Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Blind)
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:
DEED-VRS/SSB entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DHS Disability Services Division (DHS-DSD) as of September 23, 2019. The purpose of the MOU was to improve employment services, including the transition to extended services, for individuals with the most significant of disabilities. As highlighted in the MOU, DEED & DHS agreed to work together to align systems so that common customers who receive home and community-based service (HCBS) disability waivers and vocational rehabilitation services (VRS) from DEED-VRS or SSB get seamless and timely supports to make informed choices and meet competitive integrated employment goals.
From these efforts, a model was developed called E1MN (Employment First Minnesota). E1MN works to deliver a seamless and timely employment support system for youth and adults with disabilities so they understand their options and get what they need to achieve and maintain competitive integrated employment. E1MN is led by the State of Minnesota Departments of Education (Career and Technical Education and Special Education), Employment and Economic Development (Vocational Rehabilitation Services and State Services for the Blind) and Human Services (Disability Services Division). E1MN coordinates their work through steering committees for adults (out of school, including out of school youth) and youth (in school).
A framework was developed as part of E1MN that describes the continuum of employment services called Engage-Plan-Find-Keep. This framework shows how waiver employment services and supports through Vocational Rehabilitation Services/State Services for the Blind support people at different stages of their path to employment. https://disabilityhubmn.org/media/sqsbrsac/e1mn-efpk-framework.pdf.
The overall strategies of E1MN include:
- Aligning our systems — policies, programs, funding, providers, and roles — to better coordinate services and Employment First approaches.
- Connecting partners to solve problems, remove barriers, and transform services.
- Using data and information to drive our work and seek continuous improvement.
- Building on existing strengths and great ideas while developing new resources to share.
- Engaging with our shared customers and stakeholders to communicate our work and incorporate their insights.
- Working with local and culturally specific partners to improve and assure access and equity.
- Building a unified voice through shared communications, training, and support to foster consistent practices and messages for all stakeholders.
- Supporting families in setting a positive trajectory for employment and independence for their child.
- Incorporating person-centered tools and practices to help create a common language and experience for our shared customers.
Minnesota State Services for the Blind has several professional/technical contracts with local providers that offer supported employment services, including customized employment and job coaching. There is a goal as part of E1MN to obtain as many providers as possible to have both a professional/technical contract with DEED-SSB/VRS and a 245(d) license through DHS. That way, the same provider can work with the individual through their entire continuum of employment services (job search, job placement, short-term supports, and long-term extended services). Unfortunately, many providers find the 245(d) license process to be lengthy, confusing, and expensive. In order for our goal to be successful, DHS has been looking at ways to streamline the process in the future.
In addition to what has been described above, Minnesota VRS has a unique state-only funding appropriation to providing ongoing employment supports to individuals with disabilities called the Extended Employment program. SSB eligible customers have been able to take advantage of this available funding if they do not otherwise qualify for waiver-based, long-term employment services (e.g. job coaching).