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:
RSB develops services agreements for supported employment services using the state contracting and procurement processes provided under the authority of an Expenditure Registration (ER101) authority issued to the Department by the State Office of Administration. The cooperative agreement for supported employment services is a binding contract between RSB and supported employment service providers and includes a statement to that effect. These contracts define the responsibilities of both the contractor and RSB in the referral of clients.
The contract specifies the requirements of the contractor in the provision of services, the expected outcomes, and the payment terms and conditions.. This includes arranging for extended services, including natural supports. When a resource is not readily available through the contractor RSB assists the SESP in the development of natural supports away from the worksite and assists in locating funding for extended services.
RSB will continue to work closely with the Missouri Department of Social Services MO HealthNet Division and the Department of Mental Health (DMH) Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DD) divisions to ensure that youth with the most significant disabilities receive extended services. Services may include:
- Job monitoring and assessment of employment stability
- Establishment of peer and natural support environments and,
- Coordination of specific services necessary to assist the individual to maintain employment
In addition RSB will work closely with the DMH-DD division to utilize home and community-based waivers to increase supported employment and extended services for youth with the most significant disabilities.