I-B funds. DVR has placed a priority on SES and will continue supplemental funding of SES to meet additional and needed demand.

DVR has established a goal to improve the capacity and quality of supported employment, customized and individual placement and support services. DVR provides fee-for-service outcome based payments to non-profit and profit rehabilitation entities and other service providers for the provision of time-limited SES. There continues to be issues of capacity and quality with the provision of all types of SES. This goal has not been met.

DVR has provided additional funds for supported employment but the provider network has not kept up with demand. There has been uncertainty among the CRP who serve as providers of supported employment due to an anticipated structural change in the managed care system in Wisconsin. In addition, that same network of providers faces uncertainty as to the impact of the WIOA and Center for Medicaid Services rules related to pre-vocational services and settings related to sub-minimum wage employment. Those changes will affect the financial stability of the providers who also operate sheltered workshops.

In FY 2016-2017 there is a plan to emphasize building capacity and improving the quality of the existing provider network. DVR has updated and strengthened the technical specifications for services, which include identification of specific roles, and responsibilities for the consumer, DVR and the service providers. We expect to provide training for providers that will include use of new methodologies for job development and on the job supports, taking some evidence based strategies from IPS and incorporating them into SES. DVR will also be creating a standardized statewide service for customized employment. DVR will continue to explore strategies to identify new providers and to work with the existing provider network to increase capacity.

DVR also has a goal to continue to expand the IPS model of supported employment for individual with serious and persistent mental illness in Wisconsin. This goal has been met. The number of sites has grown from three sites in 2010, to more than 22 in FY 2015. It is expected that IPS will continue to grow across Wisconsin. DVR is an active partner in that effort.