Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

AGENCY GOAL: TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN INTEGRATED, COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT

OBJECTIVE A: VR will collaborate with state and local partners that also serve individuals with disabilities to increase appropriate VR applicants.

Priority 1. Conduct outreach activities to increase knowledge and awareness of VR and ensure that VR services are available to all eligible individuals who require them.

Measure. VR will experience at least a 2% increase in VR applicants from the prior year. (FFY13: 13,042)

2015 OUTCOME: Not achieved. There were 12,044 VR applicants in FFY15, a 7.6% decrease in applicants. Factors impeded the achievement of the goals and priorities were largely related to substantial staff shortages, as well as a need for an increased number of VR Counselors. Indiana VR experienced a larger than average turnover rate of VR Counselors in the last year due to retirements, resignations, and staff promotions. This has resulted in a longer timeframe for meeting with new referrals. It should be noted that referrals to VR have not decreased, in fact referrals have increased approximately 8% which indicates that outreach strategies have been effective. However, VR staff shortages have prevented VR from processing new referrals as expeditiously as needed. VR received approval in October 2015 to hire 9 additional VR Counselors, 7 itinerant VR Counselors, and 7 VR Case Coordinators to help mitigate this and decrease the length of time it takes to process a new referral. VR is also working FSSA/DDRS on strategies for staff retention.

Priority 2. VR, in cooperation with the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS), will continue to provide and enhance a seamless service delivery system for consumers transitioning into VR services, then from VR Services to Extended services.

Measure: VR will see a 2% increase in employment outcomes for individuals with a primary impairment of a cognitive disability from the prior FFY. (FFY13: 1,666)

2015 OUTCOME: Not achieved. 1463 individuals with a primary impairment of cognitive impairment achieved a successful VR outcome in FFY15, which is a decrease of 12%. The primary reason for the decrease is that there was a decrease in overall successful outcomes in FFY15 when compared to FFY13 due to an overall decrease in the number of consumers served. The number of successful outcomes dropped by 11.8% from FFY13 (4,652) to FFY15 (4,103). The number of consumers served in FFY13 was 28,889 compared to 26,632 in FFY15, reflecting a 7.8% decrease in consumers served. An additional factor that impeded achievement of this priority is the staff shortages mentioned above. Due to staff shortages, caseloads have also increased.

Priority 3: Identify 2–4 specific partners for collaboration and targeted outreach to populations who may benefit from VR services.

Measure: VR will conduct or participate in 20 or more targeted education and outreach activities in FFY15 (i.e. agency/bureau cross training event, outreach to parent advocacy organizations).

2015 OUTCOME: Achieved. VR has completed well over 20 targeted outreach activities across the state. Activities that focused on educating the public on Transition services began with the VR Transition Specialist visiting all the VR Area offices. First priority was focused to ensuring that all counselors were equipped with a comprehensive overview of Indiana’s initiatives surrounding transition. After every counselor received a transition specific overview, counselors were encouraged to enter the communities and schools in their areas with this message. Ongoing and targeted outreach to parent organizations like INSOURCE (Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs) and ICASE (Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education), for the purpose of maintaining a consistent message regarding our services ensued. The Transition Specialist attended career and resource fairs across the state to raise the profile of the VR. Many counselors continued this effort in each area across the state in order to provide a consistent message on transition services provided by VR in the schools. The Department of Education and Statewide Transition Council and the Indiana Institute on Community also came together to help ensure the VR transition priorities and initiatives were communicated to potential consumers, parents of consumers, and educators.

There are other education and outreach partners focused on minority populations across the state that include: the Haitian American Association, the Burmese American Association, the Native American Commission and the Indiana Latino Institute. Targeted outreach to these populations included visits to their resource fairs, individual meetings with the Directors of these organizations and continued contact over the year.

OBJECTIVE B: Indiana VR will increase the quantity and quality of job placements.

Priority 1. VR will develop state and local strategies to improve services provided to transition aged youth, e.g. internships/work experiences while still in high school.

Measure: VR will experience at least a 2% increase in transition aged applicants to VR compared to the prior year. (FFY13: 4,063).

2015 OUTCOME: [Data is being evaluated and will be available prior to submission.]

Priority 2. VR will implement a process for increasing accountability of CRPs to improve the quality of employment services and outcomes.

Measure: A process for increasing CRP accountability will be implemented by July 2015.

2015 OUTCOME: Achieved. A VR employment provider application was released in FFY15 resulting in the development of 87 provider agreements. This process better allows for VR to ensure appropriate accreditation requirements are met. Information collected through the application process has also enabled VR to develop a tool for VR Counselors and consumers to quickly identify appropriate service providers in each geographic area across the state. Additionally, VR rolled out substantial changes to the VR employment service model in July 2015 which increases provider accountability for providing individualized services and supports by strengthening the requirements about identification and changing the funding structure for services to reduce the financial incentive for quick stabilization and closure.

Priority 3. VR, with input from CRPs and other stakeholders, will conduct a review of VR employment services rates. Necessary modifications will be made to ensure that the employment services model and rate structure supports the provision of quality services and employment outcomes.

Measure: Recommendations for employment services rate restructuring will be implemented on or before July 2015.

2015 OUTCOME: Achieved. VR employment service revisions including rate changes, were implemented July 2015. These changes are designed to move the employment service model to a more individualized, consumer–centric approach. The Employment Services workgroup and other stakeholders played a major role in the design of the new model.

Priority 4. VR will continue to work closely with the Blind and Visually Impaired Services (BVIS) through the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) to expand employment opportunities.

Measure: The employment rate for BEP trainees will at a minimum meet the federal rehabilitation rate indicator of 55.8%.

2015 OUTCOME: Achieved. The 2014 Business Enterprise Program training class had a graduating class of five (5) individuals. Three (3) were placed by year’s end 2014 and the other two were placed in 2015. The BEP staff continue to build new vending relationships with businesses to assist licensed vendors in achieving their employment goals.

OBJECTIVE C: VR will develop program initiatives and training that adequately supports staff in the provision of quality services.

Priority 1. VR will make progress toward the development of a web–based VR case management system to improve efficiency and enhance the mobile working environment of VR field staff.

Measure: Requirements will be gathered for a new, web–based case management system with targeted implementation during FFY15.

2015 OUTCOME: Not achieved. The timeline for the development of a new system has been readjusted in light of other priorities such as WIOA and the recent VR Employment Service Revisions. VR continues to work toward movement to a new system and is currently developing process flowcharts in preparation for requirements gathering. VR has hired a Project Manager to coordinate this effort.

Priority 2. VR will identify an improved system for the provision and identification of professional development and training for staff, i.e. new VR Counselor training.

Measure: VR will explore options for staff professional development and identify a proposed solution by May 2015.

2015 OUTCOME: Achieved. In FFY15, VR introduced training specifically designed for VR Management staff and VR Support Staff. In prior years, training was focused almost exclusively for VR Counselors; however VR recognized a need to develop appropriate curriculum and training for all new VR field staff at each position level, including VR Counselors, VR Field Manager, VR Case Coordinators, and VR Secretaries.

Priority 3: VR in collaboration with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services (DHHS) and BVIS will provide necessary training and technical assistance to VR counselors who have a specialized caseload serving individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Measure: Quarterly meetings/trainings will be held with specialty VR Counselors, facilitated by DHHS and BVIS staff. The first meeting/training for FFY15 will be completed by fall 2014. Agenda’s will be set based on training and discussion needs identified by VR Specialty Counselors and their Supervisors.

2015 OUTCOME: Achieved. BVIS staff provided quarterly training meetings to the VR Counselors that specialize in serving consumers with low vision. This training included adaptive aid updates, ophthalmologist and optometrist guess speakers, consumer feedback as well as field trips that would assist in furthering the education of the VR counselors in respects to blindness. The BVIS staff also provided web based training resources and developed an email list serve where questions can be posted and answered with all VI/VR Counselor’s participation. DHHS staff also conducted quarterly meetings with VR Counselors that specialize in serving consumers who are Deaf or hard of hearing. These meetings included a training workshop with hearing aid manufacturers to ensure VR staff is well informed about the latest technological advances with hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

Priority 4. VR, along with providers, INARF, other state agencies (i.e. Department of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA)), and other stakeholders will facilitate cross training opportunities for VR and provider staff to clarify VR policies and practices and enhance consistency in service delivery.

Measure: A minimum of three formal cross–training events will occur during FFY15.

2015 OUTCOME: Achieved. VR conducted 15 joint training events throughout the state during May–July 2015 to ensure ample training opportunities for both VR and provider staff on the VR employment service revisions. Joint training on Discovery services was also conducted in several locations throughout the state during FFY15 and is continuing into FFY16. VR and DWD also participated in cross–training to increase knowledge about each program’s services. Similarly, VR and BDDS participated in cross–training to increase knowledge and gain better understanding about the transfer from VR–funded supported employment services to BDDS–funded extended services.