Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

BENEFITS COUNSELING VR should continue to support benefits counseling as this is a key concern for families. It was recommended that benefits counseling resources and knowledge be shared across WIOA core partners. This could be achieved through collaboration with the Disability Employment Initiative (DEI) Grants, through education and training of WIOA partners, and be exploring the availability of benefits counseling in the local Work One centers.

VR Response: VR plans to continue to support benefits counseling through the funding of the Benefits Information Network (BIN), and agrees that counseling on the impact of working on benefits and available federal and state work incentives is critical in helping consumers to make informed choices about working and in working toward self-sufficiency. VR will include discussion on the importance of benefits counseling in conversations with WIOA partners.

COLLABORATION WITH DWD AND WIOA PARTNERS Greater collaboration with WIOA partners including Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is also needed to coordinate services for mutual consumers; ensure each partner has appropriate information about referral processes and a basic understanding of eligibility requirements and available services. VR was encouraged by the commission to continue with the pilot project to develop a subject matter expert in local VR and Work One locations. Increased education with DWD and other WIOA partners is needed to improve awareness and knowledge of how to best serve individuals with disabilities and ensure services are individualized as appropriate.

VR Response: The pilot project that developed subject matter experts in local VR and One Stop offices will continue. VR will continue to take the opportunity to educate WIOA partners about VR services in ongoing communication with these partners.

BRS provided an update on collaboration efforts with DWD at a commission meeting on February 16, 2018, including efforts for reporting on federally required business engagement efforts, collaborative training strategies, and referral processes in local VR offices and Work One centers.

TRANSITION Further education to secondary schools regarding services available through WIOA partners is also necessary, including services available to youth through DWD. It is important to ensure that in addition to special education professionals, school guidance counselors and transition coordinators also receive the necessary information. Cross-training will be useful to also ensure that WIOA partners understand the services and supports provided through local education agencies. Discussion with schools is also needed to identify students who may not be receiving special education, but would benefit from VR services or services through DWD or other WIOA partners.

The Commission also suggested that further exploration is necessary on the provision of work experience services to students, including those working toward a High School diploma. Financial literacy and self-disclosure are also important issues for individuals with disabilities and VR is encouraged to ensure resources are in place to meet these needs. Additional suggestions regarding services to youth with disabilities included looking at best practices from a School-to-work pilot project utilizing career coaches in schools and providing work experiences prior to a student’s exit from school.

VR Response: VR continues to facilitate a Statewide Transition Workgroup and will address these recommendations with the group. VR has implemented modifications to the VR employment service model and Discovery services. One of the changes is increased access to work experiences by all VR consumers, including youth. Discussions are already underway between the VR Director and the DWD Youth program directors. Both parties are very interested in better collaboration on programs such as Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG).

VR provided an update regarding provision of pre-employment transition services at a commission meeting on February 16, 2018 through discussion of VR goals in the updated state plan.

VR STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND RETENTION The commission focused much of their input on the opportunities for hiring and retaining qualified VR staff in light of changes to the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD). Both VR Leadership and the Commission recognize that there is a severe lack of candidates in Indiana with a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation and/or a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) licensure. The commission voiced support for modifying the hiring criteria for VR Counselors in Indiana to align with the revised CSPD requirements outlined in WIOA, including the ability to hire qualified candidate who do not have an appropriate Master’s degree, but have a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area and the necessary skills and experience in working with individuals with disabilities. The commission, like VR Leadership, believes this strategy will assist with broadening the pool of qualified candidates and potentially improve job retention. The commission continues to express their concern that the starting salary of a VR Counselor in Indiana is a barrier to obtaining and retaining qualified staff. The commission also suggested a pay differential for VR Counselors who do have a Master’s degree and/or are a CRC.

The Commission relayed the importance of promoting careers in VR through outreach to area colleges and universities.

VR Response: VR appreciates the support of the outlined changes in CSPD’s personnel standard as reflected in more detail in Section (i).

VR provided updated data regarding staff retention, turnover and average caseload size at a commission meeting on February 16, 2018 in discussion regarding updates to the state plan. BRS will explore strategies to increase outreach with Indiana colleges and universities to educate students about careers in VR including sharing job openings. BRS will also explore other strategies for enhancing recruitment efforts.

VR SYSTEM MODERNIZATION The commission was provided with an update on BRS’ efforts to modernize its case management system and shared some background information on the AWARE VR case management system. Target timelines for implementation, data migration efforts, cost saving expectations for maintenance and support of the new system, and accessibility of the system were reviewed in response to the Commission’s questions. The Commission is supportive of the system modernization efforts and shared that increased efficiency and improved customer service will likely result. Plans for implementing a vendor claims payment system was also discussed with the commission as well as timelines for implementation.

VR Response: VR thanks the commission for their support of system modernization efforts and will continue to provide updates to the commission on progress toward implementation.

ORDER OF SELECTION The BRS Director met with the commission on March 10, 2017 to obtain feedback regarding the determination by the Director that Indiana must seek approval, through a state plan amendment, to implement an Order of Selection. The Director outlined the challenges faced by BRS regarding insufficient staffing and fiscal resources. The commission assisted in identifying locations for public hearings and will encourage constituents to provide comments. Further input from the commission was sought prior to submitting the state plan amendment. The BRS Director addressed additional concerns and reviewed the annual estimates and justification for the order of selection with the commission at an additional meeting on April 13, 2017. Specific concerns and questions voiced by the commission included the following:

• The commission desired to have a better understanding of what resources would be shared with individuals who would be deferred for services, and relayed that they would like to see a plan for building sufficient capacity in order to serve all eligible individuals and open all priority categories. • The commission inquired about the number of individuals served in each priority category, and the estimated length of time individuals would need to wait to receive services. • A few commission members expressed that they did not have sufficient involvement in the determination to seek approval to implement an order of selection. • Several commission members voiced their understanding of the deficit of resources, and offered their assistance in working toward building capacity.

The commission would like to collaborate with BRS to begin working toward a plan to build sufficient capacity to serve all eligible consumers, and understands that this will require several different strategies to improve recruitment and retention of staff, as well as addressing the projected fiscal deficit.

VR Response: BRS appreciates the feedback and assistance of the commission. BRS and the Commission have discussed staffing challenges for the last couple of years, and BRS has provided multiple reports on the progress of implementing various strategies to build staff capacity. Despite those efforts, BRS continues to lack sufficient resources to serve all eligible individuals. There is much work ahead of us as we work together to ensure that a unified message is relayed to consumers, families, providers, and other stakeholders. Over the next several months, the commission’s feedback will continue to be sought to identify other resources that may be shared with consumers who may not be served by VR. BRS will also continue to update the commission on identified strategies and progress toward building capacity.

An update regarding order of selection was provided at a commission meeting on February 16, 2018, including updated projections of the number of individuals who will be served in each priority category and the number of eligible individuals who will be deferred for services, as well as other updates to the annual estimates and order of selection sections of the state plan. BRS appreciates the collaboration from the Commission on efforts to identify and implement strategies to increase capacity and improve the quality of services and outcomes to eligible individuals. BRS thanks the commission for taking time to understand the current challenges of the VR program and looks forward to a continued partnership with the commission to work toward improving employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities.