~~Strengths: DOR employs qualified SVRC-QRPs with master’s degrees who are trained in assessment, career planning, job placement, and assistive technology services to meet the employment needs of eligible individuals with disabilities. DOR utilizes a consumer-centered approach to service delivery through a team that includes SVRC-QRPs, service coordinators, employment coordinators, and other support staff to deliver effective and timely consumer services throughout the state. The employment coordinators provide labor market analysis, employer engagement, disability sensitivity training, and other supportive services to assist clients in achieving an employment outcome. Coupled with the direct services provided by the team, DOR maintains a network of partnerships with community based disability organizations and other public agencies, including high schools, community colleges, universities, and county mental health agencies to provide a greater range of employment services and opportunities to DOR consumers than would otherwise be available through any single agency. Lastly, given its focus and expertise, DOR has positioned itself to provide California’s leadership voice in state government and administers other programs, including the Disability Access Services, to assist in removing barriers to full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workforce, in state government, and in community life. (Page 59-60) Title I
The scope of business solutions that may be provided at Rapid Response events is not restricted to the activities described in Section 134 of WIOA. Local Boards are encouraged to leverage other local or state funding sources to provide a broader scope of business solutions. Examples include assisting with Trade Adjustment Assistance, Unemployment Insurance claim filing, economic development, financial assistance counseling, and mental health counseling. (Page 296) Title II
Program Element 10 - Comprehensive Guidance and Counseling
This program element provides individualized counseling to participants and may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling, mental health counseling, and referral to partner programs. Local Areas and youth service providers may directly provide counseling. When a Local Area or youth service provider refers a youth for counseling services that they are unable to provide, the Local Area or service provider must coordinate with the referred counseling organization to ensure continuity of service (TEGL 21-16). (Page 325) Title II
This program element provides individualized counseling to participants and may include drug and alcohol abuse counseling, mental health counseling, and referral to partner programs. Local Areas and youth service providers may directly provide counseling. When a Local Area or youth service provider refers a youth for counseling services that they are unable to provide, the Local Area or service provider must coordinate with the referred counseling organization to ensure continuity of service (TEGL 21-16). (Page 348) Title II
Coordination with the State Agency Responsible for Providing Mental Health Services
In California, the State agency responsible for mental health services is the California Department of Health Care Services. CDOR has developed a Memorandum of Understanding with Department of Health Care Services to establish a framework for collaboration between CDOR and Department of Health Care Services to provide local technical assistance and support in order to strengthen existing CDOR Mental Health Cooperative Programs or to develop new patterns of vocational rehabilitation services available to individuals living with severe mental illness, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that consumers have access to a comprehensive, coordinated, and quality service delivery system. (Page 422) Title IV
Non—educational Agencies Serving Out—of—School Youth The CDOR serves out—of—school youth through multiple venues and methods. CDOR Districts provide unique types of programs and services for youth and adults with disabilities. The majority of programs are with educational agencies (short or long-term training or educational programs). The local CDOR Districts have strong working relationships with the local regional centers that serve youth and adults with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities. Similarly, CDOR Districts also have established working relationships with local county mental health and county welfare programs that also serve youth and adults with psychiatric disabilities. Additionally, some CDOR Districts have also formed connections with foster youth programs. (Page 423) Title IV
To support the provisions of this Interagency Agreement, CDOR established a Cooperative Programs Action Committee comprised of representatives from the California Department of Education, Local Educational Agencies, community colleges, state universities, mental health agencies, and community-based organizations. The Cooperative Programs Action Committee provides feedback to CDOR in the development of policies and procedures to promote the services for individuals with disabilities. (Page 426) Title IV
The CDOR works with over 100 Supported Employment providers statewide with associated locations and satellite offices. The CDOR, the California Department of Developmental Services, and the California Department of Education additionally are establishing Local Partnership Agreements consistent with the Competitive Integrated Employment: Blueprint for Change. The Local Partnership Agreements are anticipated to encourage the sharing of resources to support person centered planning and pre-vocational services that may be provided prior to an individual’s referral to CDOR for Supported Employment. In California, CDOR and the Department of Developmental Services utilize the hourly rates for Supported Employment job coaching, intake, placement, and retention services that are statutorily—defined. The current rates were set in 2008 (Assembly Bill 1781). Sources of extended services vary depending on the individual’s eligibility for other programs or availability of other resources. Funding for extended services for individuals with mental illness may be provided by county mental health agencies, which may allocate Medi—Cal, Mental Health Services Act, or Short—Doyle funds as determined by each county. Social Security Administration Work Incentives, such as Impairment Related Work Expense or an approved Plan for Achieving Self Support, may be used. Supported Employment services provided under Veteran’s Health Administration Compensated Work Therapy Program may also be used to fund extended services. California state regulations do not allow Traumatic Brain Injury state match funds to be used for extended services. Consumers with a Traumatic Brain Injury that require extended services such as ongoing support needed to maintain Supported Employment, such as job coaching, can be served through additional resources at local Independent Living Centers. Whenever possible, building natural supports at the workplace for consumers with Supported Employment needs is encouraged. Natural supports allow the strengthening of the relationship between employer and consumer, supporting long-term successful outcomes and to develop opportunities for competitive integrated employment, to the greatest extent practicable. (Page 431) Title IV
Coordination with the State Agency Responsible for Providing Mental Health Services
In California, the State agency responsible for mental health services is the California Department of Health Care Services. CDOR has developed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health Care Services to establish a framework for collaboration between CDOR and the Department of Health Care Services to provide local technical assistance and support in order to strengthen existing CDOR Mental Health Cooperative Programs or to develop new patterns of vocational rehabilitation services available to individuals living with severe mental illness, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that consumers have access to a comprehensive, coordinated, and quality service delivery system. The CDOR is also a member of the California Mental Health Planning Council, which evaluates the behavioral health system for accessible and effective care. It advocates for an accountable system of responsive services that are strength-based, recovery-oriented, culturally competent, and cost-effective. (Page 434) Title IV
Possession of a valid license as a Psychologist issued by the California Board of Psychology and possession of an earned Doctorate Degree in Psychology from an educational institution meeting the criteria of Section 2914 of the California Business and Professions Code. Unlicensed individuals who are recruited from outside the State of California and who qualify for licensure may take the examination and may be appointed for a maximum of two years at which time licensure shall have been obtained or the employment shall be terminated.). Experience: Either —
• Two years of experience in the California state service performing clinical psychology duties equivalent to those of a Psychologist (Various Specialties), Psychologist (Health Facility) (Various Specialties), or Psychologist Clinical, Correctional Facility. Or,
• Three years of full—time postdoctoral, post—internship experience in the practice of psychology involving either training, research, consultation, or program planning in mental health services. (Page 442) Title IV
The CDOR will additionally make available services under section 603 to individuals with other disability types that need supported employment services, including those with mental health disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and other most significant disabilities; and youth who need extended services that are not met under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 4500 et seq.).
The CDOR intends to achieve its supported employment goals and priorities through the following actions:
The CDOR will provide extended services for youth with most significant disabilities for up to four years or until the youth is 25 years of age for those youth who are not eligible for extended services under the Lanterman Act. These may include youth with mental health disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and other most significant disabilities. (Page 464) Title IV
Client/Service Population: In federal fiscal year 2014, DOR provided services to approximately 98,000 eligible individuals with disabilities, including 6,500 who were blind or visually impaired; 13,300 with cognitive disabilities; 18,200 with learning disabilities; 4,900 with intellectual or developmental disabilities; 6,500 deaf or hard of hearing individuals; 19,100 with physical disabilities; 26,100 with psychiatric disabilities; 1,200 with traumatic brain injury; and 2,200 individuals with other disabilities.
Strengths: DOR employs qualified SVRC-QRPs with master’s degrees who are trained in assessment, career planning, job placement, and assistive technology services to meet the employment needs of eligible individuals with disabilities. DOR utilizes a consumer-centered approach to service delivery through a team that includes SVRC-QRPs, service coordinators, employment coordinators, and other support staff to deliver effective and timely consumer services throughout the state. The employment coordinators provide labor market analysis, employer engagement, disability sensitivity training, and other supportive services to assist clients in achieving an employment outcome. Coupled with the direct services provided by the team, DOR maintains a network of partnerships with community based disability organizations and other public agencies, including high schools, community colleges, universities, and county mental health agencies to provide a greater range of employment services and opportunities to DOR consumers than would otherwise be available through any single agency. Lastly, given its focus and expertise, DOR has positioned itself to provide California’s leadership voice in state government and administers other programs, including the Disability Access Services, to assist in removing barriers to full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the workforce, in state government, and in community life. (Page 525) TItle IV
Strengths: CalFresh E&T has strong relationships with Local Boards in the counties where it operates and the program is good at ensuring access to mental health and substance abuse services. CalWORKs has a robust subsidized employment program and has a lot of flexibility in the types of services it can provide. CalWORKs has an existing relationship with community colleges to provide support for CalWORKs recipients enrolled in academic and career pathway programs. While maintaining the work-first policies of TANF, recent changes in CalWORKs have increased the emphasis towards a work-focused, skills attainment, and barrier removal agenda to ensure that TANF recipients are positioned to achieve long-term successful outcomes and upward mobility. (Page 526) Title IV
Relevance to Partnership: Many formerly incarcerated and other justice involved individuals are likely to need a whole variety of supportive services as they work to secure employment. The kind of supportive services and the decision whether to provide these services to any given individual depends on that individual’s particular needs and capacity to participate in programming absent the provision of supportive services. Under WIOA, supportive services are defined as “services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, and needs-related payments that are necessary to enable an individual to participate in activities.” In recognizing the lifelong trauma often faced by formerly incarcerated and other justice involved individuals, supportive services can and should include trauma informed healing approaches that foster improved emotional and mental health. The ability to provide supportive services to individuals is contingent on need, the availability of funds, and the roles and responsibilities of the various partners at the Local and Regional level. WIOA Title I funds can be used for the provision of supportive services but every dollar spent on supportive services for a particular individual is a dollar that cannot be spent on broader program costs. The partners may want to consider pursuing specific resources through the budget process to fund supportive services for the formerly incarcerated and other justice involved under the partnership. (Page 631) Title IV