U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Plan: Washington PYs 2020-2023
Combined Plan C

Section: Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Narrative: h. 3.

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

    • h. Interagency Cooperation

      Describe how the designated State unit will collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering each of the following programs to develop opportunities for competitive integrated employment, to the greatest extent practicable:

h. 3. The State agency responsible for providing mental health services.

Current Narrative:

HCA Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (HCA/DBHR)

The Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) was moved from DSHS to HCA in 2018 to integrate physical health with behavioral health, thereby providing whole-person care. DBHR manages the majority of public behavioral health services in Washington. HCA/DBHR provides a broad range of community-based mental health, substance use disorder, and pathological and problem gambling services using multiple funding sources to meet broad behavioral health needs. In addition, HCA/DBHR sponsors recovery supports and the development of system of care networks.

DSHS/DVR is in the process of completing an Interlocal Agreement with HCA/DBHR.  The purpose of the agreement is to establish a collaborative framework for both agencies to provide employment services for individuals with behavioral health conditions. This framework identifies shared eligibility criteria and defines roles and responsibilities for DSHS/DVR’s supported employment program and HCA/DBHR’s Foundational Community Supports (FCS) supported employment program.

DSHS/DVR and HCA/DBHR coordinate in the following ways:

  • DSHS/DVR and HCA/DBHR leadership meet on a regular basis for ongoing coordination and collaboration between systems.
  • DSHS/DVR and HCA/DBHR participate in the FCS Amerigroup Advisory Committee with DSHS/ALTSA and other FCS provider and stakeholders.
  • DSHS/DVR is represented as a member of the Washington State Behavioral Health Advisory Council.
  • DSHS/DVR collaborates with HCA/DBHR’s FCS to serve shared supported employment customers, using the FCS Individual Placement Support (IPS) model of supported employment and DSHS/DVR supported employment services.
  • DSHS/DVR maintains active referral relationships with treatment providers that are funded through HCA/DBHR contracts with each county.
  • DSHS/DVR assigned liaison counselors to work with behavioral health agencies across the state, facilitating access to DSHS/DVR services for behavioral health consumers.
  • DSHS/DVR and DBHR signed a memorandum of collaboration that establishes methods for Medicaid outpatient behavioral health services to be provided as extended services for joint DSHS/DVR supported employment customers.
  • King County Behavioral Health and Recovery has become a Ticket-to-Work (TTW) Employment Network and is establishing a Partnership Plus Agreement with DSHS/DVR to build a revenue stream from the TTW Program that will fund extended services for those mental health customers who require a supported employment model.