Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
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:
__________
[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- h. Interagency Cooperation
Describe how the designated State unit will collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering each of the following programs to develop opportunities for competitive integrated employment, to the greatest extent practicable:
- h. Interagency Cooperation
h. 2. The State agency responsible for providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities; and
Current Narrative:
The Division of Developmental Disabilities currently administers four Medicaid Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver programs delivering employment supports and services for individuals with intellectual or other developmental disabilities. The five waivers are the Comprehensive Waiver; Missouri Children with Developmental Disabilities Waiver; Community Support Waiver; and the Partnership for Hope Waiver. The partnership with DMH has resulted in a referral process between agencies that maximizes the availability of services to individuals with the most significant disabilities. A description of services available under each waiver can be found at https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/programs/waiver/medicaid-hcb.
Division of Developmental Disabilities has a statewide employment initiative, Employment First, for working age citizens with disabilities. Employment services include job preparation, job discovery, and community employment in a competitive integrated work setting that may include ongoing supports. The Division of Behavioral Health provides employment services to individuals with mental illnesses, histories of substance abuse, and/or criminal backgrounds. Clinical and vocational employment services are integrated through state-wide partnerships to help individuals who are interested in employment participate in the competitive labor market with the appropriate level of supports and services to be successful. RSB will continue to partner and collaborate with DMH programs in the delivery of employment services.
Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) uses state contracting and procurement processes as provided under the authority of an Expenditure Registration (ER101) authority issued to the Department by the State Office of Administration to develop service agreements in order to provide supported employment services to clients. These contracts define the responsibilities of both the contractor and RSB in the referral of clients. They also delineate the requirements of the contractor in the provision of services, the expected outcomes, and the payment terms and conditions. Supported employment services and use of the grant funds are provided to individuals with the most significant disabilities and begin after job placement.
The contract specifies that the supported employment service provider is responsible for arranging for extended services, including natural supports. RSB assists the supported employment service provider in the development of natural supports away from the worksite and assists in locating funding for extended services when a resource is not readily available through the contractor. Funding agencies include one or more extended services providers such as the Department of Mental Health, Senate Bill 40 Boards authorized by sections 205.968- 205.972, RSMo, Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs), other public and private agencies , or any other appropriate resource including natural supports (relatives, employers), after an individual has made the transition from RSB support. RSB may provide extended services to youth with the most significant disabilities for a period not to exceed 4 years, or until the individual turns 25 and no longer meets the definition of a youth with a disability, whichever comes first.
The cooperative agreement for supported employment services is a binding contract between RSB and supported employment service providers and includes a statement to that effect.