Narrative: q. 2.

ARS provides time-limited services needed to support an individual in employment. Vocational Rehabilitation can fund a maximum of 24 months of job coaching and follow-along services unless the IPE indicates more than 24 months of services are necessary for the individual to achieve job stability before transitioning to extended services. Prior to the purchase of supported employment services, the counselor determines the need for services, the appropriate funding stream for extended services, and the selected CRP through informed choice and identified on the IPE.

The transition to the extended services occurs after the individual has been employed for the maximum number of hours stated in the Individualized Plan for Employment, consistent with the individual’s abilities and informed choice.  ARS will revise its policies on the transition to extended services, where those policies refer to a minimum number of hours that an individual must work per week before extended services are considered.

After the determination of funding for extended services, the individual must maintain employment for at least 90 days before the individual’s case is a successful closure and before he/she is transitioned to extended services. This transition would be completed within a 24-month time frame of supported employment services, including job coaching. If a determination is made based that the individual needs more than 24 months of services to achieve job stability and the time-limited services of job coaching, ARS will obtain justification from the CRP. 

ARS developed the Youth Extended Services policy for individuals under the age of 25. This policy allows ARS to pay for youth extended services if no other resources are available up to four years or age 25. Youth Extended Services may be available through Individualized Job Coaching Services on an as needed basis after job placement. Youth Extended Services is available for up to 200 hours per year not to exceed four years during the execution of the IPE. The service supports youth to ensure job longevity and includes onsite visits to both the individual and the employer. The Extended Services requirement for onsite contact is a minimum requirement for monthly onsite contact. Once the individual reaches the age of 25, ARS must assure extended service funding resources are available through another source. Youth receiving extended services funded by ARS will remain in stabilization status until the service is no longer needed and the youth is considered successfully employed or until four years of this service expires or the youth reaches the age of 25.  

Once the case is closed successful (status 26), this service is transitioned to the provider responsible for funding, which may include payment through the individual’s community employment services waiver plan funded by the Provider-led Shared Savings Entity (PASSE), a model of organized care created by Act 775 of 2017. Each PASSE is made up of governing providers who have entered into a partnership with an experienced program administration organization. If the individual is not on waiver, providers must generate funding to provide extended services.         

Priority: ARS will leverage other public and private funds to increase resources for extended services and expanded supported employment opportunities for youth with the most significant disabilities.

ARS set the strategy to determine methods for funding extended services for youth with disabilities not to exceed four years through the Employment First Vendors (CRPs, SE providers, and other external employment). No action was taken because of Covid-19.

ARS created the Youth Extended Services (YES) policy for fee payments by ARS that was promulgated in 2019. ARS Field staff were trained on the policy during PY2020. Providers received training related to ARS’ Youth Extended Services policy and fee for service.

ARS set the strategy to develop new service components or agreements with partners of state agencies for sequential funding of extended services to assure youth with disabilities have successful employment opportunities. ARS has not pursued this strategy due to the COVID pandemic.

ARS set the strategy to provide education and instruction of WIOA expectations to providers and will establish Memorandums of Understanding or contract services to providers to initiate services to potentially eligible clients. This is ongoing. MOUs are renewed annually. ARS has partnered with vendors to provide Pre-ETS services to potentially eligible and eligible students.