Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan [13] must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA:
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[13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA
j. 2. Identify the need to establish, develop, or improve community rehabilitation programs within the State; and
Current Narrative:
BRS entered into contracts with 47 VR Employment Service Providers for Establishment projects in April 2017 to improve capacity for the provision of quality employment services, including supported employment. The objective of the project was to enhance employment service provider staffing capacity and training, with an emphasis on foundational, hands-on skills training. The contract period for Establishment projects ran for a four-year period, ending March 2021.
During the four-year project, community rehabilitation programs encountered substantial changes and challenges which required internal modifications and innovative thinking, in order to continue to improve staff capacity and training, to ensure timely and quality employment services were provided to VR participants, including supported employment services. Of particular note was the implementation of an order of selection for Indiana VR in August 2017 which shifted the population served in VR, and the COVID-19 pandemic starting in March 2020.
Data from the four-year Establishment projects has been reviewed and, in light of the above changes mentioned, overall findings include the following:
| Performance Metric | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Decrease in the average number of days to initiate new VR referrals | On average, the number of business days to initiate face-to-face services upon receipt of initial referral decreased and met the required performance metric each year. |
| Increase in the number of Individuals receiving supported employment or on-the-job supports, short-term, per person | There was a substantial increase in the number of individuals receiving supported employment or on-the-job supports, short-term, compared to the initial reported statewide baseline. The overall data shows that community rehabilitation programs devoted more time in provision of supported employment services to assist VR participants with achieving stabilization and successful job retention. |
| Increase in the average number of hours spent on supported employment or on-the-job supports, short-term, per person | There was an increase in the average amount or duration of supported employment or on-the-job supports received by participants, with a slight decrease in years 3 and 4. The average for year 3 was still in line with previous years; however, the drop in year 4 is likely associated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact this had on participants. |
| Increase in the number of placements in competitive integrated employment | There was an initial increase in the number of placements in competitive integrated employment, with a drop in years 3 and 4. However, the statewide average held steady other than a decrease in year 4, which is likely associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Increase in the number of individuals who retained employment at least 90 days following stabilization | There was an increase in the number of individuals who retained employment at least 90 days following stabilization, with a drop in years 3 and 4. The average remained steady, with a drop in year 4, which is likely associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Increase in the average number of hours worked per week for individuals in competitive, integrated employment | The average number of hours worked per week for individuals in competitive, integrated employment remained constant throughout the Establishment project period. |
| Increase in the average pay for individuals in competitive integrated employment | The average pay for individuals in competitive integrated employment continued to increase throughout the Establishment Project period. Comparing the reported statewide average baseline data to end-of-year four data showed an overall 27% increase. |
VR is exploring other targeted needs related to the establishment, development or improvement of CRPs, which may include increasing capacity and skills needed to successfully serve VR participants with mental health conditions or VR participants who are working to transition from sub-minimum wage employment to competitive, integrated employment. The needs for these populations or others will be further explored in 2022.