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:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
p. 3. The VR program’s performance on the performance accountability indicators under section 116 of WIOA
Current Narrative:
DBVI monitors progress towards the WIOA performance accountability indicators monthly and reports performance progress quarterly to the State Rehabilitation Council. Monthly DBVI leadership reviews the progress towards the indicators to identify focus improvement areas.
DBVI Performance accountability indicators for PY2018, PY2019 and PY2020 are listed below.
| Performance Indicator | PY2018 | PY2019 | PY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment 2nd Quarter after Exit | 42.2% | 37.6% | 39.9% |
| Employment 4th Quarter after Exit | N/A | 27.7% | 30.2% |
| Median Earnings 2nd Quarter after Exit | $4362 | $4445 | $5540 |
| Credential Attainment Rate | N/A | 16.7% | 61.8% |
| Measurable Skill Gains Rate | 53.0% | 82.6% | 85.5% |
An increase in the employment rate 2nd quarter was observed between PY 19 and 20. However, this measure and the employment rate 4th quarter were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. DBVI quickly responded to the need of individuals being served by providing virtual services and supports and in person opportunities when possible. Regardless of these efforts, the employment outcomes were impacted as businesses and individual employees were impacted due to this health crisis.
There was a significant increase in median earnings from PY2018 to PY2020. DBVI focuses on quality employment outcomes with sustainable wages. This is an area that continues to be a priority for DBVI and the State Rehabilitation Council.
Credential attainment and measurable skills gains are key WIOA measures that will help ensure that clients are gaining the knowledge and skills they need to succeed not only in a job but in a career. As demonstrated above, measurable skills gains have risen consistently from PY 18 to PY 20. DBVI will work on continuing this forward momentum recognizing that skill gains can also lead to additional credential attainment, which is so critical in acquiring employment and pursuing career pathways.
DBVI has partnered with our Core Partners and the Virginia’s Workforce Development Board to establish a baseline for each of the performance accountability measures under section 116 of WIOA. The Commonwealth of Virginia selected Retention with the Same Employer and Employer Penetration Rate as the pilot measures to assess the Effectiveness in Serving Employers. The data collection efforts on employer services, which included activities supported by WIOA-funded programs and other non-WIOA funded workforce programs, shows that in FFY 2021, 18,197 unduplicated businesses were served. This number represents approximately 8.4% of the total employers in the Commonwealth. Workforce recruitment services were the most common type of service delivered. The top three types of businesses served, as categorized by North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) were Manufacturing, Healthcare and Social Assistance, followed by Retail Trade. Moreover, 80% of the businesses served employed less than 250 individuals by establishment. The Commonwealth of Virginia saw a rebound in business services in the year following the initial COVID-19 Pandemic. Although current levels of service have not yet reached the level of service provided in PY 2018, the increase in business services provision is largely seen as a step in the right direction following the initial COVID-19 outbreak.