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The State of New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce

DevelopmentDivision of Vocational Rehabilitation

Services(DVRS)

Department of Human Services Commission for the Blind and Visually

Impaired (CBVI) &

Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

Present Present

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Supported Employment Supported Employment Services Services

Memorandum of Memorandum of UnderstandingUnderstanding

betweenbetween DVRS, CBVI & DDD DVRS, CBVI & DDD

OverviewOverview

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Section I: PurposeSection I: Purpose

Why do we need an Inter-Agency Why do we need an Inter-Agency Memorandum of Understanding?Memorandum of Understanding?

• To assist DVRS, CBVI, and DDD to To assist DVRS, CBVI, and DDD to operate in an efficient and successful operate in an efficient and successful manner to ensure quality service manner to ensure quality service provisionprovision

• To help guide efforts toward improving To help guide efforts toward improving employment outcomes for individuals employment outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities who with developmental disabilities who are entering the workforceare entering the workforce

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Why revise the MOU?Why revise the MOU?

• Define interagency relationships, Define interagency relationships, roles and responsibilitiesroles and responsibilities

• Align with current service delivery Align with current service delivery options & practiceoptions & practice

• Stress consistent and seamless Stress consistent and seamless service deliveryservice delivery

• Emphasize Supported Employment Emphasize Supported Employment as a viable option for as a viable option for allall individuals individuals

• Ensure employment outcomes are Ensure employment outcomes are trackedtracked

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Section II: ScopeSection II: Scope“Who does this MOU apply “Who does this MOU apply

to?”to?”Individuals with developmental Individuals with developmental

disabilities eligible for Supported disabilities eligible for Supported Services through : Services through :

Division of Developmental Disabilities Division of Developmental Disabilities

and/orand/or

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

and/or and/or

Commission for the Blind and Visually Commission for the Blind and Visually ImpairedImpaired

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Section IVSection IVReferralsReferrals

To refer or not to refer…that is the question! To refer or not to refer…that is the question!

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Who should be Who should be referred to DVRS/CBVI for referred to DVRS/CBVI for

services?services? • Individuals whoIndividuals who

want to want to workwork …….. ……..

should be referredshould be referred to to DVRS/CBVI DVRS/CBVI

to request to request assistance with finding assistance with finding

employment employment

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Individuals Individuals should notshould not go go to DVRS/CBVI to ask for to DVRS/CBVI to ask for

a letter of rejection.a letter of rejection.

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Section V: EligibilitySection V: Eligibility• Eligibility determinations Eligibility determinations

will be initiated and will be initiated and completed by each completed by each Division based upon Division based upon eligibility criteria eligibility criteria independent of the other independent of the other Divisions.Divisions.

• DVRS or CBVI will accept DVRS or CBVI will accept DDD eligible individuals DDD eligible individuals for supported for supported employment pre-employment pre-placement and intensive placement and intensive training phases.training phases.

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Section VISection VI

PlacementPlacement

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General Rules of General Rules of PlacementPlacement

• DVRS/CBVI- 18 month maximum to establish DVRS/CBVI- 18 month maximum to establish Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) objectives Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) objectives have been met and job stabilization has have been met and job stabilization has occurred.occurred.

• DVRS/CBVI counselor will provide written DVRS/CBVI counselor will provide written notification of projected beginning and ending notification of projected beginning and ending dates of time limited supported employment dates of time limited supported employment services to be provided to the individual to DDD. services to be provided to the individual to DDD.

• DVRS/CBVI will make efforts to refer individuals DVRS/CBVI will make efforts to refer individuals to SE Vendors contracted through all three to SE Vendors contracted through all three entities. (SE Vendor List available on DDD SE entities. (SE Vendor List available on DDD SE Website) Website)

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Phases of Placement: Phases of Placement: “Pre-Placement Phase”“Pre-Placement Phase”

Funded through DVRS or CBVIFunded through DVRS or CBVI the pre- the pre-placement phase consists of :placement phase consists of :

• Intake and Assessments~ gathering information Intake and Assessments~ gathering information about the person seeking employment about the person seeking employment

• Job Development & Job-Site Analysis~ Job Development & Job-Site Analysis~ gathering information about potential gathering information about potential employment opportunities employment opportunities

• Facilitating a good job match by the Facilitating a good job match by the employment specialist/job developer employment specialist/job developer

• Determination of Supported Employment or Determination of Supported Employment or Time-Limited Job Coaching serviceTime-Limited Job Coaching service

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Phases of Placement: Phases of Placement: “Intensive Training Phase”“Intensive Training Phase”

Funded by DVRS or CBVIFunded by DVRS or CBVI the the Intensive Training Phase, provided Intensive Training Phase, provided after the job match to ensure after the job match to ensure employment success, consists of:employment success, consists of:

• Job modifications and accommodations, Job modifications and accommodations, job restructuring, training, establishing job restructuring, training, establishing natural supports, etc.natural supports, etc.

• One-to-One support provided by an One-to-One support provided by an employment specialist (job coach) while employment specialist (job coach) while the employee learns the position and the employee learns the position and the employer learns support needsthe employer learns support needs

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Section VIISection VII

Extended ServicesExtended Services

Long Term Follow AlongLong Term Follow Along

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Extended Services Extended Services “Long Term Follow-Along (LTFA)”“Long Term Follow-Along (LTFA)”

Funded through DDDFunded through DDD,, LTFA begins once job LTFA begins once job stabilization has occurred & the employment stabilization has occurred & the employment specialist hours have faded down to specialist hours have faded down to maintenance level. LTFA consists of: maintenance level. LTFA consists of:

– Ongoing lifelong support services provided Ongoing lifelong support services provided by the employment specialist to ensure by the employment specialist to ensure continued employment successcontinued employment success

– Supporting individuals interested in career Supporting individuals interested in career developmentdevelopment

– Offering short term replacement hours in Offering short term replacement hours in cases of job loss or job jeopardycases of job loss or job jeopardy

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Frequently Frequently Asked Asked

QuestionsQuestions

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Transitioning High Transitioning High School Students School Students

Where do I go now?

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When should students When should students contact DVRS for services? contact DVRS for services?

• According to the Individuals with Disabilities According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) students may contact Education Act (IDEA) students may contact NJDVRS as young as age 14 for transition NJDVRS as young as age 14 for transition planning. planning.

• Typically students begin to work with DVRS Typically students begin to work with DVRS two years prior to graduation with the goal of two years prior to graduation with the goal of seamless transition of services upon seamless transition of services upon graduation.graduation.

Supported Employment Services are funded through Supported Employment Services are funded through the School District until the student graduates. the School District until the student graduates.

DVRS will not provide cost services until the student DVRS will not provide cost services until the student has completed their educational entitlement. has completed their educational entitlement.

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When should students When should students contact DDD for services ?contact DDD for services ?

• Students with developmental disabilities Students with developmental disabilities may apply for DDD services at any time.may apply for DDD services at any time.

• Students may request placement on the Students may request placement on the DDD day services planning list up to 5 DDD day services planning list up to 5 years prior to the end of the student’s years prior to the end of the student’s educational entitlement. educational entitlement.

• DDD will not begin to fund day services DDD will not begin to fund day services until July 1until July 1stst after the end of the after the end of the individuals educational entitlement.individuals educational entitlement.

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When should students When should students contact CBVI for services? contact CBVI for services?

• Students with visual impairments Students with visual impairments may contact CBVI for services at any may contact CBVI for services at any time. time.

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• No. The MOU allows individuals, who are No. The MOU allows individuals, who are participating in Self Directed Day Services, to participating in Self Directed Day Services, to simultaneously utilize DVRS/CBVI and a Self simultaneously utilize DVRS/CBVI and a Self Directed Day Budget. Certain rules do apply.Directed Day Budget. Certain rules do apply.

– The Individual must work less than 35 hours per The Individual must work less than 35 hours per week. (hours are based on the # of hours worked week. (hours are based on the # of hours worked notnot the # of SE support hours received)the # of SE support hours received)

The Individual must stay within their allotted The Individual must stay within their allotted budget to support requested day services.budget to support requested day services.

Graduation is approaching…do Graduation is approaching…do students have to make a choice students have to make a choice between working and other day between working and other day services?services?

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Other DDD Day Services

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Individuals who do not utilize a Individuals who do not utilize a Self Directed Day Service Budget Self Directed Day Service Budget can work with DVRS/CBVI support can work with DVRS/CBVI support and attend other DDD day services and attend other DDD day services

too!too! • However you can not utilize both However you can not utilize both

on the same day. on the same day. Work Schedule

Day Program Schedule

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Points to Consider…Points to Consider…

• Supported Employment is for Supported Employment is for individuals with the “most significant” individuals with the “most significant” disabilitiesdisabilities

• Supported Employment utilizes the Supported Employment utilizes the “place & train” method“place & train” method

• Information about Supported Information about Supported Employment should be shared with all Employment should be shared with all individuals and their familiesindividuals and their families

• Employment is the desired outcome Employment is the desired outcome for individuals with disabilitiesfor individuals with disabilities

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Supported Supported Employment Services Employment Services

ResourcesResources

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Additional Resources Additional Resources available on the DDD SE available on the DDD SE

WebsiteWebsite • MOUMOU• DDD Supported Employment DDD Supported Employment

ManualManual• Glossary of Terms Glossary of Terms • State Agency Contact ListState Agency Contact List• Supported Employment Vendor ListSupported Employment Vendor List

http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/ddd/ses.htmhttp://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/ddd/ses.htm

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Additional Resources…Additional Resources…

• The Arc of New Jersey The Arc of New Jersey www.arcnj.orgwww.arcnj.org

• The Boggs Center The Boggs Center http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/index.htmhttp://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/index.htm

• New Jersey Transit New Jersey Transit http://www.njtransit.com/index.jsphttp://www.njtransit.com/index.jsp

• New Jersey Work Incentive Network System New Jersey Work Incentive Network System www.njwins.orgwww.njwins.org

• Workforce New Jersey Public Information System Workforce New Jersey Public Information System http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/wnjpin_indhttp://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/wnjpin_index.htmlex.html

• Family Support Center of NJ Family Support Center of NJ www.fscnj.orgwww.fscnj.org

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QUESTIONS?