Narrative: e.

MVR enters into cooperative written agreements with nonprofit, private CRPs to provide services on a fee-for-service basis to individuals with disabilities. MVR does not own or operate any of the programs. The CRP must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) or other approved accreditation entities as specified in the agreement. All CRPs must agree to the provisions of and sign the cooperative agreement with MVR prior to providing services to MVR consumers. CRPs provide services which may include job development, supported employment, employment skills training, employment services and employment transition services for individuals with disabilities. All CRP programs emphasize community integrated competitive employment.

MVR district offices meet with local CRPs to outline joint activities assisting mutual consumers in reaching employment outcomes. MVR and CRP staff offer input on service delivery processes and develop action plans to improve those processes. Other collaborative activities involve joint training programs.

In 2019, MVR held 11 CRP/MVR summits statewide. MVR staff and CRP direct services staff attended the meetings. The purpose of the summits was to enhance communication, promote partnering, share best practices, gather feedback and provide joint training. MVR and the Individual Placement Support (IPS) Services Team held several IPS summits. 

Multiple ad hoc teams composed of MVR and CRP staff work together developing new ideas and designing processes to successfully support and implement those new ideas. A CRP-MVR ad hoc team was formed to evaluate the results of the VR summer work experience program. This program was developed in partnership with CRPs in 2015 and continues.  The ad hoc team will review lessons learned and work on ways to improve the program. A CRP-MVR team was created to assess service overlap between the Department of Mental Health’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD) and CRPs. The team identified ways to braid services to pilot customized employment (CE) as a new service category in Missouri. In addition, this team mapped out a strategic training plan to include both on- and off- site technical assistance and recently implemented the first phase of this training with intentions to begin CE services in the near future. These activities actualize the MVR operating principle of continuously evaluating its processes.

The CRP-MVR team reviews and updates goals and priorities within the CRP-MVR agreement. Through collaborative efforts, MVR and CRP partners have strengthened the requirements for CRPs who want to provide Employment Services Plus in the areas of deaf/hard of hearing, brain injury, and/or autism spectrum disorder.

Collaboration and partnership continue to be cornerstones of the relationship between MVR and CRPs in Missouri and have created an environment of creativity and innovation. The CRP-MVR steering committee meets regularly to review progress on projects, service delivery and to discuss current and future issues warranting attention.

MVR fosters cooperation and partnership with the Department of Mental Health’s Behavioral Health Division through a statewide collaborative, which is a steering team comprised of both agencies to direct the collaborative efforts to serve individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.

MVR has signed cooperative agreements with 26 nonprofit Community Mental Health Centers, which provide IPS services to MVR clients.