Department of Human ServicesOffice of Rehabilitation Services

Development of VR State Plan Update for FFY2009

June 5, 2008 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.Warwick Public Library

Warwick, RI

Agenda

Welcome & IntroductionsStephen Brunero, Acting Administrator - ORS

J. David Sienko, Chairperson - State Rehabilitation Council

State Plan Strategic Goals & Highlights of 2007 Kathleen Grygiel – Assistant Administrator - ORS

Public Comments

Next Steps & Adjournment

State Plan for Vocational

Rehabilitation Supported Employment

Strategic Goals

Building a Better Partnership with Consumers

• Measuring a significant increase in consumer satisfaction across all phases of the VR Program

• Increase employment outcomes and improve rehabilitation services by understanding business needs and matching consumer interests, abilities and skills

• Develop statewide models to increase transition services among students with disabilities by collaboration with the Office of Special Populations and other state departments

• Outreach and serve diverse groups of individuals including racial, ethnic and linguistic minorities

Building a Better Partnership

with ORS Staff

• ORS leadership must articulate and demonstrate a consistent management strategy

• Continue to reinforce work plans, goals and objectives for all staff

• Develop a decentralized decision-making system that allows decisions to be made as close to line level

• Maximize limited staffing resources on employment outcomes

• Explore the Order of Selection process

Building a Better Partnership

with ORS Staff

• Provide excellent customer service that balances an individual consumer’s interests, choice, assets, needs, aspirations and time frames with reasonable expectations and continuous movement toward employment

Building a Better Partnership with Community Advocates -

Vendors - Businesses• Improve the ORS Customer Relations process

to be more accessible to any consumer who has a question or concern about VR services

• Develop strategic alliances with advocates and the State Rehabilitation Council to increase community/political support for ORS

• Continue to develop a new system of vendor contracting which is based on the attainment of successful outcomes

• Develop strategic alliances with vendors to foster new models of service and advocacy

Building a Better Partnership with Community Advocates - Vendors - Businesses (cont.)

• Develop strategic alliances with businesses to better understand better business needs and how ORS can help meet them at present and in the future

• Increase meaningful business involvement in ORS planning and implementation strategies

• Promote the ORS Business Advisory Council to better understand the needs of companies and businesses hiring individuals with disabilities

Building a Better Partnership with Community Advocates - Vendors - Businesses (cont.)

• Promote state interagency collaboration through the use of Memorandums of Understanding and Cooperative Agreements

DHS Vision

We are an organization of opportunity, working hand in hand with other resources in RI, to offer a full continuum of services for families, adults, children, the elderly, disabled and veterans.

Our Vision is:

Families are strong, productive, healthy and independent;

Adults reach their maximum potential; Children are safe, healthy, ready to learn, and

reach their full potential; Elders and the disabled receive a full continuum

of services to enhance their quality of life; Veterans are honored and cared for.

ORS Mission

To empower individuals with disabilities to choose, prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment, economic self-sufficiency, independence, and integration into society.

SFY2009 Budget

Federal Funds83.3%

Co-Op.8%

State Funds15.5%

Business Enterprise

0.4%

ORS Funding Streams

FY 2009 Proposed Budget - $21,722,744

SFY 2009 BudgetSFY 2009 Proposed Budget -

$21,722,744 Funding by Program

Services for the Blind

(SBVI)14%

Vocational Rehabilitation

53%

Disability Determination

33%

Accomplishments

745 Successful employment outcomes

• 2,236 individuals applied for VR services• 6,889 individuals with disabilities were provided VR services• 1,504 individuals had a new Individualized Plan for Employment [IPE] developed• 4,196 individuals received Counseling & Guidance Services from VR counselors

Accomplishments• 2,693 individuals received services purchased from

vendors. Services ranged from evaluations, medical and psychological therapies, training, personal assistant services, job placement and training

• 460 individuals received rehabilitation technology services to assist them to prepare for and to enter employment

• 2,252 youth with disabilities from 14-21 were provided transition services by 19 VR counselors

Accomplishments• 19 vending facilities were supported by the

Business Enterprises Program (BEP).

• 19,400 children were screened by the Vision Screening Program resulting in 578 children receiving necessary follow up care, reducing or eliminating the early impact of poor visual function

• Promoted Newsline® which was established to provide access by phone to over 200 newspapers for individuals who are blind or visually impaired

Contacts

Department of Human Services Office of Rehabilitation Services

Stephen Brunero, Acting Administrator40 Fountain Street ~ Providence, RI 02903

(401) 421-7005 (V) ~ (401) 421-7016 (TDD)

(401) 272-8090 (Spanish) ~ (401) 222-3574 (FAX)

www.ors.ri.gov