Narrative: o. 1.

Goal I:            To maximize opportunities for individuals with disabilities in achieving competitive integrated employment and promote self-sufficiency.

Objective A.    Provide quality vocational rehabilitation services leading to competitive integrated employment outcomes for 1,500 eligible individuals with disabilities annually through PY 2023.

Strategy 1.      Evaluate and monitor case record documentation to maintain at least a 90% average level of compliance with policy and procedures.

Strategy 2.      Explore and utilize web-based networks in order to improve consumer employment outcomes.

Strategy 3.      Identify and collaborate with employers to provide job development, on-the-job training and job placement.

Strategy 4.      Increase Counselor presence in secondary education settings in order to improve provision of vocational rehabilitation services to transition students.

Strategy 5.      Collaborate with Veterans program and Apprenticeship program at LWC to determine methods to increase outreach and successful employment outcomes.

Strategy 6.      Increase resources for assistive technology assessments and devices to improve employment outcomes.

Strategy 7.      Make all LRS documents available in accessible formats.

Strategy 8.      Ensure LRS office buildings are 504 compliant. 

Strategy 9.      Expand employment opportunities though improved interfaces with professional organizations focused on employment.

Strategy 10.    Increase outreach to targeted populations who are identified by the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment as being unserved/underserved, including those needing supported employment.

Strategy 11.    Explore options for collaboration to provide transportation to consumers in rural areas.

Strategy 12.    Explore options for collaboration to provide services to specific disability populations including those diagnosed with developmental/intellectual disabilities, autism, mental illness or addictive disorders, blind, blindness/deaf-blindness, deafness/hard-of-hearing or individuals who are students in transition.

Strategy 13.    Explore strategies for certification of customized employment vendors statewide.

Strategy 14.    Collaborate with LDH to determine if individuals receiving services in non-integrated settings or earning sub-minimum wages are interested in competitive integrated employment and eligible for VR services.  

Objective B.    To expend a minimum of 15% of LRS federal funding to make available Pre-Employment Transitions Services    (Pre-ETS) to applicants and potentially eligible students with disabilities.

Strategy 1.       Perform comprehensive statewide needs assessment to determine needs of students with disabilities.

Strategy 2.      Expand outreach to students with disabilities to make them aware of VR services including Pre-ETS. 

Strategy 3.      Monitor the provision of Pre-ETS services to determine effectiveness and possible improvement to service delivery process.

Strategy 4.      Collaborate with LDE and LEAs to expand service provision of Pre-ETS.

Strategy 5.      Collaborate with employers to provide work based learning experiences to students with disabilities.

Strategy 6.      Identify and collaborate with partners to provide support services to students in transition or receiving Pre-ETS services.

Strategy 7.      Explore options to increase the number of Counselors dedicated to providing services to transition students.

Objective C.    Increase the number of Randolph-Sheppard Managers earning at least $25,000 annually by expanding opportunities and enhancing consumer service delivery in the Randolph-Sheppard Program.

Strategy 1.      Monitor all legislation, which might impact the program’s preference (first choice at selecting to occupy available locations).

Strategy 2.      Expand training opportunities for licensed blind managers to enhance skills, entrepreneurial abilities, and quality of service to customers.

Strategy 3.      Consider merging locations with annual earnings below $25,000.

Strategy 4.      Identify opportunities for new assigned and unassigned locations, including a Program Specialist staff position.

Strategy 5.      Monitor existing Randolph Sheppard Managers to ensure they are completing the required paperwork and reporting properly.

Goal II:            To ensure that Louisiana Rehabilitation Services has necessary and qualified rehabilitation personnel, both professional and paraprofessional, to provide quality vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment and self-sufficiency.

Objective A.    Provide training resources to 100% of LRS staff in order to increase their efficiency in service provision through PY 2023.

Strategy 1.      Implement upgrades to the Accessible Web-based Activity and Reporting Environment System (AWARE) software.

Strategy 2.      Identify alternative methods of succession training for staff members interested in pursuing leadership positions.

Strategy 3.      Provide in-service training to regional staff annually through a variety of methods as identified by training needs assessments/surveys and quality assurance reviews.

Strategy 4.      Provide support for professional staff to obtain a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.

Strategy 5.      Develop and implement methods to increase recruitment and retention of qualified staff. 

Strategy 6.      Provide LRS staff with disabilities, written or electronic communication in accessible format(s) or provide other reasonable accommodations.

Strategy 7.      Provide specialized training to Counselors working in caseloads serving consumers who are blind, deaf, deaf-blind, or hard-of-hearing.

Goal III:          To increase the amount the state VR program draws down from the state’s federal VR grant allotment.  

Objective A.    Work collaboratively with Partners to leverage funding in order to ensure that services to consumers with disabilities are accessed and utilized to the utmost extent by PY 2023.

Strategy 1.      Continue collaboration with the Second Injury Fund (SIF) and request increase in funding to assist consumers in obtaining or maintaining employment.  

Strategy 2.      Explore and implement third party cooperative arrangements with public entities and/or establishment projects with Community Rehabilitation Programs and/or public/private non-profit entities based on the needs identified in the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment.

Objective B.    Monitor and evaluate 100% of the Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) for quality and cost effectiveness of service provision in order to assure compliance with LRS standards through PY 2023.

Strategy 1.      Monitor and evaluate CRPs through a Regional Biennial Renewal Process.

Strategy 2.      Monitor and evaluate the cost effectiveness of service provision by reviews of a sample of CRPs through site visits on an annual basis.

Strategy 3.      Annually measure consumer satisfaction with CRP services through a survey instrument.

Strategy 4.      Conduct outreach to determine potential vendors who can collaborate to serve targeted populations in rural areas including, but not limited to, those who are veterans, have psychological disabilities, were formerly incarcerated, are recovering from addictive disorders or are individuals who are homeless with disabilities.

Strategy 5.      Explore the use of a vendor quality instrument and/or questionnaire for counselors/consumers to be used to provide informed choice. 

Objective C.    Explore the use of technology to increase LRS’ efficiency and any potential savings cost.

Strategy 1.      Purchased necessary equipment and upgrade AWARE to go to a paperless case management system.

Strategy 2.      Explore options to increase functionality of LRS staff in the community by utilizing new technologies and complementary work processes.

Strategy 3.      Explore additional modules available as part of AWARE to increase efficiency.