Narrative: a. 2.

RSA recently rolled out the Program Year. Due to this, the State Plan is now due March 2, 2020. This leaves little time to read, review and provide meaningful comments on the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation portion  of the State Plan. The SRC would have appreciated more time in which to provide useful and succinct comments. 

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.

The SRC feels DVR has done great work on all objectives and strategies to achieve this goal. The SRC suggests DVR keep this goal, along with its objectives and strategies going forward. Preliminary evaluations show improvement with client retention. Great work DVR!

DVR Response: DVR appreciates the SRC’s recognition of efforts on this previous goal. DVR makes every effort to maximize employment closures while recognizing that under WIOA, there is also a focus on assisting individuals to access career pathways, so they can reach meaningful employment that meets their goals.

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. 

DVR has done an awesome job reducing the number of days from application to eligibility and from eligibility to Individual Plan for Employment (IPE), consistently meeting the new standards. They have policies and procedures in place to continue to meet these standards.  Is VR able to continue to serve all individuals in categories 1 and 3 given the requirements around Pre-ETs and the lack of a contract award in two regions of the state?

DVR Response: DVR appreciates the recognition of efforts to reduce days from application to eligibility and eligibility to IPE. DVR can continue to serve all individuals in categories 1 and 2 but does not anticipate being able to open the waitlist for category 3 at this time due to resource constraints. The SRC is correct that the requirement to spend 15% of the VR grant award on Pre-Employment Transition Services does mean that the agency must consistently monitor Pre-ETS expenditures, so that this requirement is met. This is done through monthly budget analysis with the Service Center. Due to not receiving satisfactory proposals, DVR was not able to make an award in the northern two regions following an issued RFP for CRP services last year. This means that the payment system in those regions remains unchanged. DVR is currently working with current providers in those regions to discuss other opportunities to ensure that community employment services and supports are available to all clients across the state in a timely manner.

Regarding the objective of determining if DVR can check for proficiencies in how they process the work of providing services. The SRC feels DVR has done this and feels it is part of their philosophy. The SRC does not feel this continues to be an objective.

DVR Response: DVR appreciates the SRC’s recognition of efforts made to more efficiently provide services. As operational needs change, DVR will continue to assess systems of service to best meet client needs.

The objective, and its strategies, for those with significant intellectual disabilities to be able to access the waiver for long term employment supports after closure is a great idea. However, the SRC wonders how this helps reduce the number of days from eligibility to IPE? The SRC wonders if this should be a separate goal.

DVR Response: DVR is partnering with the Office of Aging and Disability Services to draft new joint procedural guidance on this topic. DVR will rework this goal in the new state plan.

The last objective under this goal talks of DVR continuing the “Employment First” philosophy and reducing the unemployment rate of people with disabilities by 5%. Once again, the SRC does not how this helps reduce the number of days from eligibility to IPE. The SRC wonders if this should be a separate.

DVR Response: DVR appreciates the feedback and has repositioned this strategy in the new state plan.

Goal 3: To ensure that individuals with disabilities who may be unserved or underserved or who have minority status have access to DVR services.

DVR has done great work getting those who are unserved, underserved or have minority status access to VR services. The SRC feels DVR has policies and procedures in place and this work is a part of the core work they do. The SRC feels this needs to continue to be a goal with objective and strategies as it is part of the ongoing work, they are committed to doing.

DVR Response: DVR appreciates the feedback and will be continuing objectives and strategies related to meeting the needs of unserved, underserved, and individuals who are minorities.

Goal 4: Maine DVR will partner with the larger workforce development system to improve opportunities and access for DVR clients as measured annually by documented collaborative activities, technical assistance, and training.

The SRC is unsure if Maine’s Disability Employment Initiative Grant is still available. This objective was for 2016. The SRC suggest taking this objective out of the DVR portion of the State Plan.

DVR Response: The SRC is correct, the Disability Employment Initiative grant is no longer available, and this strategy will not be in the new plan. Lessons learned from the effort do, however, still inform DVR’s work with its partners.

DVR is still in an Order of Selection for Category 3. Therefore, the objective should continue to be a part of DVR’s portion of the State Plan.

DVR Response: Yes, DVR will continue to examine opportunities to open Category 3 should resources become available.

DVR honors all MOUs so the SRC does not feel this needs to continue to be an objective under this goal.

DVR Response: DVR is pleased to have many partners across state agencies and strives to continue to have Memoranda of Understanding in place that support those relationships.

DVR should continue to look for grant opportunities that are in keeping with the BRS mission.

DVR Response: DVR is always open to new grant opportunities as they fit within the needs and resources of the agency and its clients.

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). 

This is ongoing. 

DVR Response: DVR is pleased to have strong relationships with its WIOA partners and continues to work with them to implement WIOA to the benefit of our mutual customers.  

Goals in the current plan were written prior to implementation of the new employment service delivery model.  How will this process change any/all goals? 

DVR Response: Goals in the new plan use a results-based approach which DVR believes will be helpful in aligning with other efforts across the state.

How will VR ensure consistency across Regions 4/5 where no awards were granted in the new employment services model for those regions?

DVR Response: DVR ensures consistency with Community Rehabilitation Provider services through contractual agreements, ongoing joint technical assistance and training and review of new opportunities to meet the needs of clients in those regions.

How is client choice being addressed in Region I, II and III where the new service delivery model is being implemented?

DVR Response: It is a top priority of DVR to ensure client choice across the state. In Region, I, II, III, this is achieved in a number of ways regarding CRP services. In awarding contracts to CRPs, they had to elucidate how they would provide informed choice. Each agency offered strategies including having multiple staff who would be able to serve an individual or looking across to another region if a conflict of interest arose. Because these agencies are responsible for serving all clients in their contracted region, there will be more choice on the side of clients because a CRP will not be able to turn a client down for services.

How will VR address the drop in successful employment outcomes for adults with disabilities given the new WIOA requirements for serving youth?

DVR Response: DVR recognizes that with a focus on Measurable Skill Gains, career pathways and credential attainment, that some individuals will take longer to reach meaningful employment outcomes. This will also be true for youth who may be involved with VR for a longer period (Pre-ETS – through to successful employment closure). Under WIOA, DVR is not incentivized to close individuals in low-level jobs solely to meet employment outcome numbers. DVR is very pleased with this changing focus that supports career pathways and assisting individuals with disabilities to meet their potential.

How will VR effective measure consumer satisfaction with both VRCs, the process, and CRPs?

DVR Response: Meeting client need and providing a high level of consumer service result in consumer satisfaction. In addition to DVR’s work with the SRC, DVR has been very pleased to contract with Market Decisions for its triennial evaluation of consumer satisfaction. Questions on that survey ask about process, outcomes, and CRPs.