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Indiana PYs 2020-2023

Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

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:

    __________

    [13] Sec. 102(b)(2)(D)(iii) of WIOA

    • h. Interagency Cooperation

      Describe how the designated State unit will collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering each of the following programs to develop opportunities for competitive integrated employment, to the greatest extent practicable:

h. 3. The State agency responsible for providing mental health services.

Current Narrative:

VR enhanced its partnership with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) in 2019 through co-leading a workgroup aimed at improving employment services and outcomes to individuals with mental health disabilities. DMHA and VR also jointly submitted and were subsequently awarded 300 training and technical assistance hours through the Visionary Opportunities to Increase Competitive Employment (VOICE) project. 

The majority of community mental health centers across the state have employment service provider agreements with VR for the provision of placement services including supported employment. Additionally, stakeholder members from these centers participate in the VR employment advisory workgroup which resulted in the roll-out of substantial modifications to the VR employment service model. These revisions were designed to better serve participants including those with the most significant disabilities and the highest support needs. Several revisions were made to the new draft model based on feedback from these workgroup members to ensure the new model is effective in serving all individuals. VR Leadership meets quarterly with CMHCs from around the state to provide updates on VR initiatives and address questions and concerns.

A representative from DMHA was appointed to the VR Commission in FFY18 and remains an active participant on the commission.