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Plan: Arkansas PYs 2020-2023
Combined Plan C

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Narrative: o. 7.

Published
Located in:
  • Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)

    The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:

    __________

    [13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA

    • o. State's Strategies

      Describe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):

o. 7. Strategies for assisting other components of the statewide workforce development system in assisting individuals with disabilities

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2018-2019

Current Narrative:

ARS addresses assisting the workforce development system in Goal 3: ARS will create effective partnerships to advance employment for Arkansans with disabilities.

Priority – ARS will focus on public and private sector employers and increase business and industry awareness of ARS’ services.

Strategies – ARS will:

  • Continue to market to employers how ARS can be an effective resource as it relates to the hiring of individuals with disabilities and assisting them in remaining in the workforce.
  • Maintain its partnership with Disability: IN - Arkansas, and assist in membership recruitment by leveraging partnerships with existing business customers.  
  • Work with employers to identify opportunities for pre-apprenticeship, Registered Apprenticeship, and On-the-Job programs.

Priority – ARS will develop and strengthen partnerships with business, workforce development partners, economic development agencies, and community organizations to meet the needs of existing and new business customers.

Strategies – ARS will:

  • Utilize state agency transformation to expand relationships with partner agencies within the Department of Commerce.
  • Continue to advance relationships with other WIOA partners at both the state and local levels.
  • Conduct joint business service team meetings with all Workforce Development Boards. 
  • Develop products and services that meet individual business customer needs.

  • Work with local workforce boards to identify local in demand occupations.

  • Work with business and industry to establish on-the-job training, work-based learning opportunities, and apprenticeships.

ARS also addresses assisting the workforce development system in Goal 4: ARS will increase effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery.

Priority – ARS will improve service delivery to job seekers and businesses by consistently providing services that meet individual needs.

Strategies – ARS will:

  • Develop and implement a Job Club initiative and collaborate with counselors to support clients in honing soft skills to enhance job readiness.
  • Assist counselors and clients in IPE development by providing local labor market information so clients are trained for employment with in-demand industries in order to create opportunities for sustainable employment.  
  • Work with counselors to develop a mechanism to determine when referral for job placement is appropriate.
  • Develop career pathways with input from private industries and educational training providers in the state.

Priority – Staff will receive comprehensive training to improve service delivery.

Strategies – ARS will:

  • Assist counselors and clients in IPE development by providing local labor market information and regional sector strategies.
  • Train counselors to determine when referral for job placement is appropriate.
  • Host statewide training to insure understanding of policy and procedures.
  • Provide training on special populations to include those with serious mental illness and autism spectrum disorders.

Priority – ARS will strengthen relationships with WIOA partners and business and industry.

Strategies – ARS will:

  • Conduct partner meetings with educational training providers on a quarterly basis to foster stronger relationships.
  • Participate in business and industry Expo/Chamber events with other workforce partners.
  • Participate in monthly “Core-Four” partner’s meetings with other WIOA partners.
  • Seek opportunities for rehab area managers and counselors to collaborate with BEU staff through joint business customer visits to meet employer needs.
  • Train field personnel on apprenticeships/pre-apprenticeships, on-the-job training opportunities, and paid work experiences available for students and youth.
  • (Rehab area managers will) access local workforce board funding and resources to utilize as a similar benefit in service delivery.

Priority – ARS will improve service delivery to Arkansas businesses by consistently providing services that meet the employers’ needs.

Strategies – Business Engagement will:

  • Utilize Salesforce CRM as licenses are issued to share information with partner agencies to more effectively serve business customers.
  • Implement a customer satisfaction survey to measure the effectiveness of services offered to business customers.