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:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- o. State's Strategies
Describe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):
- o. State's Strategies
o. 1. The methods to be used to expand and improve services to individuals with disabilities
Current Narrative:
DVR has identified the following strategies to support its goals and priorities; each intended to expand and improve services to individuals with disabilities. to reduce the prosperity gap for people with disabilities by increasing quality employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities:
- Develop a strategic staffing model, identifying appropriate roles and responsibilities within the vocational rehabilitation process to ensure efficiency and promote a team approach to ensure continuity of services.
- Complete an analysis to define the most significant paperwork burdens for both staff and people receiving services, creating a plan to reduce this burden and ensure clear roles and responsibilities.
- Improve the experience of people receiving services by targeting the most common areas impacting the customer experience (i.e., timeliness of service, communication, and ease of processes) and monitor effectiveness of any changes implemented.
- Review onboarding and training processes across all staff classifications to promote retention, professional development, and continuous improvement.
- Expand partner relationships leading to co-enrollment and cross-program enrollments to ensure partners connect people with disabilities to DVR when appropriate.
- Develop vendors and improve the vendor relationship through consistent processes, evaluation of vendor quality and outcomes, and vendor training.
- Continue to promote the rapid engagement of people receiving services.
- Engage in outreach and awareness campaigns to improve access to vocational rehabilitation services for unserved and underserved populations.
- Continue to improve counseling & guidance efforts and other opportunities, such as Registered Apprenticeships, Skills-Based Hiring, Career Pathways, and Work-Based Learning, to develop IPE goals that will lead to quality employment outcomes in key industries.
- Explore modernizing DVR’s electronic case management system to improve efficiencies in mandatory case documentation.