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2 Year Modification

Plan: Colorado PYs 2022-2023 (Mod)
Combined Plan C

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Narrative: b. 1.

Published
Located in:
  • Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)

    The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:

    __________

    [13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA

    • b. Request for Waiver of Statewideness

      When requesting a waiver of the statewideness requirement, the designated State unit must identify the types of services to be provided by the program on a non-statewide basis. The waiver request must also include written assurances that:

b. 1. A local public agency will provide the non-Federal share of costs associated with the services to be provided in accordance with the waiver request;

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2020-2023

Current Narrative:

DVR, in partnership with Workforce Development Programs within CDLE’s Division of Employment & Training and local workforce areas,  is establishing a Disability Program Navigator (DPN) pilot. Four local workforce areas, Adams County Workforce and Business Center, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, Denver Workforce Services, and Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center have each entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IA) with DVR. The IA stipulates each of the local workforce areas must provide non-federal funds covering 50% of the program cost, which will expand access to VR and workforce services for individuals with disabilities. As part of the IA, each local workforce area is required to develop and submit a budget identifying the program costs, which is used for determining the total contract amount, including non-federal match. Workforce areas participating are provided with tools for accurately submitting match funds and billing DVR for DPN costs. 

The purpose of the DPN pilot is to improve collaboration and co-enrollment between DVR and Workforce Centers, supporting increased competitive integrated employment outcomes, and improve community linkages to disability resources for Coloradans with disabilities. The DPN will provide employment-related assistance to Participants with disabilities who experience barriers to employment, including coordination and alignment of services for individuals eligible for both Title I and Title IV services to support co-enrollment, while minimizing duplication. The DPN will also provide periodic post-exit follow-up, ensuring ongoing access to community resources with the goal of increasing job retention. The DPN pilot also expands partnership between the local workforce area and DVR through technical assistance and cross-training to improve programmatic accessibility and collaboration at the local level.  

The DPN pilot is expected to expand throughout the state as the model is tested and DVR is able to gather information on the effectiveness of this approach to improve co-enrollment, employment outcomes, and common performance measures.