Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

Requested Revision — Description (n), Goals and Plans for Distribution of title VI Funds, of the Vocational Rehabilitation portion of the Plan does not include all required information pursuant to section 603 of the Rehabilitation Act. There are no goals or priorities specified. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) funds supported employment services for consumers under Title VI, Part B of the Rehabilitation Act and allocates all funds for services. Program Funds are used to purchase supported employment assessments and services from the community rehabilitation programs under a Purchase of Services Agreement with DVR. In order to provide supported employment for all consumers who require services, Title I funds are used to supplement the Title VI, Part B allocation. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has a long standing partnership with the DE Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) in regard to providing supported employment (SE) services. Individuals with intellectual disabilities who need long term supports in order to obtain and maintain employment are referred to DVR and DDDS. The individual works with a community rehabilitation provider (CRP) of their choice to begin community—based supported employment assessments to identify a vocational goal and the necessary supports to be successful in employment. The CRP assists the individual with job placement and coaching for a total of 90 days or until the individual is stable on the job. At that time, DVR pays the CRP the final milestone payment at which time DDDS provides funding to the CRP for the long term supports in order for the individual to remain on the job. DVR will continue to monitor the case for an additional 60 days (150 total) once the individual enters inter extended services through DDDS; however, no additional funding is provided by DVR. For individuals not eligible for DDDS services, but needing long term supports in order to be successful on a job, DVR assists the individual to identify other sources of long term funding or natural supports on the job. Although Delaware has a strong SE program in place with excellent partnerships with the Department of Education (DOE), DDDS, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and DVR, there are still many students who are potentially eligible for SE services who are not being referred. Each year the DOE identifies the number of students statewide who are enrolled in school and have a disability typically meeting the criteria for DDDS services and/or requiring SE services in order to obtain and maintain employment. There are a variety of factors which influence the referral process for students, including school staff not believing a student can work (low expectations, lack of understanding of adult services and supports available, etc.), families not supporting employment as a goal for their chiId (safety concerns, fear of losing benefits, lack of understanding of adult services and Supported Employment, low expectations etc.), students not choosing employment (limited or lack of exposure to career options, limited understanding of disability and support needs, lack of training in self-advocacy, etc.), and lack of CRP experience to provide SE services to individuals with the most significant disabilities (lack of training and/or experience). Goals and priorities for supported employment (SE) services include: • expanding the reach of SE services to more students prior to them exiting from high school by providing more outreach to schools, students and families • connecting students to adult services while still in school, thereby eliminating gaps in services, • providing students opportunities to participate in assessments and career exploration activities • increasing student understanding and preparation for work and the chance of becoming employed right out of high school and providing them access to a team of professionals all working towards the same goal. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) jointly administer an Evidence—Based Supported Employment Program to individuals with mental illness. This supported employment program has struggled since DE transitioned their services to an ACT model, however leadership at both agencies continue to see it as a priority, and effort has been focused on identifying and training the staff on the ACT teams to provide the supported employment supports. As staff is learning the new model of providing services, supported employment supports have been difficult for them to incorporate into other responsibilities and many staff members are not trained on providing employment supports. Due to this transition, DVR has developed an agreement with additional service providers to ensure job development, placement, and supports are provided to individuals with mental illness who qualify for supported employment services. The DVR and DSAMH have also collaborated efforts and funds to assist providers in hiring employment staff who will assist the ACT teams in doing job development and placement for individuals with mental health disabilities. The DVR Transition Coordinator provides technical assistance and administrative support for the supported employment program for individuals with DD/ID and the DVR Deputy Director oversees supported employment for individuals with mental health disabilities.