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. 5. If applicable, plans for establishing, developing, or improving community rehabilitation programs within the State
Current Narrative:
Improving Community Rehabilitation Programs
VR assesses its business processes and organizational capacity on an ongoing basis to make consistent improvements. Results of the FFY 2018-19 Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment CSNA) indicate a need to develop service providers in the rural areas of the state, particularly providers for supported and customized employment, as well as providers that are skilled in working with individuals with the most significant disabilities. The CSNA also identified a need to develop providers that can sign and have experience working with Deaf individuals.
VR has increased its number of registered CRPs from 154 in 2017 to 342, as of January 2020. Each new provider went through stringent vetting, including background screening, and attended mandatory onboarding before being approved to deliver services. VR’s Bureau of Vendor and Contracted Services continues to engage service providers on a quarterly basis through face-to-face meetings, area wide provider trainings and Provider Engagement Conference Calls.
Recognizing the need to develop a service delivery model that would allow the flexibility and creativity necessary to better serve our customers, a cross functional team of VR staff worked together to develop a new service delivery model and rate structure. This new structure incentivizes better outcomes, such as higher pay; allows for payment sooner in the process; incorporates Individual Placement Services (IPS); and creates distinct Pre-Employment Transition Services benchmarks. The new model has been shared with stakeholders, including all current service providers. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
VR is also in the process of developing an e-referral system that will allow service providers to receive referrals and bill for services electronically. The new system will replace multiple standalone systems, thereby streamlining the process and relieving some of the undue administrative burden currently felt by our providers. VR is targeting October 1, 2020 for full implementation of both the new service delivery model and the new e-referral system.