1. Improving Business Engagement and Consumer Outcomes Through A Redesign of Maine’s CRP System

2. JDVRTAC Project Objectives
Reduce CRP expenditures
Improve the number and quality of employment outcomes for consumers served by CRPs
Move consumers into employment quickly
Create a cross agency, statewide approach to business engagement that improves the availability of job development resources throughout the state

3. Stakeholder Involvement
Have worked closely with Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs), State Rehabilitation Councils for DVR and DBVI, the Client Assistance Program (Maine CARES) and the PABSS (Disability Rights Maine) over the past 10+ years on CRP payment structure.
Long-standing partnership with Maine DHHS- Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS), Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS).
DHHS and Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services:
Jointly fund additional benefits specialists (CWICs)
Jointly fund the Employment Workforce Development System
Have the same requirements for employment services providers (CRPs, Employment Specialists, Job Coaches).

4. Timeline: Milestone SFY 2014 first full year (6/30/2014) Hybrid
Rolled out 10/1/2016
Revised/updated 2/14/2017
JDVRTAC
First site visit June 2016
RFP
Due out “late summer”
RFP process 2-4 months

5. Outcome Based/ Milestone Payment System
MILESTONES
TIER I
TIER II
1. Plan for Employment Search Written
$ 900
$ 500
2. Placed in Employment – Completes 1 work day
3. Maintains Employment – Completes 45 calendar days
$1,000
4. Retains Employment – Eligible for successful VR closure
$1,200
TOTAL
$ 4,000
$ 2,500
Bonus Payment – SSI/SSDI Recipients at SGA Earnings Level
$ 1,000
Additional Subsidies:
Remote Area Travel
15%
Required Population Specific Certification/Competency
Milestones started 2013 Reason for starting milestones?

6. Results of the Milestone System: What the Data Showed
SFY
Clients with CRP Services
Successful Closures Associated with CRPs
Total Successful Closures (FFY)
Difference Total Closures vs. CRP Closures
CRP Expenditures
Avg. Cost for Closures Associated with CRPs
2012
2,484
256
778
522
$2,904,410.49
$11,345.35
2014
2,614
337
1,010
673
$3,280,570.96
$9,734.63
2015
2,221
247
1,132
885
$3,559,863.95
$14,412.40
2016
2,384
414
1,166
752
$3,545,118.49
$8,563.08
2017
2,343
416
758
342
$3,477,874.59
$8,360.27
Highlighted years are full years of milestone payment implementation

7. Hybrid System Services Fees Job Placement Assistance Job Development *
$35/hour
Job Search Assistance
Job Seeking Skills Instruction
Labor Market Survey
Job Analysis
Job Readiness Training
Job Skills Training
Transitional Employment Training (Psychosocial Clubhouse)
$30/hour
Customized Employment
Technical Assistance Services
Business Consultation
Assessment
Discovering Personal Genius
Situational Assessment/ Assessment to Hire
Wages for Situational Assessment
Varies by CRP/location
Pre-Employment Transition Services
Pre-ETS- Job Exploration Counseling
Pre-ETS-Work Based Learning Experiences
Pre-ETS-Counseling on Enrollment Opportunities
Pre-ETS-Workplace Readiness Training
Pre-ETS-Instruction in Self Advocacy

8. Hybrid System, cont’d. On-the-Job Supports- Short term *
Job Coaching - Short-term
$30/hour
On-the-Job Supports- Supported Employment
Job Coaching – Supported Employment
Report Writing (¼ hour increments, not to exceed 1 hour per report)
Remote Area Travel**
Job Coaching for Population Specific Certification/Competency ***
$35/hour
Job Development for Population Specific Certification/Competency ***
$40/hour
Bonus
Paid at Successful Closure
Employed 0-90 Days from Referral Date for Job Development or Customized Employment
$750
Employed Days from Referral Date for Job Development or Customized Employment
$500
Paid When Substantiated
SSI/SSDI Recipients at SGA Earnings Level
$1000

9. Results of the Hybrid System: What the Data Showed
SFY
Clients with CRP Services
Successful Closures Associated with CRPs
Total Successful Closures (FFY)
Difference Total Closures vs. CRP Closures
CRP Expenditures
Avg. Cost for Closures Associated with CRPs
2016
2,384
414
1,166
752
$3,545,118.49
$8,563.08
2017
2,343
416
758
342
$3,477,874.59
$8,360.27

10. Decreased CRPs Over The Years
Contracts Between BRS & CRPs
2015 59
2016 56
2017 54
2018 41

11. Business Relations: Improved Connections and Services to Employers Using Existing Resources
In House BRS Staff:
VRC in Northern Maine serving as half time business relations person
Rehabilitation Consultants in Central and Southern Maine serving as half time business relations person

12. Business Relations: Improved Connections and Services to Employers Using Existing Resources
Working With WIOA and Other Community Partners: Career Centers, BRS, Adult Education, Universities and Community Colleges, State/Regional/Local Economic Development, etc.
Statewide and Regional Committees
Using America’s (Maine) Job Link common database for tracking Effectiveness in Serving Employers (statewide measure)

13. Progressive Employment
Adapted with ICI support from successful Vermont-developed model
Dual Customer Approach
Pilot began in 2015 in DVR’s two largest offices – Portland and Lewiston
RSA-funded Transition Work Based Model Demonstration expanded Progressive Employment to two more offices
Focus on strengthening work based learning and experiences for transition-age youth and young adults
Business Account Manager (BAM) – key new role!
Partnering with Community Rehabilitation Providers
Business Development
Maintaining and sharing spreadsheet of business outreach

14. JDVRTAC Assistance Assist in data analysis
Explore CRP payment systems used by other state VR programs
Assist in development of a communications strategy
Provide feedback on new forms for CRPs
Shared ideas regarding coordination of business outreach
Maine DVR staff attended multiple JDVRTAC forums

15. Request For Proposals
In June 2018 notified CRPs, and Maine BRS staff, of intention to put CRP services out to bid.
Maine BRS (DVR and DBVI) is pursuing this change to be able to provide consistent and comprehensive employment services to job seekers with disabilities across the state.
Essential Elements:
Informed Choice
Everyone is Ready for Something
Cross-disability
Services to all referred individuals, regardless of nature or severity of disability
Cultural competency and respect for diversity
Continuity of Services (“soup to nuts”)

16. Request For Proposals: Current Status
Review of draft by Division of Purchases
Consulting with Alliance regarding best use of AWARE to track expenditures, reports, case documentation, etc.
Finalizing scoring system

17. Questions? Libby Stone-Sterling Director, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Chris Robinson Director of Systems Improvement and Quality Assurance