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Plan: Louisiana PYs 2024-2027
Combined Plan C

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Narrative: l. 8.

Published
Located in:
  • Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)

    The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by sections 101(a) and 606 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA.

    • l. Interagency Cooperation with Other Agencies

      In accordance with the requirements in Section 101(a)(11)(C) and (K), describe interagency cooperation with and utilization of the services and facilities of agencies and programs that are not carrying out activities through the statewide workforce development system to develop opportunities for community-based employment in integrated settings, to the greatest extent practicable for the following:

l. 8. Other Federal, State, and local agencies and programs outside the workforce development system.

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2022-2023 (Mod)

Current Narrative:

LRS continues coordinated efforts with programs other than those within the workforce development system. The other State/Local agencies and Tribal programs in which LRS collaborates with via MOUs include:

•     Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) – This MOU with LDE promotes transition planning and vocational preparation for students with disabilities under provisions of the LRS Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) program. Collaboration includes guidelines for implementing WIOA and Pre-ETS within Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Technical assistance is provided to LEAs for planning transition of students with disabilities from school to post-school opportunities.

•     Louisiana State University (LSU) Board of Supervisors – The LRS affiliation with LSU is on behalf of the LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans. LRS and LSU collaborate to recognize and identify opportunities for clinical education, community service, and internship locations for enhancing care of the sick.

•     Jefferson Parish (Randolph Sheppard) – This agreement provides employment to individuals who are blind or have low vision through the Randolph Sheppard Program. LRS oversees the vending machine and food services vendors housed in Jefferson Parish owned buildings.

•     Randolph Sheppard and Delgado Community College – This Cooperative Agreement is to maintain vending facilities and food services at Delgado Community College and Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) campuses. The operations provide employment to blind individuals and serves employees and visitors of Delgado and LWC.

•     Partnership Plus – Lafayette Consolidated Government Employment Network – This agreement between the State Vocation Rehabilitation (VR) agency (which is LRS) and the Employment Network (which is Lafayette Consolidated Government) creates a smooth transition from pre-employment and placement services to ongoing employment support. LRS is able to expand the scope of long-term services to Ticket to Work beneficiaries. This is accomplished in part by the Employment Network assisting LRS teams with Ticket to Work information, training, marketing, and procedures for sharing information.

•     Tribal Vocational Rehab Programs (Section 121) – LRS is currently working to renew the MOU with American Indian Tribal Vocation Rehabilitation Programs. The agreement includes the United Houma Nation Vocational Rehabilitation Program, the Central Louisiana Intertribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program, and the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Vocational Rehabilitation Program. LRS recognizes that these Tribal Consortia have been awarded Section 121 grants to fund vocational rehabilitation programs for Tribal citizens with disabilities and that American Indians tend to have a disproportionately high rate of disabling conditions. In addition, American Indians have been designated as an underserved population in Louisiana due to cultural, linguistic, and other barriers. This cooperative endeavor will work to close the gaps and serve more American Indians with disabilities to gain competitive employment and maintain their independence.