Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Goal 1: Increase service capacity for individuals with the most significant disabilities

Actual Performance:

VR allocated Title VI, Part B funds among its six areas on the same basis as Title I funds to ensure individuals with most significant disabilities have equal access statewide to VR services. VR spent its Title VI, Part B funds early in the fiscal year but continued to provide supported employment services as needed using Title I funds.

VR increased training opportunities for counselors, providers and other stakeholders with a focus on innovative ways to increase employment opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities. VR has made it a priority to increase the existing provider base so more individuals can be served in a timely manner. VR has also worked with existing providers to expand their services.

VR is a partner in the Employment First Initiative in Florida, created by Executive Order Number 13–284 issued by Governor Rick Scott. A Strategic Action Plan and agreement was developed with all of the mandated agencies and organizations. The plan included ways the agencies could work together to promote competitive integrated employment as the first and primary employment option. The Interagency agreement was approved and implementation has begun on the objectives listed below.

• Establish a commitment among the agencies’ leadership to maximize resources and coordinate with each other to improve employment outcomes for persons with disabilities seeking publically funded services.

• Develop strategic goals and reasonable benchmarks to assist the agencies in implementing this agreement.

• Identify financing and contracting methods that will prioritize employment among the array of services paid for or provided by agencies.

• Identify ways training opportunities can be better utilized by agency employees and contracted providers to ensure effectiveness of employment services.

• Ensure collaboration occurs during the development of service plans, including the Individualized Plan for Employment, when individuals are served by multiple agencies to achieve their employment goals.

• Promote service innovation.

• Identify accountability measures to ensure sustainability.

In addition, VR added Discovery as a service option and provided training options to providers and staff to increase the use of Discovery. Last year approximately, 30 providers added Discovery as one of their services. Training is ongoing and available for providers. This helped increase the number of individuals who are now seamlessly moving into Supported Employment. It is also expanding VR Counselor’s view of who is employable.

Goal 2: Use Title VI, Part B funds to achieve the maximum number of quality employment outcomes for individuals with the most significant disabilities

Actual Performance:

VR provided supported employment services to individuals with most significant disabilities who benefitted from these services. Data below represents VR’s performance in serving supported employment customers.

FFY 2015 Supported Employment Performance Data

• Number of active cases: 5,127

• Number of Individualized Plans for Employment: 2,555

• Number of Employment Outcomes: 697

Goal 3: Use the five percent permitted for administration to fund development and delivery of training and technical assistance

Actual Performance:

1. The supported employment administrator continues to provide training on service delivery for individuals with the most significant disabilities to new counselors, as well as follow–up trainings and technical assistance to seasoned counselors and supervisors at conferences, meetings, workshops, and upon request.

2. VR administrators provided training to families and members in the community as requested. These sessions are designed to provide information and a vision that supported employment services are designed for individuals with the most significant disabilities. They provide families and customers with the information they need to become successfully employed. The sessions were provided to the groups and organizations listed below. Additional presentations are made throughout the year to local stakeholder groups.

• Florida Developmental Disability Council

• Family Care Council

• Waiver Support Coordinators

• Florida Rehabilitation Council

• Florida Project Search

• Certified Business and Technical Assistance Consultant Area Trainings

• Transition Committees

• Individualized Trainings

• Family Disability Network

• Florida Department of Education Employees

• Family Café

• Visions

• AmeriCorps

• Florida ARC

3. VR administrators provide technical assistance and consultations on individual cases as requested by supervisors, family members, VR staff, and individual customers.

4. A number of strategies were used to support collaboration between VR and other community resources through networking and leadership activities listed below.

a. Representation on the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council and Employment Task Force. This included helping develop pilot projects on a wide array of employment topics. Administrators were involved as task force members, on advisory committees, and as monitors of projects. The projects complimented and supported VR’s mission of helping individuals get or keep a job.

b. Presentations on supported employment at conferences around the state. Audiences included professionals, families, and students regarding employment options.

c. Participation as a board member for the Florida Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE).

d. Representation on the Statewide Employment First Initiative by VR’s supported employment and transition administrators. This included helping develop the Cooperative Agreement and the Collaborative Strategic Action Implementation Plan supporting employment as mandated by the Governor’s Executive Order Number 13–284.

e. The VR Administrator coordinated and developed training for providers and staff on Discovery Services.

Goal 4: Leverage resources for extended ongoing support services

Actual Performance:

1. VR has expanded its services to include Discovery to help individuals with most significant disabilities become employed. Discovery improves the quality of the placements, increases the success of the job placements, and reduces the need for intense follow up supports. This service is now available on a limited basis in all VR Areas. Concentrated efforts are in place to continue to increase capacity across the state.

2. VR employees continue to serve as resource members on Business Leadership Networks to educate businesses and employers about on–the–job supports for individuals in supported employment.

3. VR and APD administrators work together to provide training for VR counselors, waiver support coordinators, and for APD field staff on best practices in supported employment and the roles and responsibilities of all partners. Training included a focus on all of the possible extended service options.

4. VR employees participate as requested in APD hosted conference calls, as well as quarterly meetings designed to make the supported employment service delivery system for mutual customers an effective and efficient one.

5. The supported employment administrator provides training to field staff on the multiple options available for extended services. Of particular focus has been the development of natural and employer supports available on the jobsite.

Explanation of Performance:

The strategies reported above helped VR continue progress in providing successful services and employment outcomes for individuals with most significant disabilities.

Review of Attachment 6.3

Actual Performance:

1. VR, in collaboration with the Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, increased contracts from 17–20 school districts to help provide community–based work experiences to students with disabilities.

2. VR administrators presented at the Family Care Council, Family Café, Employment, Business Leadership Network, Florida Developmental Disability Council, VISIONS and other conferences in an effort to increase awareness about using natural supports and emphasized its use as a realistic option for successful job maintenance.

3. The VR supported employment administrator partners with APD to provide joint skills–development training on supported employment to counselors and waiver support coordinators, and provides technical assistance, as needed. VR and APD have worked together to provide information about the funds available from the Employment Enhancement Funds that APD has received for individuals on their waiting list interested in employment–related services.

4. The VR supported employment administrator provides training to certified business and technical assistance consultants and VR employees to encourage the use of supported self–employment as an employment option for individuals with the most significant disabilities.

5. VR works closely with the Employment First Partnership and Coalition, which includes nine organizations and agencies with related employment services. Promoting employment of people with disabilities was initial focus of the group.

Explanation of Performance:

The strategies reported above helped VR improve services and increase employment options for individuals with the most significant disabilities.