State Rehabilitation Council Annual Report 2015 STEM Apprenticeship Terry E. Branstad, Governor Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor Page Contents Ryan M. Wise, Director Department of Education 3 SRC Membership David L. Mitchell, Administrator Dear Friends, 4 About SRC Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) is pleased to partner with the Iowa State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) in presenting the 2015 SRC Annual Report. We are proud of the accomplishments and activities reflected in this report and of the IVRS vision of making a positive difference for every person, one person at a time. 5 SRC Survey We extend a special thank you to outgoing SRC member John Mikelson, who served on the council for six years. We give a warm welcome to our new members: Nicole Cleveland, Pamala Fitzsimmons and Brian Dennis. This report highlights the partnerships that assist IVRS in serving Iowans with disabilities. Particular focus is on strong relationships with secondary and post-secondary schools, Iowa 6 State Plan Workforce Development and a collaborative approach across state systems to improve employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The State Rehabilitation Council plays a key role in providing for these collaborative partnerships. Diverse representation on the Council facilitates lively discussion impacting areas of veteran services, independent living, and students/adults with disabilities. This report 7 Investing in also emphasizes the essential partnerships developed with business and industry. Iowans 2015 Through these efforts, IVRS provided vocational rehabilitation services to over 12,000 Iowans with disabilities in fiscal year 2015. All federal outcome measures, as outlined by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, were achieved. 8 IVRS Services One of those standards and indicators included 2,321 Iowans with disabilities that achieved successful community integrated employment. These new on-the-job citizens represent the and Outcomes powerful impact of vocational rehabilitation with a total increase in annual earnings of $9.9 million and a positive return on investment for money appropriated to VR services. The SRC plays a critical role in supporting the VR service delivery program through its work in 9 IVRS Job conducting a Comprehensive Needs Assessment, informing the State Plan and in reviewing and monitoring satisfaction and progress towards attaining employment goals. This past year Candidate also involved learning of federal changes to the VR system caused by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act and providing input into the Iowa Unified State Plan, impacting Profiles service delivery. IVRS pledges continued commitment towards an employment service delivery system that is accountable and effective in serving Iowans with disabilities and our 10 Business business and industry customers. Thank you for taking the time to review this report and the work of our dedicated SRC volunteers. Initiatives 11 Education Services 12 IVRS Area Office Locations 2 State Rehabilitation Council FY 2014-2015 Joan Bindel Lori Moore Sherri Clark Renee Neppl Jill Crosser Deb Samson Randell Davis James Smith Page Eastin Jeanne Sorenson Jeanne Sorenson: Chair Kathy Joblinske Rosemary Thierer Gary McDermott Ed Wallace John Mikelson David Mitchell IVRS Staff to SRC: Renee Neppl: Chair, Co-Chair Matthew Coulter Kenda Jochimsen Kathleen Slater Kelley Rice Lee Ann Russo Rosemary Thierer: Co-Chair 3 SRC Committees Jeanne Sorenson: Chair Renee Neppl: Chair, Co-Chair Rosemary Thierer: Co-Chair PLANNING AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE T DUTIES/OBJECTIVES/ACTIVITIES: he SRC, with members appointed to three- 1. Review and provide input and recommendations on year terms by the Governor, has been in the RSA-required State Plan and yearly State Plan operation since January 1993. amendments. Our focus is to provide advice and direction to the 2. Develop and coordinate distribution of monthly client Department of Education’s Iowa Vocational satisfaction survey. Rehabilitation Services on the quality and 3. Analyze responses from monthly client satisfaction effectiveness of their programs and services. survey. The SRC is a vital link to community organizations 4. Complete SRC Annual Report to the Governor. and providers which IVRS serves and through 5. Review proposals and make recommendations which it procures its goods and services. regarding Agency policy issues. The goals of the SRC are to seek and improve the quality of employment outcomes and community OUTREACH COMMITTEE participation for individuals with disabilities. DUTIES/OBJECTIVES/ACTIVITIES: 1. Create an informative legislative reception that CAP produces support from legislators regarding IVRS services and initiatives. 2. Develop a position paper to be used in educating legislators and the public on the impact of IVRS on The Client Assistance Program (CAP) is a the Iowa Workforce needs. federally-mandated program designated to 3. Recruit new SRC members who can leverage public assist individuals who encounter conflicts with support in advocating for persons with disabilities. Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Iowa Department for the Blind, and Centers for FINANCE COMMITTEE Independent Living. CAP helps people with disabilities receive quality services by DUTIES/OBJECTIVES/ACTIVITIES: advocating for their interests and helping them 1. Review and communicate the implications of allocation decisions. identify resources, understand procedures, 2. Understand and be able to communicate the state- resolve problems, and protect their rights in the federal match process. rehabilitation process, employment, and home 3. Understand and be able to communicate the services. The CAP advocate uses mediation, financial processes of IVRS. negotiation, conflict resolution, and legal means 4. Educate legislators, policy makers, partners and needed to help resolve issues. others on fiscal issues. 4 SRC Consumer Satisfaction Survey 95% of our job Satisfaction surveys have been candidates with designed to solicit information successful from individuals served by IVRS. employment Survey data is shared at quarterly outcomes report SRC meetings and posted to the satisfaction with the way their IVRS website. IVRS staff are also counselor related informed about the satisfaction to them. level from job candidates who complete a survey once their case is closed by IVRS. The current Consumer Satisfaction Survey is in response to a mandate under federal regulations §361.29. 94% of our job candidates with Additionally, a five-question post- successful card survey is provided to active employment job candidates at three specific outcomes report points during their rehabilitation the counselor process. It is currently available in involved them in all IVRS offices, and can be decision-making. completed on site or online. Feedback from this survey indicates that the majority of job candidates rate the quality of services received from IVRS as 89% of our job excellent. The survey also candidates with provides an opportunity for successful individuals to make contact with employment IVRS administration. outcomes report they are employed Survey satisfaction results are or more prepared for employment reviewed and shared at every because of the SRC meeting. The goal of each services received member of Iowa’s SRC continues from IVRS. to be to seek and improve the quality of employment outcomes and community participation for individuals with disabilities. 89% of our job candidates with successful employment outcomes had a To see the results of the entire satisfactory Consumer Satisfaction Survey, visit experience our website at: throughout the vocational http://www.ivrs.iowa.gov/partners/ rehabilitation FFY2015ConsumerSatisfactionSur- process. vey20151029.pdf 5 STATE PLAN GOALS 1. Improve retention and rehabilitation rate of job candidates from diverse backgrounds in the caseload annually through FFY15. 2. Collaborate with workforce partners to coordinate effective service delivery for IVRS job candidates through FFY15. 3. Retain eligible IVRS job candidates until they become rehabilitated, achieving their optimal level of employment and self-sufficiency, achieving or exceeding number of persons with employment outcomes in prior year. 4. Improve meaningful, sustained employment for supported employment consumers through FFY15. 5. Improve outreach and rehabilitation rates for individuals who are underserved such as individuals who are age 55 and older, and students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing through FFY15. 6. Track data and assess the effectiveness of benefits planning services provided by IVRS in FFY15. 6 Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services: Investing in Iowans FFY 2015 Vocational Rehabilitation is an The investment pays off investment in Iowa * A Total of 2,321 VR Iowans with disabilities *Iowans with disabilities served by IVRS in obtained employment in the 2015 federal FFY 2015 have an estimated income of fiscal year. $47.1 million annually.  This reflects growth of more than *Approximately 96 percent of successful VR $27.5 million from increased employment job candidates remain in Iowa, working, paying and more than $10.4 million from increased taxes, and contributing to their communities. earnings.  This results in Iowans with disabilities earning $11.3 million more than was spent on the *A total of 627 VR job candidates were receiving entire VR program. public support for living expenses (SSI, SSDI, TANF, General Assistance). Of those, 122 now support themselves, a savings of $955,716.96 *Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services has a annually for the state. positive impact on linking our youth with disabilities to career pathways! Thirty-five percent of our referrals come from Iowa School Districts and 973 students were successfully employed, working 34 hours/week with average earnings of $11.21 / hour.  $7.37 million was spent on post-secondary tuition assistance, facilitating educational and occupational skills attainment. 7 What services are available? IVRS is the largest division of the Department of Education. The division employs nearly 400 people in Des Moines and 43 locations throughout the  Technological state. Employees work within three bureaus and a Planning assessment and Development Team.  Vocational assessment The majority of staff are professionally trained rehabilitation  Counseling and counselors and disability examiners. Ninety-seven percent of guidance the counselors have Master’s degrees in Counseling or a  Transition services for closely related field. students With the exception of a few administrative personnel and the  Physical and/or mental West Central Area Office, most of the Rehabilitation Services restoration services that Bureau (RSB) employees are geographically disbursed may include therapy, wheelchairs, hearing aids, outside of Des Moines to cover all 99 counties and every high etc. school in the state.  Special adaptive As stewards of the public trust, IVRS maintains an efficient equipment or devices workforce by assigning staff to multiple locations so that every  Medical and community college, regent’s institution, county, high school psychological assessment and most mental health institutes have access to an IVRS staff  Training for person. employment IVRS customers are individuals with disabilities who need  Occupational tools, vocational or other assistance to help meet their goals for equipment or licenses employment or personal independence.  Planning for Self- Employment  Personal assistance  Supported Employment  Job coaching  Job placement  Follow-up after placement to assist with work and employer satisfaction Services may be provided after employment if needed. 8 IVRS Job Candidates “I found out about Vocational Rehabilitation through special education at high school and a The increase in annual local community rehabilitation partner. My Special Education Teacher, Elaine Baughman, income between referred me. What kept me from working was that I application and couldn’t drive yet because I didn’t have my license. I have ADHD and seizures. I stare a lot closure was 415.5% sometimes when I have my seizures. A service statewide for that my IVRS Counselor Ellen Sokolowski provided to help me was to set up a job coach. She was in the background making sure I did successful IVRS job everything o.k. Ellen thought Fareway would be a nice job for me to do. I bag groceries and stock shelves at Fareway. I do pretty good. candidates. I’m probably the third top courtesy out of all of them and I get a lot of hours. They like me at Fareway and they say I do a good job. They don’t want me to leave.” There were more than Josh Buman 6,000 Number of Placements by Occupational Category referrals for IVRS 400 Number of Placements by Occupational Category services in 2015. 350 300 250 200 150 In 2015, 59% of 100 50 0 successful IVRS job candidates increased their education. 2015 IVRS assisted 70 Veterans in successfully obtaining employment in 2015. 9 Business Initiatives IVRS works with business and industry to provide career opportunities for our job candidates and a qualified and trained workforce for our business partners. We have initiatives with several partner businesses including Walgreen’s REDI program and Manpower’s Access2Ability to provide On-the-Job-Training or Temp-To-Hire opportunities for our job candidates. In addition, IVRS works with employers who seek Federal 503 compliance or consultation for reasonable accommodations and assistive technology. IVRS provides additional resources through the Talent Acquisition Portal and Employer’s Disability Resource Network (EDRN). Pepsi Beverages Company in Urbandale provided our VR with a tour of their company. They shared information on the types of positions they have available, the duties and requirements of those positions and their hiring practices. This tour and information helps IVRS to provide the best job candidates to fulfill business hiring needs. Iowa Self-Employment Program 50 new Iowa businesses were started or expanded in 2015, earning an average of $14.23 per hour and working an average of 28 hours per week. Learn more about the Iowa Self-Employment Program at: http://www.ivrs.iowa.gov/IowaSelfEmploymentProgram/ SelfEmploymentMainIndex.htm 10 IVRS Transition Initiatives The Transition Alliance Program (TAP) is a collaboration between IVRS and a local school district, focused on improving post-school employment outcomes for students with disabilities. The program is jointly funded by IVRS and the school district, with each entity providing 50% of the costs of the program. Currently there are eight TAP contracts serving 20 high schools and 929 students. IVRS, in partnership with the local school districts, assists students with disabilities to prepare for success in vocational, academic, and independent living settings. IVRS has a presence in every public high school in the state to assist with a student’s transition to employment. Kyle Young (center) and Melody Davis (right) came to the IVRS Des More than $7.37 million was spent on tuition assistance Moines office to talk about their experience in the Mt. Ayr Transition for students in post-secondary training programs to Alliance Program (TAP). They are pictured with IVRS Administrator obtain educational or occupational skills training to help David Mitchell. Kyle is completing training in auto mechanics and Melody compete in today’s labor market. works for a hospital in the housekeeping department. Hires by Education Level High school graduate or equivalency certificate (GED); 596 ; 26% Post-secondary education, no degree or certificate; 437; Special education certificate of 19% completion/diploma or in attendance; 160 ; 7% Secondary education, no high school diploma (grades 9-12); 47 ; 2% Elementary education (grades 1-8); 3 ; 0% No formal schooling; 1 ; 0% Any degree above a Master's - e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D, J.D.; 6 ; 0% Master's degree; 47 ; 2% Occupational credential beyond graduate degree work; 5 ; 0% Vocational/Technical Certificate/Degree; 365 ; 16% Occupational credential beyond undergraduate degree work; 11 ; 0% Bachelor's degree; 350 ; 15% Post-secondary academic degree, Associate degree; 293; 13% 11 IVRS Area Offices Burlington Area Office Fort Dodge Area Office Sioux City Area Office 1000 North Roosevelt Two Triton Circle 2508 East 4th Street Burlington, Iowa 52601 Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Sioux City, Iowa 51101-2298 319-753-2231 515-573-8175 712-255-8871 Cedar Rapids Area Office Iowa City Area Office Waterloo Area Office 4444 1st Avenue NE, Suite 436 1700 South 1st Avenue, Suite 11-A 3420 University Ave., Suite D Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402 Iowa City, Iowa 52240 Waterloo, Iowa 50701-2008 319-294-9308 319-354-4766 319-234-0319 (Voice/TTY) Council Bluffs Area Office Mason City Area Office West Central/Polk Area Office 300 W. Broadway, Suite 33 600 South Pierce Avenue 510 East 12th Street Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503-9030 Mason City, Iowa 50401-4836 Des Moines, Iowa 50319 712-328-3821 (Voice/TTY) 641-422-1551 515-281-4211 WATS 1-800-532-1486 (Voice/TTY) Davenport Area Office North Central Area Office 3827 W. Locust Street 819 Wheeler Street, Suite 6 Davenport, Iowa 52804 Ames, Iowa 50010 563-386-1200 (Voice/TTY) 515-233-5753 Dubuque Area Office Ottumwa Area Office 2600 Dodge Street, Suite NW2 15260 Truman Street, Suite 4 Dubuque, Iowa 52003 Ottumwa, Iowa 52501-1473 563-588-4697 641-682-7569 (V/TTY) Visit Our Website: www.ivrs.iowa.gov 12