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
d. 1. The designated State unit's plans, policies, and procedures for coordination with education officials to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from school to the receipt of VR services, including pre-employment transition services, as well as procedures for the timely development and approval of individualized plans for employment for the students
Current Narrative:
WIOA requires that 15 percent of the budget be allocated towards the provision of PreEmployment Transition Services (Pre-ETS). IVRS has developed strong policy surrounding the provision of Pre-ETS service delivery. IVRS collaborates with every public school district in Iowa to develop a Local School Plan that addresses the following information: the services the school district will provide to students with disabilities, the new and/or expanded services IVRS will provide within the district, services provided by community partners and/or IVRS contracted programs, and any gaps in services. Local School Plans are also developed with private accredited high schools across the state along with some identified alternative educational settings. As gaps in services are identified on the Local School Plans, programs have been developed collaboratively with school districts and other community partners across the state. The following programs have been developed to assist with delivering VR services, including PreETS, in collaboration with school districts across the state:
IVRS Intermediary Networks (INs): IVRS awarded funding through the Department of Education/IowaGrants to regional intermediary networks to develop and expand work-based learning opportunities in selected regions. The program prepares students with disabilities for the workforce by connecting students, the education system, business and the community through relevant, work-based learning activities across all 16 career clusters, with specific emphasis on Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM). The goal is to align students’ career interests to appropriate postsecondary education through delivery of Pre-ETS.
Innovative Learning Project: This is a collaborative project between IVRS, Boone Community School District and iJAG focused on a work-based learning continuum of awareness, exploration and training in partnership with a variety of employers and higher education institutions. Students in this program participate in various Pre-ETS activities.
Making the Grade (MTG): Students with disabilities in this program participate in Pre-ETS activities to teach and reinforce the skill sets and habits necessary to be successful on the job. Students with disabilities in participating high schools are placed in paid work-based learning experiences in the community to assist with skill building necessary for their future career.
Project SEARCH: The goal for each student participant is competitive integrated employment. The program provides real-life work-based learning experiences combined with workplace readiness training in employability and independent living skills to assist students with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life.
Transition Alliance Program (TAP): TAP is a collaborative program developed between IVRS and school districts. TAP services are provided through a collaborative service coordination model, which includes Pre-ETS, with the ultimate goal of obtaining competitive integrated employment.
Transitioning to Employment and Advocating for Myself (TEAM): Transitioning to Employment and Advocating for Myself (TEAM) is a collaboration between Easter Seals, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) and Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS). The focus of TEAM is on developing and providing Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities who are attending all high schools within Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), including students covered under Section 511 and students who are potentially eligible for IVRS, prior to graduation. TEAM staff will work collaboratively with the IVRS Counselors assigned to DMPS and the DMPS Work Experience Coordinators (WECs) in order to provide new or expanded services for students with disabilities in each of the five required activities for Pre-ETS. TEAM may not duplicate any class or program already provided by the district. Year round services will be provided to include activities that occur during the school day and after school, as well as activities throughout the summer.
Juvenile Re-entry System (JReS): The Iowa Department of Human Rights (DHR), Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning (CJJP), is overseeing the Juvenile Reentry Task Force (JRTF) in the development and implementation of the juvenile justice reentry system. Multiple state agency partners, including juvenile placement settings, are assisting with the development of policy, procedure, and structural elements of its Juvenile Reentry System (JReS). The goal of JReS is the reduction of recidivism rates and to improve other youth outcomes through implementation of comprehensive system-wide reforms to juvenile reentry policies and processes, which include: enhanced crosssystem coordination, utilization of quality and effective programing, data sharing and prioritization of resources. IVRS has been an active partner in this process for implementation of Pre-ETS in these alternative educational settings.