Strategic Plan for Innovation and Expansion
October 1, 1998 - September 30, 1999
The Strategic Plan for Innovation and Expansion describes the Department of Rehabilitative Services’ (DRS) plans to earmark at least 1.5 percent (approximately $700,000) of the federal Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment funds to develop and use innovative approaches for achieving long-term success in expanding and improving vocational rehabilitation and supported employment services. Therefore, there is some duplication of activities described in the State Plan and the Innovation and Expansion Plan. Both plans are grounded in the agency’s organizational values and mission statement: "In partnership with people with disabilities, the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) provides and advocates for the highest quality services that empower individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and full inclusion into society."
The Innovation and Expansion Plan was developed from comments and recommendations of the Statewide Rehabilitation Advisory Council; the Statewide Independent Living Council; the Board of Rehabilitative Services, agency staff at all levels; and public comments from consumers, service providers, and other interested parties. The Plan reflects all of the recommendations pertaining to this attachment which were offered by the Statewide Rehabilitation Advisory Council and the Statewide Independent Living Council. (Please see Attachment 2.3, "Public Comments and DRS Response" for comments from other sources and the agency’s response). DRS and its Councils continue to monitor implementation of the Plan and provide this update as required by federal law.
Goal 1 : Explore new methods
to increase employment opportunities (in integrated
settings) for individuals with severe disabilities.
Objective 1-1 In southwest region (with special emphasis on rural areas) explore use of financial incentives to employers (in collaboration with Virginia Economic Development Partnership agency) as a job development and placement strategy with new employers and employers revamping or expanding equipment or facilities.
Evaluation Criteria: Number of placements
 | In Year 1, DRS entered into a cooperative agreement with Scott County Schools and Fluor Daniel Corp. to train VR customers for new employment opportunities in the southwest. Under the agreement, DRS purchased welding equipment for the school system ($5,000), the school trained the customers in welding, and Fluor Daniel agreed to hire the customers who successfully completed the training. Of the ten students who entered the welding program, seven have completed it, and five have achieved an employment outcome with Fluor Daniel. |
| In Year 2, DRS will continue to identify opportunities and implement strategies for financial incentives to businesses to achieve employment for VR customers. |
Budget: $75,000 for Year 1; $75,000 for Year 2
Objective 1-2 Increase job development emphasis on telecommuting opportunities in rural areas for customers with transportation issues, few job opportunities in local area, etc. Evaluate results and if feasible, continue and expand these strategies.
Evaluation Criteria: Number of employer contacts and number of placements
| In Year 1, DRS entered into a contract with Fairfax Opportunities to develop a pilot for telecommuting and work "porting" opportunities for VR customers and to demonstrate the viability of these opportunities as employment options. DRS also is in the process of working with Crestar Bank to develop "home based" customer service jobs. |
Budget: $10,000 annually
Objective 1-3 Explore ways to effectively use state-of-the-art technology (such as Internet, IntraNet, software, etc.) for career exploration, matching customers with job leads, and assisting in job development. Explore ways to collaborate with local Virginia Employment Commission offices, Dept. of Labor agencies, Disability Services Boards, and other agencies to use the Internet for job development and placement.
Evaluation Criteria: Enhanced vocational evaluation statistics. Usefulness of automated job matching information.
| In Year 1, DRS purchased software packages: OAYSIS, a collection of databases that provides automated access to the DOT and the use of a customer's work history for doing a transferable skills analysis; and QUIZ, which is used to determine a customer’s skill level with different types of software. |
| In Year 2, DRS will monitor the effectiveness of these software packages. Also in Year 2, DRS will provide Internet job search training for DRS staff to assist customers in performing job searches on the Internet. |
Budget: $48,000 for Year 1
Objective 1-4 Explore use of workshops, etc. to identify employment opportunities available at other Virginia agencies.
Evaluation Criteria: Cost effectiveness, number of workshops held, and number of on-the-job and paid internships
| In Year 1, the agency provided a workshop for all managers, statewide, at the Virginia Department of Corrections. As a result, DOC managers in Southwest Virginia contacted DRS to seek qualified applicants who are VR customers for their position openings. DRS also conducted a workshop for human resource managers of state agencies to educate them about the agency the availability of VR customers for jobs. In addition, DRS has hired a person with a severe disability for as a paid intern to assist the agency in its marketing efforts. |
| In Year 2, the agency will continue to sponsor workshops for state agencies and will continue working with the other disability agencies to develop methods to support the hiring of persons with disabilities in state government. |
Budget: $2,000 for Year 1; $10,000 annually for on-the-job and paid internship opportunities
Objective 1-5 Pilot vendorship of job placement activities. Based on results of evaluation, continue and expand this strategy if feasible.
Evaluation Criteria: Comparison of results to DRS counselor performance
Seven pilot vendorships, begun in spring 1997, continued through Year 1. After evaluation, all but one will continue, modified as suggested by field managers.
Budget: $200,000 for each year
Goal 2: Expand access to
rehabilitation technology for individuals with severe
disabilities.
Objective 2-1 Continue to fund half of the Virginia Assistive Technology System Creative Initiative Awards, for systems-change activities to benefit VR customers, especially outreach to unserved and underserved disability populations.
Evaluation Criteria: Award and implementation of grants.
| In Year 1, DRS awarded three Creative Initiative Awards which benefited VR customers. |
These efforts will continue during Year 2 and Year 3.
Budget: $35,000 annually
Objective 2-2 Make vocational evaluation centers and employment resource centers more accessible by using assistive technology and demonstration sites. Explore community-based sites for assistive technology demonstration centers (such as WWRC, DRS vocational evaluation centers, etc.) Develop and implement an assistive technology device "loaner" program by funding purchase of assistive technology devices to be used as demonstration devices and "loaners."
Evaluation Criteria: Number of locations and use.
| In Year 1, DRS accomplished its goal to ensure the accessibility of the vocational evaluation and employment resource centers. DRS also established three positions dedicated to assisting VR counselors and customers to obtain assistive technology. |
| In Year 2, DRS will continue its efforts to establish the assistive technology device "loaner" program. |
Budget: $10,000 Year 1; $50,000 Year 2
Objective 2-3 Broaden the scope of services and increase accessibility of rehabilitation technology through continuation of the CARTE Project, a collaborative venture of WWRC, University of Virginia, and the Virginia Assistive Technology System to develop expertise in rehabilitation technology at the local level.
Evaluation Criteria: Number of locations and use
After evaluating the initiative’s fiscal impact DRS decided not to continue with it.
Budget: $125,000 in year 1
Goal 3: Use innovative
approaches to strengthen services for individuals with brain
injury.
Objective 3-1 In partnership with Centers for Independent Living, Employment Services Organizations, and other community providers, establish a statewide pool of trained professionals who can provide life skills and behavior intervention services to VR customers with brain injury and challenging behaviors. (DRS will use state funds to provide these services to non-VR customers). Develop and implement a training program for providers of life skills training and behavior intervention specialist services, as well as purchasers (i.e., staff) of these services.
Evaluation criteria: Development of a training curriculum. Recruitment of service providers to be trained. Number of individuals trained. Evaluation of services provided.
| In Year 1, DRS developed a training curriculum and provided life skills training for persons with brain injury and other challenging behaviors. These efforts will continue following an evaluation of the effectiveness of the training. |
Budget: $50,000 annually
Objective 3-2 Contract with Centers for Independent Living to provide pre-placement and employment support (transportation, housing, hygiene, training to use assistive technology devices, etc.) during VR process between placement and case closure.
Evaluation criteria: Number of participants. Employment outcomes of participants.
In Year 1, agreements were negotiated between the field managers and the Centers for Independent Living to provide pre-placement and employment support to VR customers. To date, 14 agreements have been negotiated and approved. Because the agreements become effective upon approval, this initiative will continue into Year 2 of the Plan.
Budget: $175,000 for each year
Objective 3-3 Develop community based approach to brain injury services which combines vocational rehabilitation and non-vocational rehabilitation services (positive behavioral skills training, life skills training) to support the brain injured in a club house model approach.
Evaluation Criteria: Number participants. Evaluation of services provided.
| In Year 1, DRS conducted the necessary research to implement a club house model to support persons with brain injuries. |
| In Year 2, DRS will implement the club house model in the Richmond area. |
Budget: $50,000 for year 2
Goal 4 : Explore
state-of-the-art technology to assist counselors in providing VR
services.
Objective 4-1 Explore Internet teleconferencing and telemeeting solutions to assist in delivery of VR services (on-site rehab technology needs assessments, case staffing for mutual customers of WWRC or other agencies, program development meetings). Explore distance learning options for staff and VR customers (computer-based instruction from colleges and WWRC, etc.). Explore other models, such as studio and computer-to-computer. Explore cost-effectiveness of partnering with community colleges, public libraries, local public school systems, and other local agencies.
Evaluation criteria: Cost-benefit analysis
DRS has purchased the equipment to allow telephone conferences for the entire field services staff. The ability to have all field services staff participate simultaneously in meetings will greatly improve communications and should lead to improved efficiency and effectiveness. Relevant objectives have been formalized into WWRC's VR Services Divisional Strategic Plan for Technology Initiatives. While progress towards the goals has been delayed, preliminary steps have been taken in researching distance learning options for instructional purposes and exploring possible community based partnerships for instructional delivery.
Budget: $100,000
Objective 4-2 Continue to develop local area network (LAN) in 15 remaining field offices.
Evaluation criteria: Number of LAN installations.
By the end of Year 1, LAN installation will be completed for all field offices.
Budget: $120,300 in year 1
Objective 4-3 Develop document imaging sites where images can be scanned and stored into database. Explore converting stored documents to electronic media.
Evaluation criteria: Establishment of 3 document imaging sites in FY 1999.
Budget: $90,000 in Year 2
Objective 4-4 Use regional resource teams to provide staff with basic training in new applications on currently available software. Provide appropriate level of training for users, LAN network administrators, and super-users.
Evaluation criteria: Number of training programs developed and offered.
From October 1, 1997 to date, 122 computer software classes have been developed and offered to staff with a total DRS attendance of 729.
The computer software training efforts will continue into Year 2.
Budget: $92,000 per year
Objective 4-5 Devise short-term improvement of VRIS system to have it more user-friendly while developing a long-range plan for converting the entire VRIS database to user friendly system. Administrative projects, such as business recovery planning for all DRS systems, purchasing hardware and software and testing software to ensure DRS databases accept year 2000 ($35,000 in year 2).
Evaluation Criteria: Completion of projects
During Year 1, the Automation Steering Committee worked with MIS staff to identify aspects of VRIS that could be enhanced to improve the system and staff productivity in using the system. The proposed enhancements have been documented and are being addressed. In addition, staff are preparing contingency plans to ensure that databases accept year 2000.
Budget: $50,000 in year 1, $275,000 in year 2, $240,000 in year 3
Objective 4-6 Work with five other state agencies that offer services to persons with disabilities to establish a 24 hour toll free number that will provide recorded information (on assistive technology, employment, rights, higher education, independent living, and financial assistance) and during business hours the option to speak with an information and referral specialist.
Evaluation Criteria: Establishment of toll free number, number of calls, ease of customer use
| In Year 1, the vendor was selected to provide the automated attendant for the toll free number. The product, TTY Mail, promises to be the most accessible telephone automated attendant available on the market. |
| In Year 2, the automated attendant will become operational. |
Budget: $20,000 start-up costs in year 1; $10,000 in year 2; $10,000 in year 3
Goal 5: State Rehabilitation Advisory Council and Statewide Independent Living Council
Objective 5-1 Continue to promote responsiveness to the agency’s constituents by supporting the Statewide Rehabilitation Advisory Council and the Statewide Independent Living Council.
Evaluation Criteria: Staff and financial support to the Statewide Rehabilitation Advisory Council. Contract for administrative services and funding to support the operation of the Statewide Independent Living Council.
DRS has, and will, continue to provide financial and staff support to the SRAC and the SILC to support them in their advisory responsibilities and their initiatives.
Budget: $100,000 annually and percent of DRS’ Council liaison’s annual salary
Objective 5-2 This new initiative will provide assistance to the Statewide Independent Living Council to provide training to Centers for Independent Living and the Satellite Centers for Independent Living to support the development of consumerism activities to advocate for independent living.
Evaluation Criteria: Number of trainings held and evaluation of the training by the participants.
Budget: $20,000 Year 2
Goal 6: This new goal will
establish additional methods to provide outreach to persons
with disabilities
who are minorities.
Objective 6-1 Establish a partnership with a Virginia Historically Black University to provide graduate and post-graduate internship experiences at DRS for minority students who are matriculating or have matriculated from the graduate program in Severe Disabilities (with a concentration in rehabilitation services). The agency internship managers will provide the interns with appropriate work assignments and supervision resulting in realistic, non-academic professional entry experience in the operations of the agency.
Evaluation Criteria: Number of internships provided
Budget: $187,000 for Year 2; $17,000 for Year 3
Objective 6-2 Establish employment resource centers to focus on youth aged 13 and older to assist them in career development and in job seeking skills preparation. There will be three sites within the established enterprise zone in Roanoke City. The intent of this initiative is to provide career exploration and job seeking skills to minority youth.
Evaluation Criteria: Number of minority youth served.
Budget: $25,000 for Year 2 and Year 3
Related Attachments : Attachment 4-4 Attachment 4-12 Attachment 6-7 Attachment 7-4l
