Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

CDOR developed measurable objectives to support CDOR’s achievement of the Priorities and Goals identified in the response for Description (l) – State Goals and Priorities. These program goals and objectives represent CDOR’s approach to increasing the quality and quantity of employment outcomes for all individuals with disabilities, including those with significant barriers to employment, and services to businesses. Actions (referred to as “Strategies”) to achieve the priorities, goals and objectives, consistent with the comprehensive statewide assessment, are identified below.

Priority: Increasing the Quality & Quantity of Employment Outcomes

Goal 1: Provide effective VR services with quality IPE developments consistent with workforce needs that lead to a career track with upward mobility offering sustainable living wages.

Objectives:

• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of consumers that attain credentials by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on the number of consumers that attain credentials in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of consumers that achieve measurable skills gains by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on the number of consumers that achieve measurable skills gains in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

• From July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase consumer wages at case closure by 40 percent from the baseline (an average of 10 percent each year). The baseline will be based on average hourly wages for consumers in program year July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.

Strategies:

• Identify accessible tools for career exploration and apply true labor market information (LMI) to guide IPE development and planning.
• Develop an inclusive vocational assessment process for staff to utilize toward developing IPEs.
• Identify and provide enhanced or expanded supports to remove employment barriers at the beginning of IPE development and throughout planning.

Goal 2: Develop innovative approaches to support an increase in obtaining and sustaining employment for all consumers including those with the most significant barriers to employment.

Objectives:

• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of consumers in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after program exit by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on the number of consumers in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after program exit in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of consumers in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after program exit by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on the number of consumers in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after program exit in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
   

Strategies:

• Utilize technology improvements, innovative and new practices, and streamlined processes that support effective caseload management and enhance positive customer experiences.
• Identify workforce trends by applying labor market information and establish partnerships with businesses, career technical education (CTE) and apprenticeship programs, and other resources and supports to prepare individuals with disabilities for employment.
• Partner with local education agencies, post-secondary education and training programs, state and county-level programs and services, and community-based organizations to facilitate and develop wraparound supports that can help consumers maintain successful employment.

Goal 3: Improve systems alignment, coordination, and integration with partners to create a pathway toward successful employment outcomes for Californians with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, with priorities focusing on  individuals with behavioral health disabilities (BH), students with disabilities, transition-age foster youth with disabilities, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD), and justice involved individuals with disabilities.

Objectives:

• From July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will decrease the number of cases closed other than successfully employed by 12 percent from the baseline (an average of 3 percent each year) for consumers who have BH disabilities. The baseline year will be based on case closure rates in program year July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.
• From July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of eligible and potentially eligible students with disabilities that receive work-based learning experiences by 20 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline will be based on the number of students with disabilities that received work-based learning experiences in program year July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.
• From July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will decrease the number of cases closed other than successfully employed by 12 percent from the baseline (an average of 3 percent each year) for consumers who are transition age foster youth. The baseline year will be based on case closure rates in program year July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.
• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of individuals with disabilities who leave subminimum wage (SMW) employment and apply for CDOR services to explore competitive integrated employment by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on the number of individuals with disabilities that choose to leave SMW employment and apply for CDOR services to explore competitive integrated employment in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of individuals with disabilities who choose to leave SMW employment and achieve competitive integrated employment at CDOR by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on the number of individuals with disabilities who choose to leave SMW employment and achieve competitive integrated employment at CDOR in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
• From July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will decrease the number of cases closed other than successfully employed by 12 percent from the baseline (an average of 3 percent each year) for justice involved consumers. The baseline year will be based on case closure rates for the program year July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.

Strategies

• Partner with state, county and local-level partners to leverage resources that provide person-centered and whole-person wraparound services to bridge service gaps identified in the CSA.
• Partner with the AJCC’s and Adult Education Title II, CDE to support program access for all individuals with disabilities, including individuals with disabilities who have behavioral health disabilities, students, transition-age foster youth, individuals with ID/DD, and justice involved.
• Launch the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model or other new innovative projects in counties throughout the State.
• Complete Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) or Interagency Agreements (IAs) with county and local BH programs to build and sustain effective collaboration.
• Complete MOUs or IAs with California’s educational system at the local level to continue to build, expand, and sustain effective collaboration with educational partners.
• Engage with local county partners as they develop System of Care for Children and Youth MOUs with systems serving transition age foster youth, as required by Assembly Bill 2083 (Cooley, Statutes of 2018, Chapter 815) to build and sustain effective collaboration for transition-age foster youth.
• Expand partnerships that support competitive integrated employment with the California Developmental Disabilities System (California Department of Developmental Services, Regional Centers, Association of Regional Center Agencies, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service).
• Complete partnerships with systems serving justice involved individuals with disabilities, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Corrections-Workforce Partnership, and the California Prison Industry Authority, to support the successful transition from prison to employment for individuals with disabilities.  

Priority: Services to Businesses

Goal 1: Meet business talent needs by preparing consumers for in-demand jobs using local and regional labor market information.

Objectives:

• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of consumers that obtain apprenticeships by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on the number of consumers that obtain apprenticeships in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of consumers that obtain paid work experience by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on number of consumers that obtain paid work experience in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.
• From July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of consumers that are co-enrolled in AJCCs by 15 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on number of consumers that are co-enrolled in AJCCs in program year July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021.

Strategies:

• Engage the workforce development system and the business community via effective outreach, relationship and partnership building. Maintain regular CDOR participation at each of the 14 Regional Planning Units and on each local workforce development board.
• Explore and inform DOR counselors and consumers of local opportunities to obtain non-degree credentials, including certificates, industry certifications, apprenticeship certificates, and occupational licenses with CTE, workforce, and businesses to build an inclusive and skilled future workforce.

• Emphasize and support increased earn-and-learn opportunities for consumers including on-the-job training (OJT), paid work experiences, internships, and apprenticeships with businesses. 
• Identify and provide early interventions to address potential employment barriers, such as providing work incentive planning support, workplace readiness training, self-advocacy training and work-based learning opportunities

Goal 2: Build a direct pathway between employers and workers with disabilities including developing innovative ways to engage businesses. 

Objectives:

• From July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will increase the number of business relationships by 20 percent from the baseline (an average of 5 percent each year). The baseline year will be based on business relationships established in program year July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. Service to a business is when CDOR successfully employs a consumer at a new business.
• From July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2024, CDOR will provide at least 60 disability access, disability accommodations, or disability awareness trainings to businesses throughout the state.

Strategies:

• Each Regional Director or Regional Business Specialist will meet with local business leaders from identified in-demand sectors, as determined by their local Regional Planning Unit, to develop working partnerships or establish initiatives that support hiring and/or recruitment of individuals with disabilities.
• Access and utilize LMI, including, but not limited to, CalJOBS, World of Work Inventory, The Career Index Plus, Career Zone, and Careerinfo.net, to inform plans that help businesses meet their recruitment and talent needs.
• Inform business partners on hiring incentives and resources (e.g. Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Talent Acquisition Portal, Disability Awareness training, the Assistive Technology network, and CDOR Business Based Services) to support businesses employing, supporting, retaining and promoting qualified talent with disabilities.