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2 Year Modification

Florida PYs 2018-2019

Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Located in:
  • Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation

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

    __________

    * Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA

    • b. Request for Waiver of Statewideness
      When requesting a waiver of the statewideness requirement, the designated State unit must identify the types of services to be provided by the program on a non-statewide basis. The waiver request must also include written assurances that:

b. 1. A Local Public Agency Will Provide the Non-federal Share of Costs Associated with the Services to Be Provided in Accordance with the Waiver Request;

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2016-2017

Current Narrative:

Overview

The Florida Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) provides services throughout the state, including Transition Youth services that expand and improve Vocational Rehabilitation options for eligible customers. VR has entered into Third Party Cooperative Arrangements (TPCA) with some local school districts, but services are not currently available in all areas of the state. TPCA and other VR Transition Youth services align with the Pre-Employment Transition Services required under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The State Plan cannot assure that the expanded services provided through the TPCAs will be available in all political subdivisions (school districts) of the state. A Waiver of Statewideness is requested in this State Plan.

Types of Services Provided

School and Community-Based Transition Services for Students with Disabilities

On an annual basis, VR has offered new TPCAs to all school districts in the state of Florida. Although VR approaches and offers TPCA to all districts, the partnership is dependent on the individual district’s decision to participate. VR currently has TPCAs with 25 school districts and these arrangements expire in June 2018. VR is in the process of revising the contractual agreement it offers to school districts, but new contracts have not been developed yet. Once developed, if the contract changes the way VR delivers Transition services, the State Plan will be amended as needed. The one-year arrangement will provide community-based work experiences to eligible students who have Supported Employment (SE) service needs identified in their Individual Educational Plan and Individualized Plan for Employment. This model reimburses school districts for services provided to VR-eligible students with the most significant disabilities and facilitates a seamless transition into postsecondary employment with supports.

On-the-Job Training (OJT), through VR providers, delivers needed community-based work experiences to VR-eligible students who do not require the intense supports provided through the TPCA. OJT services are available statewide.

Written Assurances

VR assures the Rehabilitation Services Administration that it has TPCAs with certain school districts and will provide written assurances as required. Specifically, each arrangement is formalized through the contract procurement process and contains the following:

1. The local school district will certify to VR that funds used for match funds are non-federal and are not used for match in any other federally- or state-assisted project or program.

2. VR approval will be obtained for all TPCA services.

3. All local school districts with TPCAs will abide by the state’s Order of Selection policy.

4. TPCA services are services not typically provided by local school districts, and TPCA services are only available to persons applying for, or already receiving VR services.

5. All other state plan requirements, including those found in the WIOA Unified State Plan, will apply to all services provided under the scope of the arrangement.

6. Program expenditures and employees providing services under the cooperative arrangement are under the administrative supervision of VR.

Third Party Cooperative Arrangement

During state fiscal year 2017-18, VR has arrangements with the following school districts:

1. Bay

2. Bradford

3. Calhoun

4. Citrus

5. Columbia

6. Flagler

7. Franklin

8. Gadsden

9. Gulf

10. Hendry

11. Indian River

12. Jefferson

13. Leon

14. Liberty

15. Manatee

16. Nassau

17. Pinellas

18. Polk

19. Putnam

20. Seminole

21. South Tech Charter

22. St. Johns

23. Taylor

24. Volusia

25. Wakulla

The current arrangements will expire on June 30, 2018. VR is in the process of revising the contractual agreement it offers to school districts, but new contracts have not been developed yet. Once developed, if the contract changes the way VR delivers Transition services, the State Plan will be amended as needed.