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
- o. State's Strategies
Describe the required strategies and how the agency will use these strategies to achieve its goals and priorities, support innovation and expansion activities, and overcome any barriers to accessing the VR and the Supported Employment programs (See sections 101(a)(15)(D) and (18)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act and section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)):
- o. State's Strategies
o. 6. Strategies to improve the performance of the State with respect to the performance accountability measures under section 116 of WIOA
Current Narrative:
VR is reporting employer engagement data through DWD’s INGage system, and continues to engage in communication with DWD regarding strategies for further improvement of the collection of this data in line with new performance accountability measures. BRS’ MOU with DWD regarding data exchange, specifically wage data and other data necessary for federal reporting, has been updated. As a result, VR receives UI wage information for VR participants who have achieved employment and is reporting this data through quarterly RSA-911 reporting. Substantial modifications to the VR case management system were implemented to accurately capture all new federal reporting requirements, including post-exit data collection, and BRS has provided training to field staff regarding collection of expanded data elements. In 2020, VR provided enhanced training to staff to improve data collection on measurable skills gains and postsecondary credential attainment. VR’s negotiated measure of performance for Measurable skill gains is 20% for PY20 and 21% for PY21. Since establishing these measures, VR has made great strides in improving MSG performance, achieving 64.2% MSG for PY20. VR’s expected levels of performance for common performance indicators for PY22 and PY23 are as follows:
| Program Year: 2022 | Program Year: 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expected Level | Negotiated Level | Expected Level | Negotiated Level | |
| Employment (Second Quarter after Exit) 22 | 46% | 47% | ||
| Employment (Fourth Quarter after Exit) 22 | 44% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (Second Quarter after Exit | $2900 | $3000 | ||
| Credential Attainment Rate | 15% | 15% | ||
| Measurable Skill Gains | 50% | 50% |
VR is poised to see improved performance on performance indicators in the coming years due to the strategies outlined above. VR will also be providing targeted training to VR staff in 2022 on career pathways, implementing strategies to improve employment service provider capacity, reviewing staff performance metrics, and revisiting employer engagement efforts to identify opportunities for enhancement.