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. 3. Supported employment services may be provided with Title 1 or Title VI funds following placement of individuals with the most significant disabilities in employment. In accordance with Section 101(a)(22) and Section 606(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act, describe the quality, scope, and extent of supported employment services to be provided to individuals with the most significant disabilities, including youth with the most significant disabilities; and the timing of transition to extended services.
Current Narrative:
MVR maintains cooperative, written agreements with nonprofit, private CRPs to provide services on a fee-for-service basis. All supported employment (SE) fees authorized by MVR are a uniform, flat rate as recommended by the RSA 107 Monitoring Review.
SE on-the-job support services for individuals with the most significant disabilities, including youth with the most significant disabilities, are provided with SE grant dollars only after job placement. MVR routinely expends its SE grant allotment after which Title I funds are utilized.
Other services, which support individuals seeking supported employment, that lead up to job placement, must be paid with Title I funds. These may include:
- discovery and exploration;
- survey of businesses and assurance of potential community-based exploration, assessments and work sites suited to the needs of the clients;
- analysis of all relevant job-related variables, (e.g., transportation, job restructuring, tax credit for employers, etc.);
- development of an internal advocacy system;
- provision of long-term, extended services support with the client or employer a minimum of twice per month; and
- customized employment for individuals and employers.
MVR is committed to providing greater access to SE services. The scope of SE services reaches throughout the state. All counties in Missouri are being served by CRPs that provide SE services.
MVR district offices meet with local CRPs to outline joint activities to assist mutual consumers reach employment outcomes. MVR and CRP staffs both offer input on service delivery processes during partnering meetings and develop action plans to improve those processes. Other collaborative activities involve joint training programs.
One of the methods that MVR uses to continuously improve SE services and the service delivery process is through the use of a strategic team. The CRP-MVR steering committee meets regularly to improve services, review feedback, monitor progress and to discuss current and future issues warranting attention.
MVR and the CRPs developed an outcome-based service model that emphasizes quality employment outcomes and retention.
DMH-BH and MVR have been working to increase access to evidence-based supported employment, also known as IPS, for adults with serious mental illnesses who are interested in improving their work lives. Missouri has 33 Community Mental Health Centers participating in this implementation collaborative. DMH and MVR are implementing IPS for youth with serious mental illnesses in several sites.
Fifty (50) percent of MVR's SE grant allotment must be reserved and expended on the provision of SE services, including extended services, to youth with the most significant disabilities. MVR can provide up to 24 months of SE on-the-job supports after placement and may extend services, if necessary.
Extended services are provided after the provision of supported employment and when job coaching falls below 10 percent. MVR utilizes CRPs or identified long-term providers for the provision of extended services that continue after case closure. This includes but is not limited to, at minimum, two contacts with the consumer each month. Extended services may be provided to youth with most significant disabilities for a period not to exceed four years, or until the individual turns 25 and no longer meets the definition of a youth, whichever comes first. MVR utilizes CRPs or identified long-term providers for the provision of extended services for youth with most significant disabilities that continue after case closure to support the consumer’s needs.
Once a supported employment case is closed, MVR no longer funds extended services. The CRP or other identified provider is responsible for securing long-term funding.