Narrative: c. 2.

Goal 1: ARS will meet State and Federal accountability and performance requirements.

• Priority 1: ARS will meet and monitor established performance accountability measures on a quarterly basis to determine progress in meeting federal/state requirements.
  • Strategy 1: Utilize the new Quality Assurance review tool and corrective action process to ensure case management quality and compliance with federal standards, and to address and remedy violations to federal/state requirements in a timely manner.

• Priority 2: ARS will provide career counseling to 14(c) program participants to meet Section 511 requirements.
  • Strategy 1: Track annually the number of individuals receiving career counseling.
  • Strategy 2: Utilize counselors to meet with individuals at the 14(c) to complete the application process within a month of receipt of referrals from career counseling.
  • Strategy 3: Track competitive integrated employment (26 closures) outcomes data annually from career counseling referrals.
  • Strategy 4: Collaborate with the Helen Keller National Center to assure clients who are deaf-blind receive the employment supports needed by 2027.

• Priority 3: ARS will implement additional strategies focused on RSA identified areas of weakness to strengthen data verification requirements.
  • Strategy 1: Assess randomly selected cases at various stages in the VR process to identify areas of non-compliance to detect and incorporate the necessary instruction, training, guidance, etc. with the intent to strengthen data verification requirements.
     
• Priority 4: ARS will ensure current ARS policy aligns with Federal Requirements.
  • Strategy 1: Review and modify the current ARS policy to ensure it aligns with Federal requirements by October 1, 2024.
  • Strategy 2: After the initial policy modification, periodically assess and identify, and address in a timely manner areas of weakness, imprecision, and lack of compliance with Federal requirements.

Goal 2: ARS will reserve and use a portion of its funds for the development and implementation of innovative approaches to expand and improve the provision of vocational rehabilitation services.

• Priority 1: ARS will develop and implement a comprehensive marketing plan.
  • Strategy 1: Inform potential clients, including those who are unserved or underserved of various racial, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds about the services available through ARS.
  • Strategy 2: Leverage existing partnerships and develop new ones with WIOA partners, employers, secondary/postsecondary educators, and other organizations that provide services to individuals with disabilities to inform them of the different services and programs available through ARS’ Field Services, Access and Accommodations, Arkansas Career Development Center, and the Business Engagement Unit.
  • Strategy 3: Utilize innovation and expansion dollars to support the Arkansas State Rehabilitation Counsel and the Arkansas Independent Living Council.

Goal 3: ARS will provide pre-employment transition and transition services to students with disabilities as outlined in WIOA.

• Priority 1: ARS will continue to expand Pre-ETS services through initiating engagement of students prior to the age of 16.
  • Strategy 1: Provide Pre-ETS services to students with disabilities starting at age 14 and begin the VR process as early as the VR need is identified.
  • Strategy 2: Work with human resources to review vacant positions for reclassification to transition counselors to assist with bridging the gap between Pre-ETS to VR.
     
• Priority 2: ARS will transition at least 15% of the students served to VR.
  • Strategy 1: Introduce students with disabilities to VR services starting at age 14 and begin the VR process at the onset of the students’ junior year in high school.
  • Strategy 2: Work with human resources to review vacant positions for reclassification to transition counselors to assist with bridging the gap between Pre-ETS to VR.
     
• Priority 3: ARS will expand Pre-ETS, utilizing data, to unserved/underserved populations across the state.
  • Strategy 1: Continue to partner with vendors and schools in all regions to provide Pre-ETS services to unserved/underserved areas.
  • Strategy 2: Continue to partner with Arkansas Transition Services (ATS) to launch exploration programs for students starting at age 14 and provide Work-Based Learning experiences in partnership with local community colleges and employers.
     
• Priority 4: ARS will increase the number of students engaged in Work-Based Learning, Pre-apprenticeships, and On-the-Job trainings by 15%.
  • Strategy 1: Continue to work with vendors and schools to provide Work-Based Learning, Pre-Apprenticeships, and On-the-Job trainings through informed choice and partnerships with CTE, ATS, and employers.
  • Strategy 2: Engage a minimum of five seniors per year in OJT and Apprenticeship opportunities.

• Priority 5: ARS will increase the number of Transition students that enter employment by having students work-ready upon completion of high school and/or postsecondary training by a target goal of 50% of the total students served and exiting high school.
  • Strategy 1: Work with schools, vendors, and the business engagement team to create and provide more work-based learning activities for students beginning as early as age 14, along with engaging students in more CTE opportunities while in high school to assist with vocational goal setting after exit from high school.

Goal 4: ARS will increase competitive integrated employment for Arkansans with disabilities.

• Priority 1: ARS will increase the utilization of apprenticeships and on-the-job trainings by 10%. 
  • Strategy 1: Continue to strengthen collaboration efforts with the ARS Business Engagement team to identify potential employers.
  • Strategy 2: Work with the Business Engagement team to place a minimum of ten individuals with disabilities per year into an OJT or apprenticeship program.
  • Strategy 3: Continue to work with WIOA partners including local boards, Office of Skill Development, Arkansas Apprenticeship Coalition, and businesses that provide apprenticeships to identify potential apprenticeship opportunities and individuals for service.

• Priority 2: ARS will increase referrals by 10% through collaborative partnerships with WIOA partners.
  • Strategy 1: Continue to work with WIOA partners to implement a common intake process to help identify potential referrals.
  • Strategy 2: Increase the use of the short referral form to initiate services and decrease attrition. 
  • Strategy 3: Adopt the rapid engagement method to move individuals through the VR process in an expediated manner through increased client engagement.

• Priority 3: ARS’ Business Engagement Unit will increase referrals from businesses by 10% annually.
  • Strategy 1: Collaborate with Chambers of Commerce, WIOA partners, businesses, and community partners about Work-Based-Learning, On-the-Job-Trainings (OJT), AT@Work and Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work, and Disability Etiquette training by providing access to the Business Engagement Short Form Referral.
  • Strategy 2: Collaborate with Chambers of Commerce, WIOA partners, and community leaders to identify skills development training and/or employment referral opportunities for clients that are referred to the BEU from Field Services counselors.
     
• Priority 4: ARS will increase utilization of VR funds to 90% or higher of the authorized funding.
  • Strategy 1: Work with an outsource entity to assist with research of similar VR programs and rate setting.
  • Strategy 2: Utilize technical assistance to provide training to staff regarding fiscal spending and period of performance.
  • Strategy 3: Revise the current budget allotment structure to remove budget constraints.

• Priority 5: ARS will increase services provided to employers by increasing referrals to the Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work (SAW/RTW) programs by 10% with the goal of retaining employees with disabilities on the job.
  • Strategy 1: Utilize the SAW/RTW program to participate in, at minimum, one public marketing event per quarter.
  • Strategy 2: Increase services provided to employers by increasing referrals to the Stay-at-Work/Return-to-Work (SAW/RTW) programs.
  • Strategy 3: Utilize the SAW/RTW program to provide semi-annual trainings to field staff across the state on how to incorporate the SAW/RTW program into their current caseloads.

• Priority 6: ARS will provide training to field service staff on the appropriateness and implementation of assistive technology and services throughout the rehabilitation process.
  • Strategy 1: Utilize AT@Work to provide one training per year to each field services region.
  • Strategy 2: Utilize Access and Accommodation staff to present content with regards to the identification and implementation of accommodations at minimum one event widely attended by field services staff.
  • Strategy 3: Utilize ICAN and AFP staff to provide updates on services quarterly to field services district managers during their monthly meetings.

• Priority 7: ARS will increase services provided to unserved/underserved populations by 15%. Services include transportation, access to technology, and expanding business and services provider network to bridge gaps.
  • Strategy 1: Continue to work with WIOA partners to implement a common intake process to help identify potential referrals. 
  • Strategy 2: Develop new itinerary points and outreach activities to increase awareness with unserved/underserved populations.
  • Strategy 3: Utilize the 2022 CSNA as a baseline for unserved/underserved populations.
  • Strategy 4: Increase the use of the short referral form to initiate services and decrease attrition. 
  • Strategy 5: Adopt the rapid engagement method to move individuals through the VR process in an expedited manner through increased client engagement.

• Priority 8: ARS counselors will maintain at least a 90% rate for IPE development.
  • Strategy 1: Increase the use of the short referral form to initiate services. 
  • Strategy 2: Adopt the rapid engagement method to move individuals through the VR process in an expediated manner through increased client engagement.
  • Strategy 3: Monitor percentage rates quarterly and continue to provide weekly updates on action alert items.

Goal 5: ARS will increase successful employment outcomes utilizing Community Rehabilitation Program and Supported Employment vendors.

• Priority 1: ARS will reach the national average for supported employment closures by PY2027.
  • Strategy 1: Reduce time from vendor referral to IPE development and service initiation to 60 days or less by PY2025.
  • Strategy 2: Revise Supported Employment Services policy and procedures based on direction from the Rehabilitation Services Administration monitoring plan by 2026.
  • Strategy 3: Convene CRPs to participate in identifying, sharing, and promoting supported employment services and the development of a methodology to determine reasonable and effective rates based on direction from the Rehabilitation Services Administration monitoring plan by PY2026.
  • Strategy 4: Collaborate with CRPs on contract changes that incent/reward higher quality outcomes based on established outcome measures by PY2027.
  • Strategy 5: Hose a Supported Employment training opportunity for ARS staff, CRPs, individuals, and families annually by PY2027.
  • Strategy 6: Research digital technology innovations for supported employment and accessibility supports to pilot by PY2027.
  • Strategy 7: Provide region-based training opportunities specific to the new Extended Services policy for ARS staff, CRPs, individuals, families, and other stakeholders once the new policy has been promulgated.
  • Strategy 8: Provide education opportunities on the availability, utilization, and funding of Youth Extended Services by PY2026.
  • Strategy 9: Meet with non-VR funding entities to leverage resources and assure the Extended Services funding available meets the prevailing wage or higher by PY2025.
  • Strategy 10: Produce information on Extended Services and funding sources for youth, individuals, families, and providers including but not limited to Ticket to Work-Employment Network partnerships, natural supports, and Social Security Work Incentives by PY2026.
  • Strategy 11: Request technical assistance support from the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center for Quality Management (VRTAC) on supported employment and extended services.

• Priority 2: ACDC will increase its number of competitive integrated employment outcomes by 10%.
  • Strategy 1: Increase the number of distance learning options by two per year to increase accessibility of training statewide.
  • Strategy 2: Expand public outreach to increase knowledge of ACDC services.
  • Strategy 3: Continue to participate in apprenticeship/pre-apprenticeship committees and network with the entities that develop and provide apprenticeships.
  • Strategy 4: Initiate conversations regarding disabilities and ACDC services to a minimum of three schools with alternative programs per year.