1. Best Practices in the State Rehabilitation Council-Vocational Rehabilitation Partnership: West Virginia's Model Donna Ashworth, Director, WVDRS Sherry Taylor, Executive Director, WVSRC

2. Partnership Defined 1 Partnership refers to a business or organization where two or more individuals share equal responsibility for the management of profits and losses. “Cooperative relationship between people or groups who agree to share responsibility for achieving some specific goal or as a contract between two or more persons who agree to pool talent and money and share profits and losses.” – WordNet Project, Department of Computer Science, Princeton University 1 – McGuire-Kuletz, M., Tomlinson, P., & Siblo, M. (2010). The State Rehabilitation Council–vocational rehabilitation partnership: Working together works (Institute on Rehabilitation Issues Monograph No. 36). Washington, DC: The George Washington University, Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Center. 2

3. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Section 105 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended by Section 415 of WIOA, mandates the SRC and defines its composition and functions. Though mandated by federal law, the partnership between SRCs and VR extends beyond the shared accomplishment of mandated tasks. It is a call to action to advocate for and to hear the voices of those served by State-Federal VR programs. The partnership must be a commitment and priority for the partners in order to make the VR system an agent of change for people with disabilities to achieve competitive integrated employment! 3

4. SRC Composition 2 Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) Parent Training and Information Center, pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Client Assistance Program VR Counselor CRP representative Four representatives of business, industry, and labor Disability advocacy groups VR applicants or consumers American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services (In States in which one or more projects are funded under section 741) State educational agency responsible for public education of students with disabilities State workforce development board 2 – per Rehabilitation Act § 725(b)(1)(A), as amended by WIOA 4

5. SRC Functions 3 Review, analyze, and advise the designated State unit regarding the performance of the responsibilities of the unit Develop, agree to, and review State goals and priorities Evaluate the effectiveness of the vocational rehabilitation program and submit reports of progress to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Advise the designated State agency and the designated State unit regarding activities, including needs assessment activities Assist in the preparation of the State plan Conduct a review and analysis of the effectiveness of and consumer satisfaction with the VR program Prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and the Commissioner on the status of vocational rehabilitation programs operated within the State Coordinate activities with the activities of other councils within the State Provide for coordination and the establishment of working relationships between the designated State agency and the Statewide Independent Living Council and centers for independent living within the State 3 – per Rehabilitation Act § 725(c), as amended by WIOA 5

6. WVSRC Composition Twenty-six total members (WIOA mandate is 15, plus 1 ex officio) Executive Director, shares office space with WVDRS – Serves on WVDRS Executive Management Group Member-appointed Executive Committee – Chairperson – Vice-Chairperson – Secretary – Treasurer – Past Chairperson Six meetings per year (WIOA mandate is four), open to the public Two-day meeting once a year held jointly with SILC – Meetings follow Robert’s Rules of Order In addition to the assigned VR counselor and an agency liaison for the SRC, the WVDRS Director, Program Evaluation staff, and others regularly attend scheduled meetings 6

7. WVSRC Committees Executive Committee Membership Committee Nominating Committee Consumer Satisfaction Survey Committee Annual Report Committee State Plan Committee Bylaws Committee SRC/WVDRS Partnering Committee – Assures that communication and partnership remains at the highest possible level. The committee meets with the WVDRS Director and other designated VR staff to review the agency’s position, financial status, policies, and any issues that the SRC may offer assistance and support. 7

8. WVSRC Goals and Objectives 4 Comply with the functions of the Council as stated in the Rehabilitation Act as amended by WIOA; Continue strong partnership with WVDRS management staff and personnel acting as an advocate, confidant, and agency ambassador; Receive regular updates from WVDRS Director on efforts to increase public awareness; Council shall be educated and knowledgeable about services and programs within WVDRS; Be an active member of the WVDRS Policy Consultation Group; Maintain an active role in the National Coalition of the State Rehabilitation Council (NCSRC) participating on the national steering committee, attending state and national conferences to bring the information gained to the enrichment of the Council; Participate in the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR); Have independently prepared report provided electronically and verbally to Council members and designated VR staff; Conduct combined public forums with WVDRS and the WV Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) to educate the general public about WVDRS and the role(s) of the Council(s); Encourage Council members to become an active member of their local Consumer Affairs Committee (CAC); and Use social media to link the SRC to other partners giving access on the internet to the Annual Report, website and during public awareness events. 4 – From WVSRC 2013-2014 Annual Report 8

9. Continuous Recruitment Proactive Multi-faceted Outreach to targeted populations Educate potential WVSRC members – Role and responsibilities of WVSRC – Expectation of the individual WVSRC members Relationship with Governor to ensure timely appointments and approvals 9

10. WVDRS Support and Sponsorship WVSRC is funded by WVDRS to fulfill its responsibilities as mandated by WIOA. – Allows the WVSRC to host regularly scheduled meetings in order to make decisions, and share information with WVDRS and other attendees – Covers cost of travel for WVSRC members to attend regularly scheduled meetings in order to promote attendance and establish quorums – Allows WVSRC members to attend national conferences in order to stay abreast of trends and issues facing individuals with disabilities 10

11. Human and Fiscal Resources WVSRC Executive Director and members must fully commit the necessary time and effort into their duties/responsibilities. WVSRC Executive Director has an office at WVDRS State Administrative Office location. WVDRS provides meeting room access for WVSRC meetings. WVSRC has access to WVDRS administrative personnel for information and technical assistance. 11

12. WVDRS-WVSRC Joint Activities WVSRC is represented/participates in WVDRS Executive Management Group meetings once a month. Consumer satisfaction survey – WVDRS provides necessary consumer information to the WVSRC. – WVDRS responds to results of the annual consumer satisfaction survey reports (overall and transitioning youth). Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment (CSNA) activities Strategic Planning State Plan development – Goals and Priorities – WVSRC Input 12

13. Necessary Conditions Certain conditions must exist to allow a mutually beneficial working relationship – Open door policy between VR and SRC – Aim to work together to better serve individuals with disabilities – Respond promptly to SRC questions, concerns, and recommendations – Regular data sharing between VR and SRC 13

14. Data Sharing – WVSRC’s Role State of the WVSRC/Budget Recent and upcoming WVSRC activities 14

15. Data Sharing – WVDRS Director’s Role State of the VR Agency Recent activities of the Agency Provide responses to questions posed to the agency during meetings 15

16. Data Sharing – Program Evaluation Activities Progress on Goals and Priorities CSNA activities and ongoing results Continue to report on RSA Evaluation Standards and Performance Indicators – Standard 1 Assesses VR’s Impact on Employment – Standard 2 Assesses Equal Access Opportunity for Individuals of all Groups and Backgrounds Report on the new Common Measures 16

17. RSA Evaluation Standards and Performance Indicators for the VR Program 17 Performance IndicatorDescription 1.1: Change in Employment Outcomes Number of employment outcomes compared to previous year 1.2: Percent of Employment OutcomesPercent of individuals with employment outcomes after receiving services 1.3: Competitive Employment Outcomes – Primary Indicator Percentage of successful rehabilitants in competitive employment 1.4: Significance of Disability – Primary IndicatorPercentage of individuals identified in 1.3 who have significant disabilities 1.5: Earnings Ratio – Primary IndicatorRatio of avg. hourly earnings of individuals identified in 1.3 to that of all employed individuals in the State 1.6: Self-SupportDifference in percentage of individuals identified in 1.3 reporting their income as their largest source of support at entry vs. exit 2.1: Minority Background Service RateRatio of the percent of individuals with a minority background to the percent of individuals without a minority background exiting the program who received VR services

18. WIOA Primary Indicators of Performance 18 Performance IndicatorFormula The percentage of participants who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program Number of Exiters [Status 26, 28, and 30 (from Status 12)] in unsubsidized employment during 2 nd quarter after exit Total Number of Exiters The percentage of participants, who are in unsubsidized employment during the fourth quarter after exit from the program Number of Exiters [Status 26, 28, and 30 (from Status 12)] in unsubsidized employment during 2 nd quarter after exit Total Number of Exiters Median earnings of participants, who are in unsubsidized employment during the second quarter after exit from the program The 50 th percentile of earnings of participants during the second quarter after exit from the program

19. WIOA Primary Indicators of Performance 19 Performance Indicator Formula The percentage of participants who obtained a recognized post-secondary credential or a secondary school diploma, or its recognized equivalent during participation in or within 1 year after exit from the program. A participant who has obtained a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent is only included in this measure if the participant is also employed or is enrolled in an education or training program leading to a recognized post-secondary credential within 1 year from program exit (Number of Participants who obtained a recognized postsecondary credential during participation or within 1 year of exit) plus (Number of participants who obtained a Secondary School Diploma or equivalent during participation in or within 1 year of exit and are either employed or enrolled in a program leading to a recognized post-secondary credential within 1 year of exit) Total Number of Participants The percentage of participants who during a program year (July 1 – June 30), are in an education or training program that leads to a recognized post-secondary credential or employment and who are achieving measurable skill gains, defined as documented academic, technical, occupational or other forms of progress, towards such a credential or employment. Number of Participants in an education or training program that leads to a recognized post-secondary credential or employment and are achieving measurable skill gains Total Number of Participants Effectiveness in serving employers, based on indicators developed as required by sec. 116(b)(2)(A)(iv) of WIOA.To be determined