Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

IDVR is trending toward a ratio of minority service rate to non-minority service rate of 1.00. Significant gains in service outreach, an emphasis on accurate coding of race and ethnicity status, and Pre-ETS expansion and outreach have raised the current (PY 2018) ratio to .961, up from .924 in PY 2017. Current estimates indicate a slight regression in this rate for PY 2019.

The identification and service estimates for minority populations in Idaho are derived from contrasting population estimates with internal agency data on applicants and plans developed for each minority population.

The Hispanic population is by far Idaho’s largest minority group at 12.7 percent (2018 ACS Demographic and Housing 1-Year Estimate) and represents 9.1 percent of applicants and 8.6 percent of plans served by the Division in PY 2018 to date. This is contrast with the corresponding figures of a 12.0 percent population estimate and a 10.5 percent of applications in PY 2016.  Additionally, over 16 percent of plans two years ago served individuals with Hispanic ethnicity. The Division is aware of the increasing gap in both applications and plans and has included an initiative in this plan to explore/expand Spanish language options for customers across Idaho.

Further analysis of outreach and service delivery by race is confounded by substantial error margins present in the ACS estimates due to low populations in remaining categories: While the error margin presented for White alone in Idaho is around one-half of one percent, the error present in each of the remaining categories is substantial, ranging from 9.6 percent for Asian alone, and 52.5 percent for Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone.  In other words, the margin of error for all racial minority categories could place any of these categories in over or underserved status. Disregarding this limitation, outreach efforts as illustrated by applicants suggest all racial minority categories are being overserved with the exception of ‘Asian alone’ which has a population estimate of 1.5 percent and an application rate in PY 2018 of 1.1 percent.

Idaho’s demographics are changing, and Idaho was the fastest growing state relative to population in the United States in 2017, experiencing 2.2% annual growth. Idaho is a major state for resettlement and has experienced a significant influx of refugees in Regions 3, 4, 7 and 8. In order to best understand the needs of this population, IDVR conducts joint staff training in conjunction with the Agency for New American’s. IDVR works maintains regular contact and outreach with staff at the International Rescue Committee refugee organization and all three resettlement agencies in the Treasure Valley and Magic Valley regions. The Division maintains contact with Family Medicine, a medical provider to newly arrived refugees in the in these regions to coordinate referrals.

Additionally, IDVR conducts ongoing outreach activities to meet the needs of the Spanish speaking population statewide. A number of these individuals engage in migrant seasonal farm work. The Division works collaboratively with IDOL, the Community Council of Idaho (a rural-centered, nonprofit serving Latinos in Idaho, and the Idaho Division of Hispanic Affairs to identify these individuals and processes to best conduct outreach activities.

The Division conducts various outreach activities to identify and involve individuals with disabilities from underserved backgrounds. These include but are not limited to:

• Monthly participation in the Amigo Round Table hosted by the Mexican Consulate
• Working with community based mental health programs to identify leads for potential outreach
• Continuing meetings with Boise State University’s Hispanic equivalency recruiter
• Meeting with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s bilingual staff as well as ongoing meetings with DHW’s Targeted Service Coordinators to identify potential referrals
• Participation in the multi-partner Refugee Employment Networking and Training group hosted by the Idaho Department of Labor
• Collaboration with the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center for referral for refugees with disabilities needing VR services

IDVR also conducts tribal outreach, per agreement, in conjunction with 121 projects to the four tribes located in Idaho and the substantial American Indian population residing in the Treasure Valley.

IDVR has a representative on the Sho-Ban Job Fair and Hiring Event committee in partnership with Shoshone-Bannock VR, IDOL, tribal leadership and employers which connects prospective employees to employers. The last event drew 40 employers and over 500 job seekers.

IDVR has connected with the ESL coordinator at the College of Western Idaho who disseminates information to VR staff on free English language classes and training opportunities for customers.

IDVR regularly engages with qualified interpreters for a variety of languages to better serve VR clients with limited English proficiency.

Idaho currently has eight Community Rehabilitation Programs who hold 14(c) special wage certificates serving under 350 customers statewide.   IDVR has developed a Career Counseling and Information & Referral process which is delivered multiple times per year at each certificate holder sites.  As a part of obligations under 397, IDVR encourages individuals with MSD to engage with the Division if interested in Competitive Integrated Employment as a part of their informed choice.