Community Rehabilitation
Providers and OVR:Working Together
2014 RCPA Conference
Seven Springs, PA
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
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Presenters
• Dana Baccanti, M.A., CRC
Chief, Special Programs Division
Bureau of Central Operations
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Ralph Roach M.S., CRC, PA-LPC |
Chief, Business Services and Outreach Division
Bureau of Central Operations
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
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OVR’s Mission & Priorities
Mission:
To assist Pennsylvanians with disabilities to secure and maintain employment and independence
Agency Priorities:• Customer Service• Transition (School-Age)• Workforce Development Collaboration• Stakeholder Relations• Outreach & Public Awareness
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OVR Leadership
• L & I Secretary Julia Hearthway currently serving as “Acting Executive Director”
• Mr. Michael Vovakes, Special Assistant to Secretary Hearthway, overseeing “day-to-day” operations and has signatory authority.
• New “ED” not expected to be selected until after the November 2014 Election.
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Organizational Structure
• Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)– Acting Executive Director- L & I Secretary Julia Hearthway
• Bureau of Central Operations (Central Office) = – Budget and Administrative Services Division – Business Services and Outreach Division – Policy, Staff Development and Training Division – Grants and Contracts Division– Systems and Evaluation Division– Special Programs Division – Bureau Director = Mr. Ryan Hyde
• Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS) = – 15 District Offices– Bureau Director = Mrs. Denise Verchimak
• Bureau of Blindness & Visual Services (BBVS) = – 6 District Offices– Bureau Director = Mr. David DeNotaris
• Office for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (ODHH) = – 3 District Offices– Director = Ms. Sharon Behun
– Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGAC) = – Commonwealth Technical Institute – Acting Director – Mrs. Jill Moriconi
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OVR Funding
• 21.3% State Match• 78.7% Federal
– State Budget dictates amount OVR is able to draw down in Federal Funding.
– OVR has been flat funded for the past three years.
– OVR is exploring ways to increase state match to draw down additional federal funds available.
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OVR-ODP Collaboration
• Joint Bulletin released July 1, 2014• ODP Futures Planning• OVR Supported Employment Policy
Revision• 1996 Memorandum of Understanding • Special Projects• CMS Final Rule• Reauthorization of the Rehab Act (WIOA)
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Why Collaborate?
Federal Legislation:• Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended• IDEA of 1990, as amended
State Legislation:• MH/MR Act of 1966• The Vocational Rehabilitation Act 167of
1988
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And the Rehab Act says…
§361.53 Comparable services and benefits
(d) Interagency Collaboration…with any appropriate public entity including…the State Medicaid Program…to ensure the provision of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
(3) Interagency Agreement
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Interagency Agreement
§361.53 (d) (3) Interagency Agreement must delineate the following:
(i) Agency financial responsibility.
(ii) Conditions, terms, and procedures of reimbursement.
(iii) Interagency disputes.
(iv) Procedures for coordination of services.
(v) Responsibilities under other law.
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Memorandum of Understanding
• 1996 Memorandum of Understanding– OVR – OMH (now OMHSAS)– OMR (now ODP)
• Still effective, no expiration date.• Defines local agency responsibilities.• Establishes framework for “intensive” and
“long-term” extended services.• Needs to be updated.
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EMPLOYMENT FIRST
• Employment First is a concept to facilitate the full inclusion of people with the most significant disabilities in the workplace and community. Under the Employment First approach, community-based, integrated employment is the first option for employment services for youth and adults with significant disabilities.
US Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Programs: http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/EmploymentFirst.htm
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WIOA
Emphasizes Competitive Integrated Employment:
• WIOA promotes competitive integrated employment in all of its programs, especially the VR and Supported Employment programs authorized under the Rehabilitation Act.
• VR program services are designed to maximize the ability of individuals with disabilities, including individuals with the most significant disabilities, to achieve competitive integrated employment through customized employment, supported employment, and other individualized services.
• An Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated
Employment for Individuals with Disabilities is established to develop strategies for improving opportunities for competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities, especially those with the most significant disabilities.
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OVR-ODP JOINT BULLETIN
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Who does this affect?
• Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism who are enrolled, or are enrolling in:
– The Consolidated Waiver– The Person-Family Directed Services Waiver– The Autism Waiver
AND:
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Who does this affect? (Continued)
• Who are seeking “employment/supported employment services” for the purpose of achieving “community-integrated employment at, or above, minimum wage” within one year of the ISP Team discussion about employment.
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Appropriate Referrals???
• OVR and ODP are seeking clarification from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding “community-integrated employment”– “Employment First” philosophy– Need for indefinite one-to-one supports?– Limited VR resources– Regulations from WIOA
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Pre-Vocational & Transitional Work
• Prevocational and Transitional Work services as defined in the Consolidated, P/FDS and Autism Waivers are not currently available in Pennsylvania through the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as Amended.
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Pre-Vocational & Transitional Work
• For this reason, Prevocational Services and Transitional Work services to be provided under the Consolidated, P/FDS and Autism Waivers no longer require a referral to and subsequent denial from OVR prior to authorization on the Individual Support Plan (ISP).
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Concurrent Services
• When OVR determines that an individual is eligible for services and develops an “Individualized Plan for Employment”, the individual may receive Prevocational or Transitional Work services (from ODP) while also receiving OVR services as long as they do not occur concurrently (on the same day and at the same time).
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Concurrent Services
• Prevocational and Transitional Work services will only be used to supplement the OVR services.
• Individuals must comply with OVR’s Individualized Plan for Employment.
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Supported Employment Services
When the ISP team determines that the individual has a need for Supported Employment services, the Supports CCoordinator must make a referral to OVR.
• Supported Employment services are needed to achieve a community-integrated, competitive employment outcome.
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OVR’s Supported Employment Policy
OVR is currently in the process of revising its Supported Employment Policy.• Input from Staff and Stakeholders• Research from other states• Focus on Job Stability• Alignment with ID System• Provider Qualifications• Elimination of LOUs?• Impact of WIOA?
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Special Projects
• Discovery & Customized Employment Pilot
• Berks Career & Technology Center Interagency Agreement
• Greene County ID Transition Project
• ACES Grant- DREAM Partnership
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Special Projects
• Discovery & Customized Employment Pilot– Three OVR District Offices
• Washington• Harrisburg• Philadelphia
– Partnership with The Arc of PA– Statewide rates – Provider Qualifications Required
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Special Projects
• Berks Career & Technology Center Interagency Agreement–Community Based Work Experiences that
will lead to Community-Based Competitive Employment at the appropriate time
–Jointly funded positions• School-to-Work Coordinator• Job Coach• CTC (State Match 21.3%)• OVR (Federal 78.7%)
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Special Projects
• Greene County ID Transition Project– Partnership between Washington BVRS, Greene County Human
Services and Intermediate Unit #1– Provide ongoing career assessment/development and community-
based work experiences beginning at age 14 for students with ID– Develop “menu” of services based upon team and community
resources– Designated Team
• Transition Specific Supports Coordinator• Early Reach Coordinator and VR Counselor• IU School to Work Coordinator
– Jointly funded position• I U School to Work Coordinator• Greene County HS (State Match 10.65 %)• IU #1 (State Match 10.65 %)• OVR (Federal Match 78.7%)
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Special Projects
• ACES Grant- DREAM Partnership– Promotion of postsecondary, college-based programs for young
adults with intellectual disabilities that provide a mix of credit and non-credit course offerings, and extracurricular activities that provide accessible, integrated and developmental opportunities for:
• Community-Integrated, Customized and/or Competitive Employment • Academic Enrichment • Campus/Community Membership • Financial Literacy • Independent Living • Personal Mobility and Transportation Systems Training/Awareness • Socialization • Collaboration with employers, workforce development programs, eligible
colleges or universities, local education agencies, state agencies serving individuals with intellectual disabilities and private, for and not-for-profit community provider organizations to promote community-integrated, customized and/or competitive employment.
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Innovation & Expansion Projects
• Notice Issued to OVR District Offices and disseminated to CRPs, CILs and Stakeholders in June 2014– Included Eight (8) “Statements of Work” for Projects – Geographically identified based upon need expressed
by OVR District Offices– “Invitation to Qualify” with DGS – “Request for Quotes” issued on August 14, 2014– Contracts to be effective October 1, 2014 through
September 30, 2105
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Innovation & Expansion Projects
• Innovation and Expansion Project for the Development of an Industry Integrated Employment and Training Program for Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired (Philadelphia & Harrisburg BBVS)
• Innovation and Expansion Project for the Development of Employment Services into Rural and Underserved Counties (DuBois BVRS & Erie BVRS/BBVS)
• Innovation and Expansion Project Targeting Transition Planning and Services for Youth in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh BVRS/BBVS)
• Innovation and Expansion Project Targeting Job Readiness and Placement of Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (Allentown BVRS, Erie BVRS, Norristown BVRS, Philadelphia BVRS and Reading BVRS)
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Innovation & Expansion Projects
• Innovation and Expansion Project Providing Employment Readiness resulting in Competitive Employment for Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (Allentown BVRS, Erie BVRS, Norristown BVRS, Philadelphia BVRS and Reading BVRS)
• Innovation and Expansion Project Providing Employment Readiness resulting in Competitive Employment for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities (Pittsburgh BVRS and Erie BVRS)
• Innovation and Expansion Project for the Development of an Industry Integrated Employment and Training Program for Adults with Significant Disabilities (Allentown BVRS and Reading BVRS)
• Innovation and Expansion Project Providing Employment Readiness resulting in Competitive Employment (Philadelphia BVRS)
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Making the Connection
Supply & Demand Considerations in VR servicesMeeting the employment needs of people with disabilities and the business needs of employers.
VR works to prepare our workforce talent with skills and technical capacities to meet the demands of business today and in the future.
Hiring OVR Customers makes good Business Sense! OVR Serves Consumer Customers
ANDBusiness Customers
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OVR Business Services Outreach
The gold standard of OVR Business Services and Outreach Efforts is:
To build a dual customer base of:
• Businesses/Employers that trust and choose OVR as their preferred talent acquisition source, and
• A Qualified/Pre-screened Talent Pool we assist in skills development so they can access opportunities and make contributions as a skilled workforce in a competitive labor market
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OVR Business Services Outreach
Staffing Pre-screened, qualified job
candidates Help retain current employees Accommodation solutions
Accessibility Analysis Consultation on job analysis,
worksite modification and reasonable accommodations
Info about assistive technologyFinancial Incentives
OJT reimbursement Tax credits
OVR Services for Employers at no cost
Disability Awareness Disability etiquette training ADA consultation
Networking Resources Employment networks Business Leadership Network Job Accommodation Network (JAN) VR-NET JobGateway
Follow-Up Services OVR sticks with the customers Will help employer & new hire
problem-solve future issues
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How does OVR provide business solutions and consultation services to business owners and
operators?
• Business Specialists at OVR’s central office & the Single Points of Contact (SPOC) at OVR’s district offices: – Plan and build a talent recruitment and on-boarding support plan
to meet business needs.– Provide consultation on a variety of tasks in
PwD hiring and retention best practices
OVR Business Services and Outreach Efforts
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OVR Presents THE HOW TO GUIDE
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JobGateway
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Other Resources
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OVR is pleased to partner with many major business partners including:
OVR Business Partners
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THE THREE C’S OF SUCCESS
1. COMMUNICATION
2. COLLABORATION
3. COORDINATION
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QUESTIONS???
QUESTIONS
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OVR Central Office Contacts
Dana Baccanti, M.A., CRCChief, Special Programs DivisionPhone (717) [email protected]
Ralph Roach M.S., CRC, PA-LPCChief, Business Services and Outreach DivisionPhone (717) [email protected]
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