Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Combined or General)

(g) Coordination with Employers. Describe how the designated State unit will work with employers to identify competitive integrated employment and career exploration opportunities in order to facilitate the provision of:

(1) VR services; and

Businesses must play a central role in the workforce system and, in coordination with its WIOA Partners, DORS continues to expand engagement with businesses to assist them with their workforce needs and provide for quality VR services and employment outcomes. Like its WIOA Partners, DORS has embraced the dual-customer model and has dedicated staff tasked with employer outreach and engagement, as well as technical assistance to VR counselors and consumers.

The DORS Business Relations Branch includes a Program Manager and seven regional Business Services Representatives. This organizational structure ensures statewide oversight, information sharing and collaboration, and a team approach to employer engagement.  The Business Relations Branch works closely with the agency’s Workforce and Technology Center (WTC) Employment Services to coordinate services to employers that enhance services and employment outcomes for consumers. WTC’s training advisory committees engage employers in specific industries to ensure training programs are in line with industry needs and standards, and WTC’s Work Readiness Programs work with community employers to develop worksites for students. Additionally, the Workforce and Technology Center’s Rehabilitation Technology Services is a key component to serving employers through its worksite services.

DORS Business Services Representatives collaborate with MD Labor and local workforce business services representatives for business outreach and quality services. The WIOA Partners and their Business Services teams agree to work together to ensure quality customer service to businesses. Through frequent communication and collaborative efforts, the WIOA Business Services Team members have developed a deeper understanding of the services each partner offers, and, after understanding a business’s needs, connections are made with appropriate team members to ensure the workforce needs are met.  Additionally, the local Business Services Teams collaborate and sponsor events beneficial to businesses, such as trainings, business summits, and job fairs.

The DORS Business Relations Branch and WTC Employment Services meet and participate in training to enhance team capacities in working with employers to expand employment and work-based learning experiences.  Employer services are documented and tracked in the Employer Module of the AWARE case management system.

These structures and collaborative activities ensure that DORS is prepared and able to effectively engage with businesses to meet their workforce needs. The activities also provide the best information on careers, business needs, labor market information, and opportunities to jobseekers so that they can make informed choices on their employment goals and access programs and services that lead to successful outcomes.       

(1) DORS will build relationships with businesses that result in improved career development and competitive-integrated employment outcomes for consumers through the following activities:

• Promoting and marketing the employment of persons with disabilities by networking and developing active partnerships with businesses and business-related organizations, such as Chambers of Commerce, Society of Human Resource Managers, Business Leadership Networks, WIOA Partners in the AJCs, MD Labor, State and Local Boards, and state and local economic development offices. Regional Business Services Representatives will be visible and available to area businesses and will serve as a single-point-of-contact, leading to improved business relations and access
• Training and technical assistance to employers and WIOA Partners to promote the awareness of the skills and benefits that people with disabilities can bring to their workforce. Types of training include: information on DORS services and training programs, disability awareness, requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and federal contractor compliance with Section 503. Group training opportunities for businesses will be offered, as well as individual consultation and need-driven training for specific employers
• Providing consultation on and support to remove disability-related obstacles to employment and the provision of reasonable accommodations for recruitment, work-based learning activities, and on-boarding and retention of employees, including assistive technology and worksite assessments.  Business Services Representatives will serve as points of contact for businesses needing guidance, and the Workforce and Technology Center Rehabilitation Technology Services unit will provide specific and applicable worksite services for consumers and employers
• Providing information and resources on hiring incentives, including tax credits and OJT wage reimbursements. Business Services Representatives will provide technical assistance to businesses in completing any required forms to access incentives
• Facilitating and coordinating recruitment activities for business partners who are interested in hiring DORS consumers, including advertisement, pre-screening, and interview preparation of consumer applicants, providing interview venues, referrals and follow-up.  Job openings and recruitment activities will be shared via email with counselors, consumers, and Community Rehabilitation Programs, and recruitment services will be tracked in the AWARE Employer module
• Collaborating with WIOA Partners, including MD Labor and local business services representatives and economic development partners to leverage business contacts, share resources and expertise, and coordinate services that are beneficial to businesses and promote the employment of individuals with disabilities;
• Coordinating with the WIOA Business Services Team and AJCs in recruitment events and job fairs, including recruiting businesses and facilitating the inclusion of DORS consumers in the talent pool
• Engaging with businesses interested in hiring people with disabilities through VR National Employment Team (NET) connections and activities. This includes NET conference calls, webinars and events with business partners and facilitating the inclusion of Maryland consumers in the national Talent Acquisition Portal
• Partnering with Community Rehabilitation Programs to facilitate communication and collaboration among business services representatives and employment specialists in sharing business contacts, job openings, and strategies on job placement for consumers; this includes expansion of regional job developer alliance groups
• Providing business and industry-specific career information. training sessions, and tours for consumers and counselors
• Developing and monitoring of work-based learning and resume-building opportunities, such as internships, job shadowing, disability employment awareness month activities, volunteering and OJT, including expanding programs already in place, such as the Governor’s QUEST Internship Program, and federal agency VR internship programs
• Promoting the federal Workforce Recruitment Program to businesses and consumers
• Engaging businesses in Training Program Advisory Committees at WTC to ensure training programs meet business and industry needs and standards and to facilitate work-based learning and employment opportunities, including apprenticeships
• Coordinating with businesses to develop community worksites for students in Workforce and Technology Center’s Work Readiness 2 Program.  Students spend a portion of their day during the six-week program at a business worksite learning and performing job tasks
• Developing customized and business-driven training programs for DORS consumers
• Leading and participating with MD Labor, workforce partners, and businesses in the Maryland Apprenticeship Think Tank to expand apprenticeship opportunities for individuals with disabilities
• Developing Apprenticeship Exploration activities and Pre-Apprenticeship programs at WTC and with partners to education and prepare DORS consumers for careers through apprenticeship
• Providing Apprenticeship Navigation services for consumers; the WTC Apprenticeship Navigator will work with MD Labor’s Apprenticeship and Training Program staff and businesses to help consumers along the path to an apprenticeship
• Collaborating with strategic partners, such as the Maryland Department of Disabilities, colleges and universities, and federal, state and local governments to connect employers and consumers
• Supporting and promoting state industry-led workforce training initiatives of the WIOA system, such as apprenticeship programs and Maryland’s EARN program to DORS consumers
• Connecting DORS consumers with businesses and employment opportunities through the MWE.

DORS Business Services Representatives will provide technical assistance to both counselors and consumers related to job readiness, career information, labor market analysis, and real-time and projected employment opportunities gleaned through active engagement with businesses, business-related organizations, and WIOA Partners.