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.
e. 4. Sections 101(a)(22) and 606(b)(4) of the Rehabilitation Act require the VR agency to describe efforts to identify and arrange, including entering into cooperative agreements, with other State agencies and other appropriate entities in order to provide supported employment services. The description must include extended services, as applicable, to individuals with the most significant disabilities, including the provision of extended services to youth with the most significant disabilities in accordance with 34 C.F.R. § 363.4(a) and 34 C.F.R. § 361.5(c)(19)(v).
Current Narrative:
Supported Employment Partners & Agreements
DSHS/DVR identifies and makes arrangements with private non-profits (community rehabilitation programs/CRPs) as identified in the response to Description (e) Cooperative Agreements with Private Non-Profit Organizations, to provide supported employment services for individuals with most significant disabilities including youth.
DSHS/DVR collaborates with state and local entities including, but not limited to the DSHS Developmental Disabilities Administration (DSHS/DDA), Health Care Authority Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (HCA/DBHR), DSHS Aging and Long Term Support Administration (DSHS/ALTSA), the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, workforce development system, business partners, community behavioral health agencies, local education agencies, and local developmental disabilities employment providers to provide competitive integrated supported employment services to eligible individuals.
DSHS/DVR primarily provides supported employment services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and individuals with mental health disabilities. Of these two customer groups, individuals with developmental disabilities represent the majority of supported employment outcomes. DSHS/DVR’s success in serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is based on a long-standing relationship with the DSHS/Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). DDA is committed to funding extended services for all its clients who achieve a supported employment outcome through DSHS/DVR.
DSHS/DVR has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DDA signed in 2018, renewed in 2021, and again in 2023. The agreement describes criteria and process for DSHS/DVR and DDA to provide seamless and consistent supported employment services statewide to mutual customers. It formalizes the referral procedures, has assigned liaison counselors in each DSHS/DVR office, and coordinates services that contribute to the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).
For individuals with behavioral health conditions, DSHS/DVR’s supported employment partner is the Health Care Authority (HCA) Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR)). DBHR’s Foundational Community Supports (FCS) Supported Employment Program is available to address the employment resource needs of mutual DBHR and DSHS/DVR customers. DSHS/DVR completed an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with DBHR which provides a collaborative framework for both agencies to provide employment services to individuals with behavioral health conditions. The ILA identifies shared eligibility criteria and defines roles and responsibilities for DSHS/DVR’s Supported Employment Program and for DBHR’s FCS Supported Employment Program.
DSHS/DVR continues to promote the use of Ticket to Work as a potential revenue source for developmental disability, behavioral health disability, and traumatic brain injury service providers to build their capacity for providing extended support services.
DSHS/DVR will collaborate with DSHS/ALTSA to explore the development of a cooperative agreement for individuals with physical impairments and long-term care needs, such as individuals with traumatic brain injuries and other significant disabilities, who require supported employment and are eligible for both ALTSA’s FCS Program and DSHS/DVR services.
Many individuals with disabilities would benefit from supported employment, yet do not have access to a long-term funding source for extended services.
The State of Washington Health Care Authority was approved for the Medicaid Transformation Demonstration Foundational Community Supports Supported Employment in 2017. Effective July 1, 2023, the Medicaid Transformation Demonstration has been extended for another five years. FCS funds supported employment as a Medicaid service, expanding the availability of extended services to individuals who experience a wide array of significant disabilities.