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. 5. If applicable, plans for establishing, developing, or improving community rehabilitation programs within the State
Current Narrative:
D
DVR actively works with Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) to identify new services or patterns of services and improved payment methods. Based on feedback from the Wisconsin Rehabilitation Council (WRC), VR counselors, service providers, and consumers, DVR has identified a need to improve job development and supported employment service delivery for consumers with the most significant disabilities and multiple barriers to placement.
DVR continues to use technical specifications and fee schedules provided by CRPs including:
Student work-based learning
Job development
Supported employment
Job coaching
Benefits analysis
Vocational evaluation
Additionally, DVR conducts regular meetings with vendors of these services for feedback, clarification, ongoing compliance, and service improvement. Statewide trainings were provided to CRPs and other service providers on several topics including customized employment, supported employment, systematic instruction, and trauma informed care.
Starting in July, 2021 additional changes will be made to streamline reporting and to update the technical specifications. Changes included rate increases for most services.
DVR has implemented the DVR Service Provider Advisory Group (SPAG). Participants include service providers from multiple areas of the state and who provide different types of services. DVR shares new ideas and initiatives with the Workgroup to get feedback and to be apprised of any current issues. The DVR SPAG has provided information about the initiation of the DVR service provider portal and end user feedback. DVR will continue to explore fee structures and innovative outcome-based fee models with this group.
DVR has partnered with the Wisconsin Association for Persons Supporting Employment First (APSE) to create a Wisconsin specific training for service providers delivering supported employment services. The training will be provided in modules and focus on job matching, working with employers and how to deliver on the job supports. It is expected that participants who complete the training will become certified by the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE). DVR is hopeful that with high quality and available training that outcomes will improve.
Each WDA has regular meetings with service providers that serve their local areas where they give updates and provide information.
As part of 2017 Act 178, DVR leads the CIE Service Provider Quality and Capacity Workgroup with representation from several agencies. One outcome of this group is increased communication and collaboration. Topics this group discusses and advises on include technical specifications, service rates, and barriers to service delivery.
The most significant issues facing Wisconsin in terms of providing supported employment services are service provider capacity, a lack of systematic fee structure that meets the funding needs of providers, and increasing demand for supported employment services, particularly in rural areas.
To address these issues, DVR is leading a multiple agency workgroup as part of larger CIE efforts to address capacity and quality issues across the supported employment system in Wisconsin. The workgroup includes supported employment stakeholders to develop a strong and effective service provider network in Wisconsin.
The CIE Service Provider Quality and Capacity Workgroup has provided information about service, labor and training challenges and fee/budget issues related to the delivery of supported employment services in Wisconsin.
In 2021 and 2022, a group of individuals who have roles in supported employment, including consumers, participated in a mapping activity to determine to look at services as a system and identify where improvements need to be made. Once the results of this activity is completed, the agencies leadership will review and determine next steps.