Narrative: j. 1. B.

In comparison to population estimates, OVR reaches a proportionate number of individuals with disabilities who are minorities. According to OVR staff, the greatest needs of unserved/underserved minority individuals were outreach on the availability of services followed by more services focused on their communities.

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS – ETHNICITY STATISTICS

OVR statistical data displays the OVR population by ethnicity and reflects that the two largest ethnic groups represented in this sample are White (representing 60.3%) and Black or African American representing 37.1%.  Multiple races accounted for 1.6% of the population, followed by American Indian or Alaska Native and Asian ethnic groups representing less than one percent each of the sample.

OVR PARTICIPANT POPULATION BY RACE*

Race/Ethnicity                                                                  ACS % of Total - 2019

American Indian or Alaska Native                              0.5%

Asian                                                                                       0.4%

Black or African American                                           37.1%

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander                         -

White                                                                                     60.3%

Multiple Races/Other                                                     1.6%

Statistical data shows a breakdown of the OVR population compared to ACS totals for 2019.  Non-Hispanic ethnic groups have a slightly higher representation (2.9%) than the ACS totals, and Hispanic or Latino groups have a slightly lower representation (at 0.1%) than the ACS average of 3.5%. 

OVR PARTICIPANT POPULATION COMPARED TO MS POPULATION BY ETHNICITY*

Ethnicity                                                       ACS % of Total - 2019

Hispanic or Latino                                         3.5%

Non-Hispanic                                                96.5%

Unsure                                                               -

OVRB statistical data displays the OVRB population by ethnicity and data displays that the two largest ethnic groups represented in this sample are Black or African American (representing 51.7%) followed by White (representing 46.9%). The ethnic group Asian represents 0.6% of the population. When compared to ACS 2019 totals, the ethnic groups African American and Asian are overrepresented, and White, Multiple races/other, and American Indian or Alaska Native are underrepresented.

OVRB PARTICIPANT POPULATION BY RACE*

Race/Ethnicity                                        ACS % of Total - 2019

American Indian or Alaska Native             0.5%

Asian                                                                     0.4%

Black or African American                         37.1%

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander         -

White                                                                   60.3%

Multiple Races/Other                                    1.6%

The statistical data displays a breakdown of the OVRB population by ethnicity compared to ACS totals for 2019. The Non-Hispanic ethnic group has a slightly higher representation (3%) compared to ACS totals. The Hispanic or Latino group is not represented in VRB totals vs. the ACS average of 3.5% percent. 

OVRB PARTICIPANT POPULATION BY ETHNICITY

Ethnicity                                      ACS % of Total - 2019

Hispanic or Latino                           3.5%

Non-Hispanic                                  96.5%

Unsure                                                  -

• OVRB could consider expanding outreach to American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, multiple races, and Hispanic and Latino groups to educate different cultures about available OVRB services, focusing more services on these communities, and increasing community access to OVRB offices.

*Source (Population by Race/Ethnicity):  PCG relied on publicly available data sources to make population level estimates and statements about the population of Mississippi and the population of individuals with disabilities. The source of this secondary data is the American Community Survey (ACS).  The ACS is the largest on-going data collection performed by the US Census Bureau and constitutes the most up-to-date and complete data on US residents. It is widely used by private and public entities to understand the population. The Rehabilitation Services Administration suggests the ACS as a resource for agencies to rely on for the CSNA process. PCG used ACS 1-year estimates in this document. The 1-year estimates report on the results of a single year of ACS surveys, with data weighted to reflect the population at that point in time.   The identical percentages for OVR and OVRB are correct because used ACS Mississippi data as a baseline for both OVR and OVRB, and the ACS data does not distinguish between blind/not blind disabilities.  

Based on AACE Case Management and RSA Data dashboard information for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021, VR/VRB Participant Population by Race and Ethnicity is as follows:

According to AACE Case Management System, the follow age groups with disabilities were served by VR/VRB for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021.  

Specific service needs identified for FFY 2020–2023 include: 

• Increased the outreach activities to assist in creating awareness of available services to meet the needs of individuals in the African American, Asian, Hispanic and Latino communities.

• Transition aged - Youth need to have work experience to put on job applications and to assist in learning soft skills.

• Students as they enter post high school need peer mentors to encourage them (a mentor they can relate to and feel comfortable with).

• Outreach to 504 students and those with physical disabilities.

• Although data indicates that individuals with Mental Illness, Deaf, Intellectual Disabilities and Visual Impairments apply for VR/VRB Services, data supports that individuals with these impairments are less likely to obtain Competitive Integrated Employment and earn living wages.

• A better understanding of available VR services.

• Increase collaboration with the Choctaw Indian Vocational Rehabilitation entity to target services that are not provided by Choctaw VR to assist in increasing employment in the community.

• VR Counseling and Guidance to assist Career Exploration to obtain access to services that will provide support in employment with competitive wages.

• Continue outreach activities, Career Counseling, and Information Services to combine the needs of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those that might have been previously referred from schools to subminimum wage facilities /segregated facilities, rather than VR for career and employment services. 

• Transition Students – Increase awareness of VR services to transition students with disabilities.  Often times, transition students and their families do not recognize the importance of early VR involvement.  This need is based on the difficulties VR staff has had in obtaining parental response to services.  Because of this, some students continue to exit high school without VR services and have little success in enrolling in training and education opportunities.  

• Assist in providing training to staff on the service delivery for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  VR Program has a dedicated to work with staff to enhance the delivery of VR Services that will ultimately improve the employment outcome for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

• Individual with Mental Illness - Because of the lack of long-term success VR has had with individuals with Serious Mental Illness, VR has entered into a Cooperative Agreement with the Department of Mental Health to provide VR Services to individuals that have been determined to need VR employment services, including Supported Employment. 

• OVR/OVRB will conduct a separate needs assessment for the Hispanic/Latino population in Mississippi with disabilities to help gather more information regarding their vocational rehabilitation service needs.

• OVR/OVRB will continue to monitor the ACS survey for the most recent data regarding the race and ethnicity per county to remain informed of target areas in which information should be disseminated.   OVR/OVRB will also continue to provide outreach to other minority populations to ensure they have information regarding the VR program.

• Benefits Planning and Counseling.

• VR and VRB will continue to monitor the ratio of minority service rate to non-minority service rate to ensure that we are meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities in the state that are underserved and unserved.

• Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and Guidance.

• Transportation.

• VR and VRB collaborate with minority businesses and service providers that are located in the community in order to develop relationships that lead to employment.

• OVR/OVRB and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians work together to help ensure that eligible Choctaw Indians’ services are coordinated in order to provide comprehensive VR services that will lead to employment outcomes.

• Additional staff training and service provider training needed to serve the increasing number of individuals with significant mental health impairments.

• Alternative training for individuals with blindness and other visual impairments such as Structured Discovery Training.

• Explore opportunities to reduce overall successful closures and employment wage income racial groups that have been identified in the CSNA as underserved.