U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Plan: West Virginia 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 2020-2023

Current Narrative:

The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS) maintains cooperation and coordination with various agencies and entities. This section describes WVDRS’ association with agencies or entities that are not in the statewide workforce development system, education officials, private nonprofit vocational rehabilitation service providers, and supported employment and extended services providers for individuals with the most significant disabilities.

WVDRS continues to maintain strong relationships with many agencies and organizations that are not in the statewide workforce development system and whose functions, in some capacity, involve the provision of services to individuals with disabilities. WVDRS’ association with other organizations occurs with varying degrees of involvement depending upon joint initiatives that may be planned and/or that may occur within any given year. Generally, WVDRS representatives may be included in advisory functions for other agencies, as are other agencies with the strategic planning that occurs within WVDRS. Some examples include:

  • A WVDRS representative is actively involved with the West Virginia Behavioral Health Planning Council in the monitoring and oversight of behavioral health services in the state. The WVDRS representative participates in quarterly Council meetings and serves on various subcommittees.
  • WVDRS representatives participate with the West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council. WVDRS maintains a close working relationship with the staff and members of this Council and has provided support and received effective feedback for its work.
  • WVDRS is partnering with the West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health in implementing the pilot project "Enhancing Employment for People with Mental Illness."
  • WVDRS also collaborates with the West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health, which involves increasing employment opportunities for individuals in recovery who want to become Peer Recovery Support Specialists through our On-the-Job Training program.
  • WVDRS is represented on the State’s Interagency Collaborative Team (ICT), a group (including agencies not under the state workforce development system) centered around WorkForce WV to provide ongoing attention to addressing issues that will build and continually improve the statewide Workforce Development System (WDS). The team is the single State-level interagency group for addressing issues or concerns regarding building and maintaining the most effective and efficient implementation of the overall WDS in WV. WVDRS participates in and hosts regular, monthly meetings of the ICT, and is one of the signatories of the ICT Memorandum of Understanding, which is drafted annually. The ICT membership includes:
    • Department of Commerce – WorkForce WV – WV Employment Service
    • Department of Commerce – Division of Rehabilitation Services
    • Department of Commerce – Development Office – Community Development Division
    • Department of Commerce – Development Office – Business Industry Development
    • Bureau of Senior Services – State Unit on Aging
    • Council for Community and Technical College Education
    • Department of Education – Office of Adult Education and Workforce Development
    • Department of Education – Office of Diversion and Transition Programs
    • Department of Health and Human Resources – Bureau of Children and Families
    • Department of Health and Human Resources –Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
    • Department of Health and Human Resources – Food Stamp Employment and Training, United States Department of Agriculture
  • WVDRS has a good working relationship with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the district level, which allows direct referrals of appropriate veterans from VA facilities to WVDRS’ Rehabilitation Technology Unit for assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering services. Furthermore, WVDRS maintains liaisons for multiple VA offices in WV. WVDRS representatives from one district office also attend the yearly Homeless Veteran Stand Down event to increase outreach to veterans who are unhoused. WVDRS will continue to provide internship opportunities for veterans to increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities which will allow them to be more competitive job seekers.