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:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
Describe the designated State agency's procedures and activities to establish and maintain a comprehensive system of personnel development designed to ensure an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professional and paraprofessional personnel for the designated State unit, including the following:
- 1. System on Personnel and Personnel Development
- A. Qualified Personnel Needs
Describe the development and maintenance of a system for collecting and analyzing on an annual basis data on qualified personnel needs with respect to:
- A. Qualified Personnel Needs
- 1. System on Personnel and Personnel Development
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
i. 1. A. i. The number of personnel who are employed by the State agency in the provision of VR services in relation to the number of individuals served, broken down by personnel category;
Current Narrative:
i. the number of personnel who are employed by the State agency in the provision of VR services in relation to the number of individuals served, broken down by personnel category:
At the time of the state plan draft, DVR had 103 staff in the following positions:
Bureau Director - 1
DVR Director - 1
Systems Improvement & Quality Assurance Director - 1
DVR Assistant Director - 1
Regional Manager - 4
Casework Supervisor - 7
Rehabilitation Consultant - 4
Management Analyst - 1
Procurement and Contract specialist - 1
Rehabilitation Counselor II - 59
Rehabilitation Counselor I - 10
Support Staff - 13
Maine DVR averaged a 14 % turnover rate for Rehabilitation Counselor II’s (RCII) VR Counselors in FFY 19. There are currently 8 RC II positions that are vacant. Maine’s turnover rate continues to be deeply affected by the tight labor market and retirement, given the age of its workforce and less competitive wages when compared to private sector employment. VR Counselors are being actively sought by private sector employers who offer higher pay, work from home positions and other benefits. Assuming retention levels remain consistent, it can be projected that DVR staffing needs could require as many as 19 new Rehabilitation Counselors in the next 5 years. The average turnover rate for non–rehabilitation counselor staff has been relatively consistent, approximately 13–15 percent annually. In examining staffing patterns of all other DVR staff, the turnover rate is approximately 20 percent. During FFY 2019, DVR hired 17 Rehabilitation Counselor II’s.