Narrative: l. 2.

DSB developed the following goals, strategies, and performance measures for PY 2020 and 2021, based on WIOA, RSA guidance, recommendations by the DSB Board, and the most recent comprehensive, statewide needs assessment. Below are the goals, as approved by the DSB Board: Goal 1: Increase the employment opportunities for people who are blind or severely visually impaired.  This goal addresses the identified needs in our CSNA to include job services, job development and placement, on-the-job training, and soft skills development.  Goal 2: Increase Pre-Employment Transition Services to high school students; and increase transition services to out-of-school youth.  This goal addresses the need for Pre-ETS to include training and job services.  Goal 3: Expand outreach efforts to include the general public, as well as those who are unserved, underserved, minorities, and stakeholders.  Goal 4: Increase coordination with employers.  Goal 3 and 4 address the need for job placement and training.   

Goal 1: DSB will increase the employment opportunities for people who are blind or severely visually impaired.

Strategy: VR Counselors will schedule and attend face-to-face job exploration meetings to interview human resource professionals regarding the types of jobs they have, and the skills needed to do those jobs.

Performance Measure:

• A minimum of two employer job exploration meetings will be scheduled per month.

PY 2020-2021:

• Counselors will make 2 contacts per month for each client in job-readiness status.
• DSB will conduct training for staff on conducting outreach.
• Quality Assurance will develop a new method of tracking employer contacts in AWARE and Salesforce.

Strategy: VR Counselors will ensure that participants in job ready status are actively seeking employment.

Performance Measures:

• VR Counselors will require three job contacts per week
• Assist job ready participants with registration at Workforce Services
• Assist job ready participants with registering and applying for careers available through the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP)
• Assist participants with registering and applying for jobs through employer internet accessible application processes with private, federal, state and non-profit employers.

PY 2020-2021:

• All employer contacts will be entered in the employer module in AWARE.
• DSB will implement a more effective use of the employer module.
• DSB will utilize the Salesforce program for tracking employer contacts.

Strategy: DSB will encourage and support viable self-employment.

Performance Measures:

• Through the DSB Small Business program, participants will be provided access to Small Business Association trainings and the Arkansas Secretary of State’s trainings on small business enterprises.
• The counselors will schedule job shadowing experiences with participants who are blind/visually impaired that have maintained successful businesses.
• Each self-employment proposal submitted by a participant will be reviewed by a team composed of the Field Services Administrator, the Small Business Coordinator, and the participant’s VR Counselor to ensure that the proposal is realistic and sustainable before it is approved and any funds are provided. 
• A brochure will be developed to provide interested consumers with information about DSB’s small business self-employment program.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB will coordinate a Small Business team to review proposals.
• Provide training for VR counselors on what is needed to complete a small business proposal.
• Revise the policy and procedures for funding small businesses.

Strategy: DSB will work in conjunction with provider agencies to provide work appropriate skills and training to blind and low vision participants.

Performance Measure:

• DSB will refer participants to World Services for the Blind, Alpha Pointe, the Louisiana Center for the Blind, Sources, Goodwill and other providers as necessary for additional skills training, including, but not limited to soft skills and work readiness training to assist participants in improving their probability of securing competitive integrated employment.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB will work with provider agencies to develop more trainings for high in demand jobs for the blind and visually impaired participants.
• DSB will refer participants to Apprenticeship programs across the state.
• DSB will ensure that appropriate guidelines are in place to monitor the providers and trainings.

Strategy: DSB will provide detailed benefits counseling information to each participant on SSI and SSDI.

Performance Measures:

• DSB will provide benefits counseling for 100% of clients, adults, students and youth on SSI and SSDI and conduct a one-on-one benefits analysis.
• Area Supervisors will monitor caseloads to ensure that VR Counselors are providing all SSI and SSDI VR participants with benefits counseling.
• Counselors will make participants aware of benefits counseling at the time of application, at the time of IPE’s, and at the time of closure.

PY 2020-2021:

• All new counselors will receive benefits counseling training.
• Current counselors will receive benefits counseling updates.

Strategy: DSB will continue to refer Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) and interested in employment to VR services.

Performance Measure:

• DSB will refer 100% of older blind individuals who are interested in employment to VR services.

PY 2020-2021:

• Counselors will refer 100% of OIB that are interested in employment to VR services.
• VR counselors will make contact with agencies that serve older individuals such as Green Thumb, AAA to seek referrals, and to educate these agencies about DSB services.

Strategy: DSB will continue to recognize successful participants and their employers.

Performance Measure:

• Each year, each counselor will select one individual from his/her caseload as an area Consumer of the Year (COY) and nominate the individual as a candidate for the overall state Consumer of the Year.
• DSB will award area COY’s and their employers with trophies/framed certificates and related publicity.

PY 2020-2021:

• Counselors will recognize a COY in each area and nominate them for the state COY.
• DSB will honor the state COY and employer at their annual meeting in December.

Strategy: DSB will continue to expand its assistive technology services and improve access to these services and equipment.

Performance Measures:

• DSB will provide trainings on the use and function of common assistive technology devices for the blind and visually impaired.

PY 2020-2021:

• The Assistive Technology staff will develop trainings that can be modified for small and large employers.
• DSB will provide outreach and training to community organizations on technological advances in low vision and blindness.
• DSB will continue to provide training to new Workforce Services staff as vacancies occur to increase their knowledge of accessible technology and the needs of participants.
• DSB staff will continue to meet participants at Workforce Services offices, including DSB sponsored accessible kiosks, to assist participants in their job searches and in becoming more comfortable interacting with the public in an employment setting.

Strategy: DSB will increase the skills, credentials and professional affiliations of its novice Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors as they move to assume senior counseling responsibilities in connection with DSB overall succession planning.

Performance Measures:

• Novice counselors will attend a specific orientation to VR issues and will participate in specialized training through the Arkansas Rehabilitation Association or other qualified sources.
• Novice counselors will be exposed to professional organizations each year, as documented in their professional development plans.

PY 2020-2021:

• Novice counselors will attend Immersion training during their first six months.
• Counselors will attend specialized training with Louisiana Center for the Blind, Mississippi State University and other training opportunities.
• DSB will utilize UofA Currents for professional trainings.
• DSB will utilize on-line training opportunities.

Strategy: To augment the efforts of DSB staff, DSB will use peer mentoring in transition and job ready exploration to allow experienced participants to provide information, advice, and support to less experienced participants.

Performance Measures:

• Peer mentoring will be used to connect participants interested in self-employment with individuals who have owned small businesses and can offer advice and support.
• Area Consumers of the Year will be encouraged to provide peer mentoring to other individuals who are blind and severely visually impaired that are trying to manage their rehabilitation plans, gain marketable skills, and secure good jobs.

PY 2020-2021:

• Peer Mentoring program will be implemented with our Pre-ETS program.
• COY’s will provide mentoring.
• Participants will be connected to DSB Vendor Operators
• Peer mentoring will be provided during DSB’s Jump Start Pre-ETS program.
• Information will be provided on NFB and ACB organizations and utilize their members as mentors.

Strategy: DSB will support training and the exchange of information among the core partners of WIOA.

Performance Measure:

• DSB staff will be active members of the Workforce Investment Boards and WIOA planning committees throughout the State.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB staff will continue to be active members on the local Workforce Investment Boards
• DSB executive staff will be active members of the State Workforce Investment Board and participate on committees.
• DSB executive staff will participate with the WIOA Executive Roundtable with all partners and serve on sub-committees to coordinate services
• DSB staff will attend bi-annual partner trainings.

Strategy: DSB will ensure that all job ready participants receive career exploration activities in their chosen career field at training settings.

Performance Measures:

• DSB will arrange for and accompany job ready adult participants to college, vocational/technical, or university campus visits.
• DSB will assist participants with reviewing entrance requirements to college, vocational/technical, or universities.

PY 2020-2021:

• Counselors will connect participants to campus tours
• Counselors will assist students with FAFSA and college applications
• Counselors will assist students with campus acclimation and introduce them to campus disability services.

Goal 2: Increase Pre-Employment Transition Services to students; increase transition services to out-of-school youth.

Strategy: DSB will ensure that all Pre-ETS students and youth receive exposure to work experiences and career exploration activities.

Performance Measures:

• DSB will arrange for tours of local businesses for Pre-ETS students to explore potential career opportunities.
• DSB will arrange for job shadowing opportunities for Pre-ETS students.
• DSB will arrange for informational interviews for Pre-ETS students to explore job opportunities.
• DSB will arrange volunteer opportunities for Pre-ETS students to explore career fields.
• DSB will accompany Pre-ETS students to career seminars and career fairs.
• DSB will arrange for and accompany Pre-ETS students to college, vocational/technical, or university campus visits.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB will work with more vendors and businesses around the state to develop work experience, job shadowing, informational interviews, and career exploration opportunities. 
• Pre-ETS counselors will explore career options with students and set up work experience and volunteer opportunities for students to gain “real experiences”.
• DSB will provide a three-weeks “Jump Start” program in which students will hear from company representatives, explore careers and gain work experience.
• Pre-ETS students will participate in job shadowing opportunities and informational interviews.
• DSB will conduct transition fairs and accompany students to other transition/career fairs.

Strategy: DSB will support training and the exchange of information among state transition partner organizations.

Performance Measure:

• DSB will sponsor or participate in at least one training or event that will bring together transition partners for the purpose of exchanging information that will specifically benefit students who are blind or severely visually impaired.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB will conduct local transition summits with school districts across the state.
• DSB will participate with trainings of our core partners Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), Arkansas Career Education (ACE), and Career and Technical Education (CTE).
• DSB will coordinate a training with our Arkansas School for the Blind and Vision Impaired (ASBVI) project.      

Strategy: DSB will update the collaborative database of transition students as needed.

Performance Measures:

• Counselors and/or Rehabilitation Assistants will coordinate with Local Education Area (LEA) Supervisors to maintain lists of transition students.
• The Pre-ETS Manager will review the database to insure it is being maintained by Rehabilitation Assistants, who input the local information.

PY 2020-2021:

• Pre-ETs counselors will contact LEA Area Supervisors and have face to face meetings with school staff.
• Referrals identified by LEA’s are sent to Pre-ETS counselors and Pre-ETS Manager for review.
• The LEA spreadsheet will be updated monthly.
• Monthly reports of school contacts will be provided to the Pre-ETS Manager.

Strategy: Counselors will continue to track transition students on their caseloads to ensure that the IPE is developed or updated before a student graduates from high school.

Performance Measure:

• Area Supervisors will monitor this during case reviews to ensure that no transition student will graduate without a current IPE.

PY 2020-2021:

• Pre-ETS Counselors will develop and update IPE’s of transition students before they graduate.
• Pre-ETS Manager will review monitor the cases to ensure the IPE’s are completed. 
• Pre-ETS Counselors will facilitate a meeting with high school staff and college disability services for those attending college.

Strategy: DSB will hold Parent Summits to assist parents and other stakeholders in becoming more knowledgeable and better prepared to advocate for their children at Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings.

Performance Measure:

• Annually, DSB will invite ESVI Regional Certified Vision Consultants and transition parents to a Parent Summit with Counselors to provide information about assistive technology; rights and responsibilities; available resources and services; benefits counseling; and funding for college and career start-up costs.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB will conduct an annual Back to School Summit in August, 2020.

Strategy: DSB will continue to provide assessments and services to transition students specifically focused on activities of daily living, including but not limited to, mobility, knowledge of available transportation resources, self advocacy, acquisition of a variety of reading options, awareness of job opportunities, benefits counseling, and rights and responsibilities as an informed participant.

Performance Measures:

• Formal assessments for assistive technology will be performed by Tech Lab staff in accordance with RSA guidelines on Rehabilitation Engineering.
• Counselors will arrange for training for Pre-ETS students and youth to acquire independent living skills and technological skills for them to participate in career exploration services.

PY 2020-2021:

• Pre-ETS counselors arrange trainings in independent living skills and assistive technology for students and youth.
• DSB will consult with additional vendors to provide independent living and technology training.
• Pre-ETS counselors will refer students for appropriate trainings.
• DSB Tech Lab will provide assistive technology trainings.
• DSB’s will provide assistive technology through its Assistive Technology Loaner program.

Strategy: DSB will continue to strengthen relationships with schools, including Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Performance Measures:

• DSB will present at school assemblies, parent teacher organization meetings, and open houses to provide information on Pre-ETS and how to access these services.
• DSB will establish an information clearinghouse and schedule demonstration labs on selected high school campuses to inform parents, students, and education professionals of the needs of students with significant vision problems, and the cost—effective resources available to them.
• DSB will continue its system of mail outs and e-mails to public schools.
• DSB will continue efforts to reach private, home, and accredited virtual schools.

PY 2020-2021:

• Pre-ETS counselors will have face to face meetings with the schools
• Pre-ETS counselors will visit and present information at open houses, parents’ night, and staff meetings.
• DSB will annually mail out letters to schools with information about our Pre-ETS program.

Strategy: DSB will continue to strengthen relationships with Educational Services for the Visually Impaired (ESVI).

Performance Measures:

• DSB will continue its system of mail outs and e-mails twice a year to area ESVI representatives.
• In addition to the local networking efforts, the Pre-ETS Manager will dialogue with ESVI at a state level to discover any transition students that need services and should be referred to DSB.
• DSB will refer participants under age 14 to ESVI and will encourage referrals from ages 14 and older from ESVI to DSB.

PY 2020-2021:

• Pre-ETS staff will meet with the ESVI team as a group to strengthen our working relationship.
• Pre-ETS counselors and ESVI consultants will refer students to each other’s agency for appropriate services.
• Pre-ETS Manager will provide updated list of students to the counselors.
• Pre-ETS staff will attend the annual AER conference.

Goal 3: DSB will expand its outreach efforts to include the general public, as well as the unserved, underserved, minorities, and stakeholders.

Strategy: DSB will expand and improve services to individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired in the underserved Delta area.

Performance Measure:

• DSB will formulate an alliance with non-profit organizations established in the Delta region, to provide information and soft skills trainings to individuals living in poverty in the Delta region of the State of Arkansas.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB will coordinate meetings with non-profits and agencies that are established in the Delta region, to provide information and trainings to individuals living in the Delta region of the state.

Strategy: DSB will use exhibit booths to educate the public about DSB services and their availability.

Performance Measure:

• Each VR Counselor will staff at least one DSB exhibit at a widely attended or significantly relevant event in his/her territory.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB staff will exhibit and make presentations at career fairs, health fairs, and other events in their area.

Strategy: DSB will increase its outreach to minorities and faith-based groups.

Performance Measures:

• Counselors will make at least four outreach efforts to faith-based groups in each of their geographic areas annually.
• Counselors will make at least two outreach efforts to minority groups to include Hispanic, Asian, or other ethnic groups in each of their geographic areas annually.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB will develop a new program to reach faith-based groups.
• DSB will provide outreach training for their counselors and staff.

Strategy: Area Supervisors and DSB administrative staff will continue to attend the state conferences of blindness consumer groups, and opportunities will be offered to direct service staff as well.

Performance Measure:

• DSB will send supervisors/administrators to these conferences to interact with participants and make presentations as requested.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB staff will attend the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Council for the Blind (ACB) state and national conference.
• DSB will participate with other state conferences of blindness and visual impairment organizations to network on issues faced by other states and gain ideas about how to better serve individuals.   

Goal 4: DSB will increase coordination with employers.

Strategy: DSB will ensure that all job ready participants will receive career exploration activities and work experience in their chosen career field on the job site.

Performance Measures:

• DSB will arrange for tours of local businesses for job ready adult participants to explore potential career opportunities.
• DSB will arrange for job shadowing opportunities for job ready adult participants.
• DSB will arrange for informational interviews for job ready adult participants to explore job opportunities.
• DSB will arrange volunteer opportunities for job ready adult participants to explore career fields.
• DSB will accompany job ready adult participants to career seminars and career fairs.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB counselors and Business Engagement Coordinator will develop more opportunities for participants to tour businesses and explore career opportunities.
• DSB counselors will arrange job shadowing, informational interviews and volunteer opportunities for participants to explore career fields.
• DSB counselors will accompany participants to career seminars and career fairs.

Strategy: DSB will become Chamber of Commerce members.

Performance Measure:

• VR counselors will make contact with at least two members of their local Chamber of Commerce per month to learn about the trends and needs of those businesses.

PY 2020-2021:

• Each DSB office will join their local Chamber of Commerce.
• DSB will obtain updated list of chamber business members.
• VR counselors and Business Engagement Coordinator will contact chamber businesses.
• DSB staff will attend Chamber of Commerce events.

Strategy: VR Counselors will conduct public speaking engagements.

Performance Measure:

• Counselors will conduct at least one presentation per year to the local area Lions, Rotary, Civitan, or Kiwanis Club in order to form relationships with local leaders.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB counselors will conduct local presentations.
• Counselors will conduct COY presentations at local civic community clubs.

Strategy: DSB management staff will connect with employers in each economic development district.

Performance Measures:

• DSB staff will establish at least one ongoing internship site per region for DSB participants.
• DSB staff will work in conjunction with the Arkansas Apprenticeship program to locate apprenticeship opportunities for participants.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB Business Engagement Coordinator will connect with employers in each economic development district.
• DSB Business Engagement Coordinator will develop internships and apprenticeship opportunities for participants.

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT GOALS:

Goal 1: DSB will increase the number of Supported Employment providers to better serve DSB participants.

Strategy: DSB will collaborate with organizations such as World Services for the Blind, Job Connections, AEDD Inc., Easter Seals, Building Bridges, and Goodwill to increase SE service availability in unserved or underserved areas of the state due to geographic or other issues.

Performance Measure:

• DSB will join our partner ARS to conduct at least one meeting with providers to discuss ways to increase SE services to rural areas.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB and ARS will conduct a meeting with providers to increase SE services in rural areas.

Goal 2: DSB will increase Supported Employment services to transition students and out of school youth.

Strategy: Counselors will determine whether students or youth are candidates for SE during the employment planning process.

Performance Measure:

• DSB will train new staff and provide updates to veteran staff on identifying and providing SE to youth who may be appropriate for supported employment and how to refer them to providers. 

PY 2020-2021:

• Staff training on Supported Employment and Customized Employment will be conducted.

Goal 3: DSB will increase the quality of SE providers for individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired.

Strategy: DSB will determine SE vendor standards targeted to meet the blindness and visual impairment needs of its participants.

Performance Measure:

• At least one presentation or training will be made to educate SE providers about blindness and visual impairments.

PY 2020-2021:

• DSB will provide training for SE providers on blindness and vision impairments.