1 / 27

What’s On The Radar For DARS / DRS?

What’s On The Radar For DARS / DRS?. By Matthew Deans and Beth Somers for: Kristi Lockhart, MS, CRC Transition Services Coordinator Virginia Division of Rehabilitative Services. March 11, 2013. Today’s agenda. DRS basics News and updates Review of 2012 What’s coming in 2013.

analu
Télécharger la présentation

What’s On The Radar For DARS / DRS?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. What’s On The RadarFor DARS / DRS? By Matthew Deans and Beth Somers for: Kristi Lockhart, MS, CRC Transition Services Coordinator Virginia Division of Rehabilitative Services March 11, 2013

  2. Today’s agenda • DRS basics • News and updates • Review of 2012 • What’s coming in 2013

  3. About DRS • Virginia’s federally mandated Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program • Assists individuals with disabilities to prepare for, enter, and maintain employment • Focus is on EMPLOYMENT • Participation is VOLUNTARY

  4. The VR Transition Counselor • In offices located across the Commonwealth • Serving every public high school • Works collaboratively with: • Student and their family • Special Education Staff • Guidance Counselors • Case Managers • Physicians • Therapists • Others

  5. The VR Counselor • An expert in disability and career counseling • Determines eligibility for DRS services • Identifies barriers to competitive employment • Helps develop employment goal • Develops Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) with steps to achieve student’s employment goal

  6. Early involvement is essential! • Start discussing DRS at least 3 yrs prior to exiting • Ask questions and plan ahead

  7. Research tells us: • Transition age youth demonstrate better employment outcomes when they receive services early • Transition age youth with disabilities get and keep quality jobs at a higher rate when they apply for vocational rehabilitation services beforethey have tried to join the labor market or begin receiving public assistance

  8. Steps for Involvement with DRS • Referral • Intake • Eligibility • Order of Selection* • Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) • Services • Closure * When a state does not have sufficient funds to meet the needs of all individuals seeking services, a plan must be initiated to serve those clients with the most need first.

  9. Eligibility Criteria • Eligible to work in the US • Documented disability • Barrier to employment • Be able to benefit from services • Require services to prepare for, enter and engage in or retain employment

  10. Issues to think about… • Modifications or accommodations • Effective communication skills • Organizational skills • Assistance needed to get from place to place • Training or supervision to obtain/maintain work skills • Work stamina • Work habits • Adaptive/assistive technology

  11. Issues to think about… • Money management • Medication management • Self-care capability • Ability to plan and initiate activities • Problem solving skills • Interactions and relationships with others • Self advocacy skills

  12. Financial Participation • Eligible students must complete financial need process • Some services can be provided without regard to financial need • Some services involve financial participation on the part of the student and family

  13. Services that may be provided at no cost • Guidance and counseling • Assessment • Career exploration • Job seeking and placement • On-the-Job Training, Unpaid Work Experiences • Disability awareness counseling • Follow-along services after job placement

  14. Services that may have a cost share • Higher education • Vocational/technical training • Durable medical equipment or other goods • Assistive Technology (A.T.) • Therapeutic Intervention

  15. The Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) • Developed after DRS eligibility is established • Created collaboratively with student, family, service providers, and DRS Counselor • Parallel to the student’s IEP • Focuses on employment • Outlines steps, services and funding needed for employment goal

  16. Functional Limitations Considered • Mobility • Self Direction • Self Care • Interpersonal Skills • Communication • Work Tolerance • Work Skills

  17. News and Updates • DARS: Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services • 5 divisions • Division of Rehabilitative Services • Division for the Aging • Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center • Community Based Services • Disability Determination Services • Order of Selection • Now serving Nov/Dec/Jan applicants in Category I

  18. Project SEARCH (PS): • New Supported Employment and Project SEARCH Coordinator (Matthew Deans) • Goals: • Help to develop new PS sites. • Assist teams in coordination • Help problem solve issues that arise throughout year. • Help locate resources for new and existing sites. • Survey PS Teams annually to determine training needs. • Conduct trainings related to these needs.

  19. Supported Employment (SE): • Develop collaborative, proactive relationships • Develop annual technical assistance and training plans for ESO related services. • Trainings for new Counselors, DRS offices and ESOs • Assist in coordination of Regional SE Forums • Focus trainings on integration and competitive employment outcomes.

  20. Review of 2012

  21. What happened in 2012? • Cooperative Agreements were all up-to-date! • New opportunities to collaborate with VDOE • Employment First • Diploma changes • Mental Health services highlighted • New System of Care concept at DBHDS • All TPC meetings focused on it • Transition Councils became more important than ever! • Re-energizing them where needed • Developing them where they haven’t existed • Connecting Local Transition Councils for sharing/learning

  22. Virginia’s Transition Councils • Map and list of Councils • Do you know your Council? • on Va DCDT website • Rethink how information travels • Revamp how we communicate and partner…at all levels • Transition Council Graphic 2012

  23. What’s Coming in 2013? • Communication framework developed for state, regional, and local transition councils • One spot for sharing across communities • SharedWork.org • Annual Cooperative Agreement “check-in”

  24. What’s Coming in 2013? • Collaboration with I’m Determined program • Integrated into VR process • Collaboration with Foster Care to improve outcomes • Better communication and process with DSS

  25. What’s Coming in 2013? • Updated website for DRS Transition Services! • New DRS Transition Guide • More information for families, school staff, and others • Additional resources and links provided • Links to other agencies and service providers

  26. What Would You Like To See?

  27. For more information please contact: Kristi Lockhart Transition Services Coordinator (804) 337-1184 Kristi.Lockhart@drs.virginia.gov

More Related