Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

The CDOR Supported Employment Program provides Supported Employment services for individuals with the most significant disabilities, including youth with the most significant disabilities, to enable them to work toward and achieve an employment outcome of supported employment in competitive integrated employment. These services support opportunities for competitive integrated employment (including customized employment, as available) that is individualized, and customized, consistent with the unique strengths, abilities, interests, and informed choice of the individual, including with ongoing support services for individuals with the most significant disabilities.

The CDOR conducts the following activities with funds allotted for its Supported Employment Program:

• Provides supported employment services.
• Coordinates CDOR planned services, and accommodations and supports, with other program plans, such as the Individualized Education Program (transition services) and Individual Program Plan (developmental services).
• Leverages other public and private funds to increase resources for extended services and expand supported employment opportunities.

The CDOR reserves and expends 50 percent of its allotment for the provision of supported employment services, including extended services, to youth with the most significant disabilities (34 CFR 363.22).

The following information outlines how CDOR monitors the quality of the services consumers receive, scope of services provided, extent of supported employment services, and timing of transition to extended services. Additional information on extended services for supported employment is identified in the response for Description (f) – Arrangements and Cooperative Agreements for the Provision of Supported Employment Services.

Quality of Supported Employment Services

The CDOR provides ongoing services from the point of job placement until transition to extended services. Such services are mostly provided to consumers by Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) and partner agencies. In areas where CRPs are not available, or an individual has needs beyond those that can be met by a CRP, CDOR may authorize approved individual service providers to provide job coaching services.

CRPs providing supported employment services follow guidelines provided by CDOR’s Community Resources Development Section and the California Welfare & Institutions Code. CDOR guidelines include submitting timely reports to VR Counselors as well as providing efficient services to consumers. Community Resources Development Specialists who are regional DOR staff additionally assist local CDOR districts and CRPs with technical assistance and identify training needs to support system alignment. Community Resources Development Specialists additionally review Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities accreditation of CRPs and conduct ongoing assessment and evaluation of consumer services.

Locally, each district has nominated two district Supported Employment liaisons to assist in sharing information and training district staff.

Scope of Supported Employment Services

The VR process for assessment for determining eligibility and priority category, and development of an Individualized Plan for Employment, including supported employment, is the same used for all consumers when establishing eligibility and an eligible individual’s Priority Category, when CDOR is under an Order of Selection. The difference applies once the consumer and VR Counselor have identified supported employment services are required to reach a competitive integrated employment outcome. VR services for a consumer begins with a comprehensive assessment to identify strengths for employment, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

CDOR provides the full scope of supported employment services to individuals who:

• Are determined eligible with the most significant disabilities;
• Have not achieved competitive integrated employment, or it has been interrupted or intermittent;
• Require intensive supported employment services and extended services to maintain employment; and
• Have a reasonable expectation that a source of extended services will be available at the time of transition to extended services.

Plan Development activities typically include but are not limited to the following:

• A general meeting to review the supported employment job placement parameters used in developing a plan for competitive integrated employment.
• A review of school transition services including CDOR pre-employment transition services, or other pre-vocational foundational skill development or adult work experience provided by developmental services or other agencies prior to an individual beginning CDOR supported employment services.
• An evaluation of labor market and identification of suitable employment sites; employer contacts; job seeking skills training; work site assessment; task analysis; evaluation and recommendation for a job coaching plan.
• If necessary, situational assessments to assess the consumer’s interests and abilities and allow the individual to consider different jobs, environments, settings, and tasks to maximize his or her potential. Situational assessments are also used to determine the techniques best suited to assist the consumer to learn the work skills and behaviors necessary for employment.

Supported employment services begin at the point of placement and may include but are not limited to the following:

• Job coaching support services in an individual’s placement if supports are needed to maintain the consumer’s employment, including training, destination training, advocacy, and job loss intervention.
• As needed, coordinated benefits planning discussions with the consumer, CDOR Work Incentive Planners, and other third parties to identify appropriate work incentive programs as well as potential sources for ongoing support.
• Discrete post–employment services, if needed to support and maintain employment and are not available through extended services.
• As appropriate, career counseling and information and referral on opportunities for competitive integrated employment.

Extent of Supported Employment Services

Supported employment services are ongoing support services needed to support and maintain an individual with a most significant disability, including youth. Supported employment services are:

• Organized and made available, singly or in combination, in such a way as to assist an eligible individual to achieve competitive integrated employment;
• Based on a determination of the needs of an eligible individual, as specified in an Individualized Plan for Employment;
• Provided by CDOR for a period of time not to exceed 24 months, unless under special circumstances the eligible individual and the VR Counselor jointly agree to extend the time to achieve the employment outcome identified in the Individualized Plan for Employment; and
• Following transition, as post–employment services that are unavailable from an extended services provider and that are necessary to maintain or regain the job placement or advance in employment.

Use of the Required 50% Reserve of Supported Employment Funds to Provide Extended Services to Youth with the Most Significant Disabilities

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Welfare. & Institutions. Code, § 4500 et seq.) funding is a primary source of extended services for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities in California. Per Title 29, USC section 795h, CDOR will use the 50 percent reserve of supported employment funds for supported employment services for youth with the most significant disabilities. When these funds are exhausted, CDOR will utilize Title I funds as necessary to meet the needs of consumers eligible for Supported Employment services.