Attachment 4.2(c): Summary of Input and Recommendations of the State Rehabilitation Council; Response of the Designated State Unit DSU; and Explanations for Rejection of Input or Recommendations
Nevada’s State Rehabilitation Council (NSRC) provides input to the Designated State Unit (DSU) in the following ways:
(1) Consistent with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended in 1998, the NSRC, in partnership with the DSU, has developed, agreed to and reviewed state goals and priorities. In Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2006, the NSRC publicly noticed the opportunity to review the proposed amendments to the State Plan. No public comment was received.
(2) In FFY 2006, the NSRC Satisfaction Survey Committee and the DSU jointly developed a Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite bids from potential providers of survey instruments to refine survey methodology. The NSRC and the DSU jointly developed an RFP to invite bids from potential providers to conduct a statewide needs assessment beginning in FFY 2007. The survey instruments analyze satisfaction with Nevada’s public vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs. The DSU and NSRC anticipate developing strategic planning in response to results in FFY 2007. The three survey instruments captured (VR) client, employer and transition student satisfaction. Major points of the FFY 2006 surveys include:
· Client satisfaction: The 2006 survey revealed that 83% of respondents would recommend the vocational rehabilitation programs to other people with disabilities looking for a job, 85% like the way other vocational rehabilitation staff treated them, 83% said they would recommend Nevada’s vocational rehabilitation services to others in need, and 81% said the counselor worked with them as an equal partner during the process.
· Employer satisfaction: Twenty-two percent of the businesses (consisting of federal and non-federal contractors) reported they hired individuals with disabilities within the past two years, while 42% of businesses with federal contracts and affirmative action requirements hired individuals with disabilities during the same time period. Fifty-one percent of all businesses interviewed had concerns about individuals with disabilities, such as not being able to meet the physical requirements necessary for their jobs, not having the required job skills, safety concerns, ability to deal with the public and licensing issues.
· Transition student satisfaction: Of those receiving vocational rehabilitation services, 88% would recommend transition services to another needing them. Eighty-two percent of the individuals received diplomas, 12% left high school, and 4% had no reply.
Attachment 4.2(c): Page 1 of 45
Nevada Rehabilitation Division
(3) Major issues discussed during meetings in FFY 2006 included:
a) State Plan Revisions Developed with the NSRC:
· The State Plan Committee significantly revised the goals and priorities to align them with the Federal and State Performance Indicators and sentiments expressed in the NSRC meetings. The State Plan goals and priorities with corresponding strategies are paraphrased below:
· Goal #1: Increase average hourly earning of individuals in competitive employment by 2%;
o Strategy: Maintain staffing levels and utilize Nevada JobConnect resources.
· Goal #2: Increase healthcare benefits from all sources for those competitively employed;
o Strategy: Create financial incentives for job developers to place clients with employers who pay benefits.
· Goal #3: Serve the same percentage of minority individuals as the percentage of minorities in the Nevada workforce;
o Strategy: Develop community awareness through outreach, management commitment in JobConnects and minority representation on the NSRC.
· Goal #4: Provide accessible and equitable services to all customers under the ADA;
o Strategy: Maintain staff levels. Management to assure accessibility in JobConnects and provide assistive technology for clients in offices.
· Goal #5: Increase employment and higher education opportunities for Transition Students by 3%;
o Strategy: Focus transition efforts through each Nevada school district and on special projects. In Southern Nevada, the DSU will work with Easter Seals of Nevada, Desert Regional Center, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children and the Blind Children’s Foundation. In Northern Nevada, the DSU will work with the Sierra Regional Center and Washoe ARC. In Rural Nevada, the DSU will work with the Rural Regional Center and Ormsby ARC. The Supported Employment goal and priority with corresponding strategies for FFY 2006 are paraphrased below:
· Goal #6: Support individuals with the most severe disabilities to become taxpayers or otherwise live more independently of public support;
o Strategy: Maximize supported employment funding and provide additional services (e.g. job coaching, extended job development and follow-up).
b) The DSU revised the VR Program Services Policy and Procedures Manual (P & P Manual) in 2004. In FFY 2006 the DSU and NSRC jointly developed, implemented and accepted revisions on policies and procedures of general applicability pertaining to the provisions of vocational rehabilitation services. The NSRC received multiple presentations on the P & P Manual. The new self-employment policy and the Older Blind and Life Skills Program were topics of much interest and dialog. The NSRC provided enhancements to the P & P Manual and became more informed about vocational rehabilitation programmatic policies, practices and services.
c) The NSRC reported in the FFY 2006 Annual Report: “…a year of change, growth and maturity for the Nevada State Rehabilitation Council” citing the strategic planning process with the DSU as a cohesive “adventure,” allowing the NSRC to implement strategies collectively with the DSU. “We were able to focus on the needs of individuals with disabilities in Nevada and key issues for the State Plan. The substantive discussion also identified target areas for program enhancements such as maintaining staff levels at 95% and redesigning the needs assessment process.”
Attachment 4.2(c): Page 1 of 45
Nevada Rehabilitation Division
Attachment 4.8(b)(1)(2)(3) and (4): Cooperation and Coordination with Other Agencies and Other Entities
1. Cooperation with Agencies That Are Not in the Statewide Workforce Investment System and with Other Entities
The DSU has developed cooperative agreements with agencies external to the Workforce Investment System, which are involved in serving people with disabilities. These cooperative agreements are designed to:
· Remove barriers affecting the delivery of mutually beneficial services
· Increase the availability of resources
· Eliminate duplication of services
· Facilitate the development of programs and competencies
The cooperative agreements include the DSU’s formal agreements with the Nevada State Welfare Division (NSWD) and the Nevada Division of Mental Health and Developmental Services (MHDS). The DSU also holds a cooperative agreement with the required Section 121 Native American agency known as the Las Vegas Paiute/Moapa Band.
The cooperative agreement with NSWD facilitates the referral of welfare recipients to VR programs for completion of vocational assessments. The MHDS agreement defines the procedures for timely cross-referrals and information sharing. The agreement with MHDS also defines methods for the development of Individualized Plans for Employment (IPEs) through multi-disciplinary teams, funding of job placement and job coaching services, and the provision of extended follow-along services for people whose cases are closed with supported employment outcomes. Beyond these formal agreements, the DSU pursues cooperative efforts to extend the capacity of the DSU to reach and meet the needs of its diverse clientele.
In 2005, the Nevada State Legislature amended NRS 334.025 to place the responsibility for management and promotion of the “State Use Program” within the Rehabilitation Division. The “State Use Program” allows state and local governmental purchasing agents to bypass the bidding process to contract with “Organizations for Training and Employment of Mental or Physically Disabled Persons” for the purchase of commodities and/or services. Nevada refers to these organizations as Community Training Centers. Presently, nine Community Training Centers are authorized for the program. Seventeen State Use contracts have been procured that give employment to 81 full time equivalents (FTE) 43 of which are competitively employed.
Attachment 4.8(b)(1)(2)(3) and (4): Page 9 of 45
Nevada Rehabilitation Division
2. Coordination with Education Officials
The coordination of services for students with disabilities is achieved through a variety of cooperative efforts. The DSU utilizes inter-local contracts (formerly Memorandums of Understanding) and participates in statewide and local transition technical and career education activities.
In FFY 2005, the DSU continued its collaborative efforts through its Interagency Cooperative Agreement with the Nevada Department of Education (NDOE) in conformance to the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended 1998. The NDOE is Nevada’s State Lead Educational Agency (LEA). The DSU considers the NDOE as the cornerstone for statewide collaboration, facilitating participation in local school transition activities. Coordination with students, parents and representatives is achieved through involving staff in consumer organizations and the participation of consumers in the DSU programs. Staff of the DSU work with local school transition teams and conduct informational presentations at the schools, for parents and teacher assemblages, job fairs and other school-related events. The DSU is also represented at the statewide technical and career education planning sessions. Parents of students with disabilities and representatives of the Nevada Parents Educating Parents organization have representation on the Nevada State Rehabilitation Council.
The DSU has agreements with all of Nevada’s 17 school districts. The Southern District actively works with the Clark County School District to develop a mutually satisfactory interagency agreement. Revised agreements were completed in FFY 2004. They reflect the intent of the NDOE cooperative agreement for coordination of services designed to meet the educational, vocational and independent living needs of students with disabilities. The DSU has identified that the development of individualized relationships between rehabilitation and education staff is critical to the delivery of comprehensive services. Statewide, rehabilitation coordinators and technicians have been identified to serve as designated liaisons with the individual high school programs. DSU staff members actively participate in Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings and are available to provide other consultation, outreach and IEP development assistance and informational support. An Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) is jointly developed either in consultation with the Special Education Team or directly with the consumer and/or their parent or guardian depending on the individual’s preference. The IPE is agreed to and signed before the student leaves the school by the rehabilitation counselor and the student or the parent or guardian if the student is not of the Age of Majority.
The Bureau of Services to the Blind and Visually Impaired (BSBVI) collaborated with the Clark County School District in the assessment of assistive technologies specific to the needs of visually impaired students. Staff of BSBVI participate in transition workshops to provide group and individual training of students with visual impairments.
In 2006, the DSU in agreement with the Clark County School District entered into a contract with Easter Seals, Southern Nevada to provide Transition Service Coordinators or liaisons between the school district professionals, rehabilitation counselors, parents and students. The program has been named “Transition Connect.” The coordinators have been working under the guidance of the rehabilitation counselor to identify and encourage students to apply for services, assist with implementation of Individual Plans for Employment and job readiness. Linkages between school professionals and vocational rehabilitation counselors have been strengthened.
The Southern District has four full-time rehabilitation coordinators and two rehabilitation technicians dedicated to coordinating transition services. The Northern District, which covers four counties, has identified twelve rehabilitation coordinators who work with transition students in addition to carrying a caseload of VR clients. The DSU's Rural District currently has inter-local agreements with the twelve school districts it serves. Each of the four rural rehabilitation coordinators are assigned to a specific geographical area that serves all school districts within the designated area in addition to carrying a caseload of VR clients. In summary, there are twenty vocational rehabilitation coordinators statewide who provide outreach and vocational rehabilitation services to transition students.
In February 2006, the DSU entered into an inter-local agreement with the Nevada System of Higher Education, a state-sponsored higher education system composed of the University of Nevada Reno, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada State College, Henderson, Community College of Southern Nevada, Great Basin College, Truckee Meadows Community College and Western Nevada Community College. The agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of both the DSU and NSHE when providing mutual services to Transition Students. The agreement also establishes the provision of services by each entity and reimbursement to the DSU for services rendered. The process for resolving disputes regarding which entity is responsible for payment has been included. The DSU and NSHE employees have held trainings to exchange information on vocational rehabilitation processes and the NSHE procedures used to apply for and make an appeal under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation determinations.
3. Cooperative Agreements with Private Non-profit Vocational Rehabilitation Service Providers
The DSU utilizes cooperative agreements and direct purchase methods to coordinate the provision of consultative, evaluative rehabilitation services. Direct purchase arrangements for consultative, evaluative and rehabilitation services are based on a comparison of available service provider expertise to identify potential vendors. The Division then negotiates an hourly rate of payment roughly based on the Medicare reimbursement schedule. The DSU moved to direct purchase of all job placement and job coaching services on a structured fee for services basis. The fee-for-service arrangements require eligible participants to meet the terms of a standard agreement for service provision and insurance and licensing requirements. The fee-for-service payment for job development is outcome-based wherein contractors are only paid for attaining employment objectives for each consumer assigned to them. The largest benchmark payment for job development is for attaining a 90-day competitive employment.
In FFY 2006 such agreements included:
- ASAP Services - Selective job development and placement in Clark County
- Disability Resources - Job development and placement in Washoe County
- Easter Seals Southern Nevada - Job development and placement in Clark County
- Easter Seals of Sierra Nevada - Support VR clients “most-at-risk” for dropping out of Division services
- Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada - Job development, job placement and job coaching in Clark County
- Opportunity Village - Job development and placement in Clark County
- Special Employment Services - Job development and placement in Clark County
- Talking Hands - Job development and placement in Clark County
- Urban League of Clark County - Job development and placement services in Clark County
- Westview - Job development and placement in Clark County
- Employee Network Agreements (5)
- Nevada PEP - Prepare youth for the workplace
4. Evidence of Collaboration Regarding Supported Employment Services and Extended Services