ATTACHMENT 6.7(b)

Explanation to Support the Decision Not to Establish an Order of Selection

 

Assurance: This Attachment contains an explanation that satisfies the requirements of 34 CFR 361.36(a)(2) or (3) and describes how, on the basis of our agency’s projected fiscal and personnel resources and its assessment of the rehabilitation needs of individuals with severe disabilities within the State, the agency will: (1) continue to provide services to all individuals currently receiving services; (2) provide assessment services to all individuals expected to apply for services in the next fiscal year; (3) provide services to all individuals who are expected to be determined eligible in the next fiscal year; and (4) meet all program requirements.

The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) does not currently, and did not in the preceding fiscal year, operate under an Order of Selection. DRS has continued to ensure that services can be provided to all eligible individuals by:

providing assessment services to all applicants and the full range of services, as appropriate, to all eligible individuals;
making referral information and materials widely available throughout the state;
conducting outreach efforts to identify and serve individuals with disabilities who have been unserved or underserved by the vocational rehabilitation system; and
not delaying through waiting lists or other means, determination of eligibility, the development of Individualized Written Rehabilitation Programs(IWRPs) for individuals determined to be eligible, or the provision of services for eligible individuals for who IWRPs have been developed.

Strategies and Methods to Ensure Services to All Eligible Individuals

The agency continues to review its ability to serve all eligible individuals. Factors which continue to support the decision not to implement an Order of Selection include the following:

DRS will maintain at least level funding for direct customer services in the upcoming fiscal year. DRS anticipates a 3.0% increase in Title I funds for FY 98 and identified additional sources of general fund match which allows for greater federal fund expenditures. The agency is committed to ensuring, as much as possible, that all available dollars are allocated to direct customer service.
DRS will continue to allocate all appropriate personnel resources to direct customer services and will continue to take proactive actions to ensure appropriate staffing and case load levels.
DRS continues to direct more fiscal resources into customer case services. The agency continues, as appropriate, to relocate selected offices to less expensive office space in order to provide more case services resources.
By August 30, 1998, the field offices will all be automated. This efficiency measure will allow the VR counselors to operate more effectively in the provision of customer service.
There have been no factors during FY 98 which point to the need to make specific changes in current procedures related to eligibility determination or service planning, or to suggest any need to revisit the agency’s decision not to implement an Order of Selection.

Strategies which DRS will employ to ensure that the agency continues to serve all eligible individuals include:

Using on-going monitoring and reporting systems, which provide customer data, services information, and cost data to allow the agency to allocate agency resources to meet customer needs;
Continuing to monitor "processing times" for customers to determine the timeliness of services;
Providing extensive training to staff to enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities to serve customers and ensuring compliance with federal and state mandates;
Initiating and maintaining service links and service integration to achieve collaborative program development and operations with other state agencies and organizations to enhance DRS’ ability to maximize external resources;
Using comparable services and benefits to the maximum extent possible prior to the expenditure of Title I funds, when the search for such services and benefits will not create unreasonable delays in the provision of services;
Conitinuing to provide automated tools to counselors and evaluators to improve caseload management and achieve greater efficiencies;
Implementing the recommendations of the RSA/CSAVR Streamlining Review process to alleviate actual and potential service barriers and to continue to review policies and processes to determine other means to streamline activities;
Implementing the agency's Six-Year Strategic Plan to improve customer service and service quality, reduce costs, foster innovation and better utilize resources;
Redirecting agency fiscal and personnel resources, as appropriate, to direct customer provision;
Continuing to assess customer satisfaction, service needs, and available resources to meet customer needs.

Given the agency’s review of current data and the strategies described above, DRS does not plan to implement an Order of Selection in FY 99. Should the results of the agency’s on-going monitoring reveal that, contrary to current data, DRS is not able to serve all eligible individuals or should trends emerge which preclude services to all eligible individuals , appropriate measures will be taken immediately. Such measures may include the establishment of an Order of Selection, or identification of additional resources to enable the agency to serve all eligible individuals. DRS also will modify its State Plan to appropriately respond to the situation.