Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

DVR continues to work with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDDS) and the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) to maintain good inter-agency relationships. DVR, DDDS and DSAMH have Memorandums of Understanding to address program integration, shared staff and employer training, customized employment, the overall shared serving of our mutual consumers and post-employment follow along services. The collaborative efforts with DDDS and DSAMH have enhanced integrated competitive employment and wrap around support services for persons with significant mental illness and cognitive disabilities statewide. The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) and DVR have a seamless continuum of service delivery of for supported employment clients from DVR to DDDS for follow-up and extended services and supports. DVR requires supported employment providers be approved DDDS providers and in compliance with annual training requirement per DDDS via Medicaid. On a semi-annual basis, staff training is provided through a Supported Customized Employment Bootcamp program that trains DVR supported employment staff, along with representatives from DDDS, DSAMH, the Department of Education, LEAs including individuals from the school districts, charter schools and community rehabilitation providers. This program is jointly funded by DVR, DDDS and DOE and offers training on effective supported employment and business engagement processes. This training facilitates skill building, networking and cross-agency understanding and collaboration to better serve our mutual consumers and local businesses. The cooperative agreement specifies which agency is responsible throughout the supported employment process with DVR responsible through employment stabilization. DVR provides funding to the SE provider for 1.) discovery and community-based work assessments, 2.) job placement, 3.) stabilization/closure. DVR pays the 3rd and final milestone once the individual has achieved 90 days of employment and continues to monitor the individual for an additional 60 days (150 total). Once DVR pays the final milestone at 90 days of employment, DDDS, through a community provider, assumes responsibility for the long-term follow-along extended services. The Early Start to Supported Employment Model provides Supported Employment Services to students with developmental disabilities transitioning from school to work. The model has been refined since its inception in 2005, adding Customized Employment principles and working with providers to begin services earlier, in the year prior to the student’s exiting year. The Department of Education, the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation have updated their cooperative agreements to reflect newly implemented effective practices The Project SEARCH model was first implemented in Delaware several years ago through collaboration with Red Clay School District, the Delaware Department of Education, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Christiana Care Health Services. The project provides employment services to people students, many of whom are eligible for long term support services through the Division for Developmental Disability Services. DDDS provides long term supports to eligible consumers who received job training and placement through project SEARCH. Project Search currently has a site in all 3 counties in Delaware.