Narrative: c. 2.

Goal I:      To maximize opportunities for individuals with disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment and promote self-sufficiency.

Objective A.   Provide quality vocational rehabilitation (VR) services leading to employment outcomes for 1,500 eligible individuals with disabilities annually.

Strategy 1.      Evaluate and monitor case record documentation to maintain at least a 90% average level of compliance with agency policy and procedures.  This level of compliance will help to ensure timeliness and sustained engagement of participants to assist with the goal achievement.

Strategy 2.      Improve collaborations between Rehabilitation Employment Development Specialists (REDS) and other Office of Workforce Development initiatives regarding service provision such as job development, on-the-job training, and job placement through interagency cross-training and weekly meetings to foster improved communication.  

Strategy 3.      Increase Counselor involvement in secondary education settings through an increased engagement with students, which will increase additional Pre-Employment Transition Services to students, resulting in a timelier referral for VR services.

Strategy 4.      Make all Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) documents and the Technical Assistance and Guidance Manual available with accessible formatting for ease of use by diverse users.

Strategy 5.      Increase outreach to targeted populations who are identified by the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment as being unserved/underserved, including those needing supported employment by meeting with Administrators and partner agencies to facilitate rapid engagement.

Strategy 6.      Explore options for collaboration to provide services to specific disability populations including those diagnosed with developmental/intellectual disabilities, autism, mental illness or addictive disorders, blind, blindness/deaf-blindness, deafness/hard of hearing, or individuals who are students in transition through networking, presenting, and participation in related councils and taskforces.

Strategy 7.      Increase the number of opportunities for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to participate in training services provided by certified Comprehensive Transition Programs by attending and participating in advisory councils.

Strategy 8.      Collaborate with the LA Department of Health (LDH) to determine if individuals interested in competitive integrated employment and in Sheltered Workshops are eligible for VR services and provide information and guidance to facilitate continued engagement throughout the vocational rehabilitation process.

Objective B.   To expend a minimum of 15% of LRS federal funding to make available Pre-Employment Transitions Services to applicants and potentially eligible students with disabilities.  

Strategy 1.      Partner and provide support to LA Department of Education (LDOE) serving as Subject Matter Experts  to implement an initiative providing intensive technical assistance and universal support regarding transition services that will harness existing and emerging economic opportunities to foster a disability-inclusive workforce.

Strategy 2.      Expand outreach to students with disabilities by educating school districts Pre-Employment Transition Services and Third-Party Cooperative Agreements. 

Strategy 3.      Conduct field visits to monitor the provision of Pre-Employment Transition Services to determine the effectiveness and possible improvement to the service delivery process.  

Strategy 4.      Explore contracting options by consulting other State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies to pilot a contract to increase the number of Counselors dedicated to providing services to transition students.

Objective C.   Explore the use of technology to increase LRS’ efficiency and any potential cost savings. 

Strategy 1.      Implement upgrades to the Accessible Web-based Activity and Reporting Environment (AWARE) system software.

Strategy 2.      Train LRS staff on upgrades to the AWARE system that will result in a paperless case management system.

Strategy 3.      Explore options to increase the efficiency of LRS staff by utilizing new technologies and software applications that allow consumers to be served while applying rapid engagement practices.

Objective D.   Increase the utilization of Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) to achieve employment outcomes.

Strategy 1.      Strengthen the capacity of community employment providers, including those providing supported employment, to increase the number of competitive integrated employment placements by ensuring that the rates for employment services are adequate and reasonable.

Strategy 2.      Increase the use of employment services, including job search assistance, customized employment, and extended services for youth in supported employment by ensuring that the rates for these services are adequate and by providing technical assistance and training to field staff on these services.

Objective E.   Increase the number of Randolph-Sheppard Managers earning at least $25,000 annually by expanding opportunities and enhancing consumer service delivery in the Randolph-Sheppard Program.

Strategy 1.      Explore changes to the Louisiana Administrative Code and any other statutes governing the Randolph-Sheppard program that may help to improve opportunities.  We will also consider the current enforcement of the current laws and rules to ensure that current opportunities are being maximized.

Strategy 2.      Expand training opportunities for current and new licensed blind managers to enhance skills, entrepreneurial abilities, and quality of service to customers.  These opportunities will be offered internally through in-service training, as well as through external means such as training offered through the National Association of Blind Merchants.  Expansion of training will enhance the ability of blind vendors to analyze their business and provide products and/or customer service to better meet demand.

Strategy 3.      Consider merging locations with annual earnings below $25,000 which will allow vendors to enhance earnings through combining less profitable locations to make a more profitable location to better support a blind vendor.

Strategy 4.      Increase the number of licensed vendors who are eligible to manage locations.  This will allow us to add new locations and will afford us the opportunity to grow the program, as well as to fill blind vendor vacancies more quickly with a permitted vendor.

Strategy 5.      Evaluate current blind vendor businesses to ensure they are maximizing profits, minimizing losses, and managing labor needs effectively.  This will evaluate the scope of the Randolph-Sheppard business and ensure that the products and pricing are a good fit for the location.  In some instances, the scope of the location may need to be changed to allow the vendor to maximize profits, as the pandemic caused major changes to work schedules, pricing, and the available labor pool.

Goal II:     Ensure LRS has necessary and qualified rehabilitation personnel providing quality vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities who are seeking to achieve competitive integrated employment and self-sufficiency.

Objective A.   Provide training resources to LRS staff in order to increase their efficiency in service provision.

Strategy 1.      Identify methods of succession training for staff members interested in pursuing leadership positions.

Strategy 2.      Provide monthly in-service trainings to regional staff through in-person, webinars, and online platform as identified by training needs assessments/surveys and quality assurance reviews conducted by the training and quality assurance units.

Strategy 3.      Provide support for professional staff to obtain a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.

Strategy 4.      Develop and implement methods to increase recruitment and retention of qualified staff by fully utilizing guidance and support provided by LA State Civil Service. 

Strategy 5.      Provide specialized training to Counselors working in caseloads serving participants who are blind, deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing by utilizing the YesLMS training platform and subject matter expert trainings.

Strategy 6.      Research and procure software or an online platform that offers on-demand training modules relevant to Vocational Rehabilitation professionals.

Strategy 7.      Due to its cessation during the pandemic, reinstitute the requirement of newly hired Rehabilitation Counselors participation in an in-person component of a hybrid Counselor Academy training event.

Goal III:   To maximize resources and pursue innovative means to leverage the state’s full federal VR grant allotment.

Objective A.   Work collaboratively with Louisiana Workforce Commission and other partners to leverage funding in order to ensure that services to consumers with disabilities are accessed and utilized to the utmost extent.

Strategy 1.      Appropriately request an increase in additional State General Funds designated for Louisiana Rehabilitation Services in an effort to fully utilize the federal VR grant allotment allocated to LRS.  This process includes developing a budget request at program level and submitting to LWC Budget for inclusion in the annual budget request.

Strategy 2.      Explore and implement third-party cooperative arrangements with public entities and/or establishment projects with Community Rehabilitation Programs and/or public/private non-profit entities based on the needs identified in the Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment.