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
- 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. Interagency Cooperation
h. 2. The State agency responsible for providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities; and
Current Narrative:
DVR has an interagency agreement with Health Care Policy and Financing, Office of Community Living. The agreement will be updated and renewed by July 1, 2020. The agreement formalizes the ways in which DVR and the Office of Community Living (OCL) continue to work in collaboration to effectively plan and coordinate the provision of supported employment services to individuals with the most significant intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) by community services agencies and DVR to avoid duplication of services thereby, maximizing available resources. As a result of this collaboration, much has been achieved in making community-based, integrated employment available for persons with I/DD.
Within this collaborative relationship, DVR is responsible for the provision of supported employment services including, but not limited to, job development and job coaching, before transitioning to the Medicaid waiver funding for extended services. However, in most cases, providers are approved by both OCL and DVR to provide supported employment services, allowing the individual to remain with the same service provider if they choose ensuring continuity of services and minimizing disruption to the individual’s employment.
Supported employment services are purchased in accordance with DVR’s fee schedule and service providers must meet DVR’s established provider standards. Both OCL and DVR are implementing legislation requiring that all supported employment service providers obtain nationally recognized training or national recognized certification by July 1, 2024. Systems have been designed to encourage local level development of supported employment strategies between all DVR field offices and OCL supported employment service providers.
Colorado is a member of the State Employment Leadership Network (SELN), through the OCL. SELN brings together state Developmental Disability agencies for sharing, educating and providing guidance on practices and policies around employment to its members. DVR collaborates with OCL on activities with SELN, allowing both partners to benefit from this membership. As Colorado continues to implement Employment First, these conversations have helped to guide potential rule and policy changes within HCPF to allow for better alignment of supported employment and customized employment services between the two agencies, including the definition of competitive integrated employment.
DVR partners with OCL to hold periodic regional roundtables to create opportunities for discussion about issues faced by persons with I/DD seeking competitive integrated employment. DVR staff, vendors, family members and Community Centered Board provider staff generally participate. These roundtable meetings include presentations by DVR and OCL staff as well as small group discussion on relevant topics such as extended support services, individual supported employment, and line-of-sight supervision.
There are twenty Community Center Boards (CCBs) in the State of Colorado. CCBs are organizations designated in statute as the single entry point into the long-term service and support system for persons with I/DD. DVR continues to have lead counselors who work specifically with individuals with I/DD to help more effectively coordinate and provide quality services. These counselors provide training, guidance, and support to all counselors in their region, establishing standards of practice with the local CCBs. In addition, these staff are the subject matter expert and liaison between the CCB and the local DVR office as well as various community partners, vendors, and independent contractors. The lead counselors also work as a team in conjunction with DVR administration staff to identify emerging trends and issues, develop new and/or unique services in the community as necessary, and evaluate existing programs for persons with I/DD.