Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

The State of Delaware, Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Social Services was awarded a federal grant through SNAP, USDA (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to address the barriers to employment in a comprehensive approach to meeting the needs of consumers with wrap around services. DVR was invited to partner to strategically address the needs of participants as it relates to eliminating or reducing the impact of a criminal history on securing employment through the expansion of the Advancement through Pardon and Expungement (APEX) program services. The criminal background barriers to employment to be addressed via the APEX program include supporting consumers towards either expungement or pardoning of charges. The APEX program was signed into agreement in 2012 and serves all Delawareans in the pursuit of expungement and/or pardon as a barrier reduction. Criminal backgrounds continue to be a legitimate barrier to employment for anyone seeking employment, and disproportionately so for people with disabilities. In a 50/50 partnership with the Division of Social Services (DSS), DVR manages three employees who serve DSS and DVR consumers statewide. In 2016 a MOU has been crafted and signed between DSS and DVR to support administrative filing consumer costs up to $250 per. DVR initiated a collaborative effort to engage Department of Agriculture in 2016 and developed aspirational goals of DVR and DOA to engage farmers in Delaware as follows: • Engage Farm Credit Bureau to more fully meet the needs of Farmers with respect to access of social and financial services. • In partnership with the Farm Credit Bureau assist in the development of a resource directory for social services included, but not limited to, substance abuse/mental health and family counseling and Veteran’s Administration (VA) resources, other financial services via the USDA grants, State, and philanthropic grant opportunities; and encourage University of Delaware cooperative extension office resources and expertise to enhance the Agriculture Industry in Delaware. DVR remains committed to this collaboration and will re-initiate dialogue with Department of Agriculture and seek out the Farm Credit Bureau to determine action plan. The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) and DVR have a seamless continuum of service delivery of SE client from DVR to DDDS for follow-up and DVR requires SE providers be approved DDDS providers and in compliance with annual training requirement per DDDS via Medicaid. SE clients have access to barrier reduction services e.g. APEX and assistive technology, e.g. Empowerability —contracted service provider in addition to Independent Living and Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities resources where applicable. DVR began providing Pre-Employment Transition Services with summer programs in 2015. Since that time, the program has expanded to work-based programs in every county, including programs during the school year. This is in collaboration with Department of Education, the Division of Services for Children, Youth, and Families and community based partners through RFP awards. Project Search, implemented on or about 2012 as a pilot, has expanded to the all three counties.