Supplemental Services for VR Customers
Discussion Paper
Background
Supplemental Services is a vocational rehabilitation service available to eligible Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) customers through both the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) Blind Services Division (BSD) and Rehabilitation Services Division (RSD). VR customers can receive the assistance that they need to support VR services that are included in the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) or the IPE Amendment or may be necessary for a customer to participate in assessments to determine eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services and identify VR needs. These services may include child care services when other comparable benefits and resources are not readily available.
As appropriate to the vocational rehabilitation needs of each individual and consistent with each customer’s individualized plan for employment (IPE), the DSU must ensure that certain VR services are available to assist the individual with a disability in preparing for, securing, retaining, advancing in or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the individual’s unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.
34 CFR §361.48(b)(9)
“(b) Services for individuals who have applied for or been determined eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. As appropriate to the vocational rehabilitation needs of each individual and consistent with each individual's individualized plan for employment, the designated State unit must ensure that the following vocational rehabilitation services are available to assist the individual with a disability in preparing for, securing, retaining, advancing in or regaining an employment outcome that is consistent with the individual's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice:
(9) Vocational rehabilitation services to family members, as defined in §361.5(c) (23), of an applicant or eligible individual if necessary to enable the applicant or eligible individual to achieve an employment outcome.”
34 CFR §361.5(c) (22)
“(22) Family member, for purposes of receiving vocational rehabilitation services in accordance with §361.48(b)(9), means an individual—
(i) Who either—
(A) Is a relative or guardian of an applicant or eligible individual; or
(B) Lives in the same household as an applicant or eligible individual;
(ii) Who has a substantial interest in the well-being of that individual; and
(iii) Whose receipt of vocational rehabilitation services is necessary to enable the applicant or eligible individual to achieve an employment outcome.”
Issues
Currently, VRS policy and procedures to support a customer’s child care needs in order to support the customer’s vocational goal are not standardized. Currently RSD and BSD staff work under separate program manuals. TWC staff is creating a single VR Services Manual (VRSM) in preparation for combining the two divisions by October 1, 2017. In the process, staff identified sections that require alignment between the two divisions and sections that require additional guidance and review. Staff have identified the following issues pertaining to the supplemental service of childcare:
1. Although childcare is currently available to customers in both RSD and BSD, services are not uniform between the two divisions. For example, policies and procedures are not outlined in BSD.
2. Child care fees have not been reevaluated for a significant period and are not consistent with industry standard fees.
Decision Points
Staff seeks direction on the following policy revisions to be included in the VRSM:
1. To standardize policies and procedures pertaining to paying child care fees, VR will adopt and implement the rates used and monitored by the Texas Workforce Commission for Child Care rates.
2. VR will pay only one fee of up to $100 for registration per year for child care.
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DP Supplemental Services for VR Customers
Agenda Item: 10/03/17 Commission Meeting