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:
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* Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA
d. 2. L. ii. Identify the Goals and Priorities in Carrying Out the Vr and Supported Employment Programs.
Current Narrative:
GOAL 2. Support training programs that reflect high demand opportunities in the labor market. Performance Objectives and Measures— a. Use DWDB/DOE vetted education and training options in high demand occupations based on Delaware labor market information. 1. Annually, use labor market information to identify the top five high demand career pathways in each county. 2. Use the credential-bearing training programs approved by DWDB/DOE, enabling individuals to be employable in occupations in the career pathway occupations pertinent to each county. 3. Since the high-demand jobs in each county will not change substantially each year, use DWDB/DOE vetted credential-bearing training programs in all five high demand career pathway occupations by year four of the State Plan. b. Use DWDB/DOE vetted education and training options that lead to business—recognized credentials and experiences. 1. In keeping with the previous objective and when credential-bearing programs are not available, work with businesses to develop business—recognized credentials and on the job training experiences that will enable people with disabilities to enter the identified career paths at multiple points in the fields identified using labor market information. 2. Use the vetted, credential-bearing training programs identified by the Delaware Workforce Development Board have credential-bearing training programs in high demand jobs by year four of the State Plan 3. Modify request for proposals to require training vendors to include business-recognized credential-bearing training programs in the upcoming contracts. Modification to be completed for the FY 2019-2021 (two-year) contract cycle. c. Create On-the-Job Training programs with businesses, using community providers for job coaching as needed, in real time and Career pathways focused jobs that align more closely with Delaware labor market needs. d. Credential rate for adults and transition participant: DVR has set a preliminary measure of a 60% credential attainment rate. This measure may be modified once fuller information is received with the ultimate objective of meeting or exceeding established measures. e. Employer measure 1. Number of businesses contacted that employed DVR consumers 2. Number of businesses that employed DVR consumers repeatedly The initial baseline for workforce system-wide measure has not yet been calculated; however, once the measure has been calculated, DVR would like to contribute to a steady increase in businesses contacted and repeat employment.
GOAL 3. Continue to provide pre—employment transition services and transition career services to transition—aged individuals with disabilities. Performance Objectives and Measures Pre—employment transition service opportunities for transition students Increase the number of pre—employment transition services, including opportunities such as Project SEARCH and Start on Success, to enable more transition students to participate. In FY 2017, in addition to the Project SEARCH and Start on Success programs, pre-employment transition services programs hosted 412 students through summer/school year programs. Search and SOS served 88 students and three 8th grade Pre-ETS counselors served 313 8th grade students. While Project SEARCH and Start on Success are focused towards students in the terminal years of high school, the other programs will be open to, and promoted via the DVR and school-based transition staff, to students starting at age 14. Going forward, DVR will: a. Continue Project SEARCH to support 4 programs in all three counties. b. Expand the Start of Success into Sussex County in FY 2019 and Kent County in FY 2020. c. Expand the vendor-based, pre-employment transition services summer programs to serve a minimum of: • 450 students in 2018 • 500 students in 2019 d. Expand the vendor-based, pre-employment transition services to include year-round programming: • 10 programs in school year 2018- 2019 • 13 programs in school year 2019-2020 e. Address future employment-related transportation needs for transition students through a statewide, transportation-focused pre-employment transition service: • Training provided to 600 students in school year 2018-2019 • Training provided to 650 students in school year 2019-2020
GOAL 4: Provide vocational rehabilitation service to individuals with physical/orthopedic disabilities. Performance Objectives and Measures By FY 2020, increase the percentage of individuals with physical/orthopedic disabilities from 11% (FY 2013 number) to 15%. To accomplish this objective, DVR will: 1. Identify, at minimum, one new referral source annually and provide outreach presentations at least semi-annually. 2. Work with the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities to create Supported Employment follow-along funding for individuals with physical/orthopedic disabilities who have most significant disabilities. 3. In the absence of identified follow-along through DSAAPD, utilize DVR funding to provide extended follow-along for individuals with physical/orthopedic disabilities who have most significant disabilities for up to four years.
GOAL 5: Address the needs of transition youth and adults who are not college-bound Performance Objectives and Measures DVR is infusing the agency’s program with information about developing individual career pathways in high-demand industries as well as using the career pathways developed by the Delaware Pathways/Jobs for the Future work group comprised of representatives from DOE Career and Tech Ed, DOL DVR, DOL DET, Rodel Foundation, Strongpoint Marketing, United Way of Delaware, DTCC. The career pathways process assists individuals in identifying the steps necessary to develop short-term and long-term vocational goals. Often, the individual is able to enter a pathway by obtaining an entry-level credential that does not require a college degree. Other individuals who are not able to continue in their previous employment may be able to move onto a different pathway using transferable skills or by obtaining additional credentials. DVR has provided overview training on developing career pathways as a counseling technique and the use of the DET’s Joblink program to all DVR staff. DVR, through the Job Driven Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Program, and the Delaware Pathways/Jobs for the Future working group, piloted a project in one field office where staff received additional training and support for implementing the career pathways process in FY16 and implemented throughout all office locations in FY17. • In FY 2019 and 2020, 80 % of the clients agency-wide will indicate that they received career pathways information and 70% will indicate that it was used in the development of their employment plans.