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.
- b. Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA).
Section 101(a)(15), (17), and (23) of the Rehabilitation Act require VR agencies to provide an assessment of:
- b. Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA).
b. 1. A. Individuals with the most significant disabilities and their need for Supported Employment;
Current Narrative:
Overview
The Rehabilitation Act (1973) as amended under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires HireAbility and the Vermont State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) to jointly conduct a needs assessment every three years. The assessment is intended to form the basis for the HireAbility annual State plan and strategic planning activities. The development of this needs assessment in partnership with HireAbility is one of the primary responsibilities of the SRC.
HireAbility and the SRC Performance Review subcommittee work on the Comprehensive Needs Assessment on an ongoing basis. The most recent assessment was completed in December 2023 and submitted to RSA. This report includes data from a variety of sources, including:
HireAbility’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) reporting database.
The United States Census Bureau, the American Community Survey
Social Security Administration data
Data from other State of Vermont Agencies including Developmental Services, Mental Health and Economic Services
Surveys of participants, partner agencies, and staff
Based on a review of all data sources Hire Ability and the SRC determined the following regarding the need for supported employment services.
The State of Vermont has a well-established infrastructure of supported employment services for adults with developmental disabilities through the Developmental Disabilities Services Division (DDSD) program, and adults with psychiatric disabilities through the Community Rehabilitation and Treatment (CRT) program. These programs are funded through the DDSD Medicaid Waiver and CRT Medicaid case rate, respectively. Participation in these programs is limited to individuals who meet the eligibility requirements for the CRT and DDSD programs. For DDSD services, an individual must meet the DDSD System of Care Priorities in addition to receiving Medicaid Waiver services.
HireAbility also supports the JOBS supported employment program for youth. The JOBS program is a partnership between the Departments of Corrections (DOC), Mental Health (DMH), Children and Families (DCF), and HireAbility to provide supported employment and case management services for at-risk youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities.
However, HireAbility and the SRC determined there are two populations who may need supported employment but do not currently have access to the service. The primary reason is the lack of funding for extended services.
Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
According to the Vermont Brain Injury Association, an estimated 9,000 Vermonters are recovering from brain injuries. TBI is associated with long-term unemployment. Based on field experience, HireAbility believes a major barrier is lack of access to long-term case management and employment supports. Some individuals with TBI experience similar barriers to maintaining employment as people with psychiatric disabilities and developmental disabilities. We believe individuals with TBI may need ongoing supported employment services to gain and maintain employment. However, there is currently no source of funding in Vermont for ongoing supported employment for this population.
Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities Served through Community Mental Health Outpatient Services
The CRT program has evidence-based supported employment services available for adults with psychiatric disabilities. However, individuals served through outpatient services have no access to supported employment. This is despite the fact that some outpatient participants have very similar barriers and levels of need as those served in the CRT program. HireAbility is unlikely to effectively support these individuals without a long-term supported employment option. In 2019, HireAbility submitted a grant application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) to implement supported employment for this population. Unfortunately, the application was not funded. HireAbility continues to explore options to implement a supported employment program for this population.