8/7/2017. OVR is regulated at the Federal Level by the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

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1 OVR operates under the authority of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended in 2014 as part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. OVR is regulated at the Federal Level by the Rehabilitation Services Administration. OVR s funding is derived through approximately 80% federal dollars and a 20% state match. 2 1

2 15 Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (BVRS) and 6 co-located Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) district offices across the state offer services to assist those with disabilities in gaining the skills necessary to live and work independently in their communities. The Hiram G. Andrews Center (HGAC) is a comprehensive training center that is co-located with Johnstown BVRS. 3 Ben Parto s Story 4 2

3 WIOA - Background On July 22, 2014, President Obama signed into law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which replaces the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) and amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act). 5 Why is This So Important? COVERS TWO PUBLIC SYSTEMS *Workforce Development System serving all jobseekers (Titles I - III) *Public Vocational Rehabilitation - VR (Title IV) 6 3

4 What Congress Said Assist those most in need Focus on increasing job skills, career pathways and in-demand occupations Focus more on employer engagement Public VR & Workforce Development: BE BETTER PARTNERS! 7 What Congress Said The days of students with disabilities leaving school poorly educated with no employment experience, no job prospects, living lives of poverty and too often ending up in segregated day programs need to come to an end. 8 4

5 Transition Increases Services to Youth AND Students with Disabilities: Throughout WIOA, especially in the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, there is a significant emphasis on the provision of services to youth with disabilities. Title IV The Rehabilitation Act emphasizes services to students with disabilities which is now separate from youth with disabilities A student with a disability is: Not younger than 14 years of age (PA Standard) Not older than 21 years of age Is Eligible for and receiving special education services or Is an individual with a disability for purposes of section Transition Introduces the new term Pre-Employment Transition Services This significantly expands the role of the Vocational Rehabilitation Agency in the transition process Requires State VR agencies to set aside at least 15 percent of their Federal VR program funds to provide Pre-Employment Transition Services to assist students with disabilities make the transition from secondary school to postsecondary education programs and competitive integrated employment Allows State VR agencies to prioritize serving students with disabilities 10 5

6 Transition Pre-Employment Transition Services 5 Required Activities Including: Job exploration counseling Work based learning experiences Counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or post secondary educations programs Workplace readiness training Instruction in self advocacy, which may include peer mentoring 11 Transition Pre-Employment Transition Services Provided to any student who is eligible or potentially eligible for vocational rehabilitation services Additional authorized activities to improve the transition of students with disabilities from school to postsecondary education These activities include capacity building activities, consultation, and dissemination of information Responsibilities also include attending IEP meetings, working with local workforce investment boards to develop work opportunities for students with disabilities and working with schools to coordinate pre-employment transition services and attend planning meetings for Social Security 12 6

7 Transition Accomplishments to Date: Early Reach Initiative already in place when WIOA passed Summer Academy enters 9 th year An additional 8 summer academies took place across the state Continue to track staff time spent on Pre-Employment Transition Services Continue to track money specifically spent on Pre-Employment Transition Services The new services of Travel-Training and Identification are added to Pre-Employment Transition Services Continue to develop and monitor Innovation and Expansion Projects to fund Pre-Employment Transition Services through community agencies All District Offices remain focused on increasing services to students 13 Transition Summer Programs Combination of day or overnight programs Include career exploration, post-secondary exploration, and building social capital Some of the current programs include: Early Reach Academy, Launch Academy, Summer Transition Career Bootcamp, Pre-Employment Transition Experiential Training, The Academy, Deaf/HH Summer Academy, Summer Academy for Students who are Blind/Visually Impaired, SWEAP (Summer Work Experience Assessment Program), and 2017 Early Reach Transition Academy 14 7

8 Work Based Learning Experiences Ryan Wasko s Story 15 Work Based Learning Experiences Growth in Job Shadowing and WBLE SFY SFY SFY (began 7/1/17) Job Shadowing Work-Based Learning Experience 22 1,

9 Hiram G. Andrews (HGAC) Pre-Employment Transition Programs Single Day Events STEM Week with Carnegie Science Center s FAB LAB September 25-29, 2017 Career & Transition Fair October 11-13, 2017 Job Shadowing Experience November 2, 2017 (tentative) Autism Awareness Walk and Fair, every April Barrier Awareness Day, every May Week-long Programs Weekly CREATE: Career Readiness, Employment and Transition Evaluation Spring Deaf Shadowing Program Summer Work Readiness Academy: A Leadership Experience Summer Access Planning and Strategies (APS) Academy 17 HGAC Work Readiness Commonwealth Technical Institute Accredited and private-licensed post-secondary training resulting in diplomas, associate degrees and industry-recognized certifications Work-Based Learning Experiences through mentorships, community projects and externships Work Readiness Training Keys to Success Soft skills Social skills Independent living Transportation Job Search preparation Self-advocacy Study Skills Accommodations planning 18 9

10 HGAC Upcoming Events STEM Week September 25-29, 2017 Career & Transition Fair October 11-13, 2017 Job Shadowing Day November 2, 2017 Call for a tour or more information! Business Services Provide singularity of focus and resources to better understand and respond to business needs in a dual customer service model (talent supply and demand side) Make OVR the lead state agency and preferred resource for businesses or organizations to recruit and on-board people with disabilities through a single point of contact (SPOC) model Promote agency-wide consistency and quality of business services, communication and stakeholder outreach through training, resources, collaboration, development of innovative web, social media and print-based branding 20 10

11 Business Services Increase alignment with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) and VR-National Employment Team (VR-NET) through the Business Services Division offering agency-wide consistency in delivery of high quality business services utilizing emerging practices in an evolving, national VR community of practice Significantly increase the availability and number of successful agency-wide career employment outcomes or appropriate selfemployment for all OVR consumer customers in emerging occupations, business and labor markets 21 Business Services Accomplishments to Date: Business Services Division and statewide emphasis already in place when WIOA passed Business Services Representatives in every office already in place when WIOA passed On the Job Training (OJT) expanded for students with disabilities to 100% On the Job Training (OJT) can happen in coordination with Work Based Learning Experiences (WBLE s) New tools provided to staff Disability Awareness modules, Accessibility Review training and tools, Outreach materials 3 rd Business Services Specialist Expansion to PETS BSRs in many DOs 22 11

12 Business Services MY Work Initiative Students participate in WBLE through local boroughs WBLEs included community clean-up, office and clerical work, etc. Work sites were coordinated with local community rehabilitation partners and local workforce development board 23 OVR Business Partners 24 12

13 HGAC Employer Engagement 25 Collaborations Another major focus in WIOA is on collaboration OVR will continue to develop, initiate or expand upon collaborative relationships with community stakeholders, partners and other state agencies to promote and expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities

14 Collaborations Project SEARCH The Beginning - started with one program at UPMC Mercy Hospital, Pittsburgh ( ) programs serving 96 students with 71 employed (71.3%) programs serving 88 with 70 employed (80.9%) programs (outcome info not yet available) The Future Fall 2017 opening 2 sites for total of 18 and more to come! 27 Collaborations Project SEARCH 28 14

15 Collaborations Accomplishments to Date: PA Rehabilitation Council (PaRC) strong collaborative relationship focus on policy, customer service, CareerLink Coordination, and Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment Emphasis on strong Citizen Advisory Committees (CACs) Partnership with PA Centers for Independent Living (CILs) Offender Workforce Development Training with Corrections Project SEARCH programs statewide Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services (BJJS) The AgrAbility program administrative memo renewed Office of Developmental Programs interagency agreement & MOU Many, many more in District Offices statewide 29 Competitive Integrated Employment Competitive Integrated Employment: WIOA places significant emphasis on obtaining competitive integrated employment, especially in the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. 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

16 Competitive Integrated Employment Sec. 458 (Sec 511) Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage Required (as of 2016) for individuals 24 and under before being placed in a position that pays less than minimum wage Steps include: 1. Pre-Employment Transition Services 2. Either being determined ineligible for VR or an unsuccessful VR closure 3. Provision of career counseling and referrals designed to assist individual to achieve competitive integrated employment 31 Competitive Integrated Employment Accomplishments to Date: Interagency agreement with the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) signed to transfer money to OVR to serve individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) Will provide money for more intensive services Will provide additional positions to provide these services Waiver language changed by ODP to mimic the language in section 511 Employment First Initiative in PA Directed by Governor Wolf s Executive Order Provider transformation projects are being continued ODP initiated them with Employment First State Leadership Mentoring Project OVR continuing and expanding them Updated all OVR policies with the change in language to competitive integrated employment 32 16

17 Discovery and Customized Employment Julia Tyler s Story 33 Future Vision Increased communication and collaboration with partners Increasing/maintaining providers ACT 26 collaboration and reporting Expand number and variety of contracts and agreements associated with PETS Creating internship opportunities for students Replicating successful PETS/WBLE projects 34 17

18 Seize the Opportunities There are significant opportunities within WIOA and the Rehabilitation Act LET S NAVIGATE THIS PATH TOGETHER! 35 18