The State of New Jersey

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The State of New Jersey

• Department of Labor and Workforce Development
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
  Services(DVRS)
• Department of Human Services Commission for the
  Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI)
• Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

Present
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Supported Employment Services Memorandum of
Understandingbetween DVRS, CBVI DDD
Overview
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Section I Purpose

• Why do we need an Inter-Agency Memorandum of
  Understanding?
• To assist DVRS, CBVI, and DDD to operate in an
  efficient and successful manner to ensure quality
  service provision
• To help guide efforts toward improving employment
  outcomes for individuals with developmental
  disabilities who are entering the workforce

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Why revise the MOU?

• Define interagency relationships, roles and
  responsibilities
• Align with current service delivery options
  practice
• Stress consistent and seamless service delivery
• Emphasize Supported Employment as a viable option
  for all individuals
• Ensure employment outcomes are tracked

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Section II ScopeWho does this MOU apply to?

• Individuals with developmental disabilities
  eligible for Supported Services through
• Division of Developmental Disabilities
• and/or
• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• and/or
• Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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Section IVReferrals

• To refer or not to referthat is the question!

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Who should be referred to DVRS/CBVI for
services?

• Individuals who want to work ..
  should be
  referred to DVRS/CBVI to
  request assistance with finding employment

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Individuals should not go to DVRS/CBVI to ask for
a letter of rejection.
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Section V Eligibility

• Eligibility determinations will be initiated and
  completed by each Division based upon eligibility
  criteria independent of the other Divisions.
• DVRS or CBVI will accept DDD eligible individuals
  for supported employment pre-placement and
  intensive training phases.

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Section VI

• Placement

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General Rules of Placement

• DVRS/CBVI- 18 month maximum to establish
  Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) objectives
  have been met and job stabilization has occurred.
• DVRS/CBVI counselor will provide written
  notification of projected beginning and ending
  dates of time limited supported employment
  services to be provided to the individual to DDD.
  
• DVRS/CBVI will make efforts to refer individuals
  to SE Vendors contracted through all three
  entities. (SE Vendor List available on DDD SE
  Website)

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Phases of Placement Pre-Placement Phase

• Funded through DVRS or CBVI the pre-placement
  phase consists of
• Intake and Assessments gathering information
  about the person seeking employment
• Job Development Job-Site Analysis gathering
  information about potential employment
  opportunities
• Facilitating a good job match by the employment
  specialist/job developer
• Determination of Supported Employment or
  Time-Limited Job Coaching service

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Phases of Placement Intensive Training
Phase

• Funded by DVRS or CBVI the Intensive Training
  Phase, provided after the job match to ensure
  employment success, consists of
• Job modifications and accommodations, job
  restructuring, training, establishing natural
  supports, etc.
• One-to-One support provided by an employment
  specialist (job coach) while the employee learns
  the position and the employer learns support needs

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Section VII

• Extended Services
• Long Term Follow Along

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Extended Services Long Term Follow-Along
(LTFA)

• Funded through DDD, LTFA begins once job
  stabilization has occurred the employment
  specialist hours have faded down to maintenance
  level. LTFA consists of
• Ongoing lifelong support services provided by the
  employment specialist to ensure continued
  employment success
• Supporting individuals interested in career
  development
• Offering short term replacement hours in cases of
  job loss or job jeopardy

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Frequently Asked Questions
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Transitioning High School Students
Where do I go now?
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When should students contact DVRS for services?

• According to the Individuals with Disabilities
  Education Act (IDEA) students may contact NJDVRS
  as young as age 14 for transition planning.
• Typically students begin to work with DVRS two
  years prior to graduation with the goal of
  seamless transition of services upon graduation.
• Supported Employment Services are funded through
  the School District until the student graduates.
• DVRS will not provide cost services until the
  student has completed their educational
  entitlement.

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When should students contact DDD for services ?

• Students with developmental disabilities may
  apply for DDD services at any time.
• Students may request placement on the DDD day
  services planning list up to 5 years prior to the
  end of the students educational entitlement.
• DDD will not begin to fund day services until
  July 1st after the end of the individuals
  educational entitlement.

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When should students contact CBVI for services?

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

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Graduation is approachingdo students have to
make a choice between working and other day
services?

• No. The MOU allows individuals, who are
  participating in Self Directed Day Services, to
  simultaneously utilize DVRS/CBVI and a Self
  Directed Day Budget. Certain rules do apply.
• The Individual must work less than 35 hours per
  week. (hours are based on the of hours worked
  not the of SE support hours received)
• The Individual must stay within their allotted
  budget to support requested day services.

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• Other DDD Day Services

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

• However you can not utilize both on the same day.

Work Schedule
Day Program Schedule
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Points to Consider

• Supported Employment is for individuals with the
  most significant disabilities
• Supported Employment utilizes the place train
  method
• Information about Supported Employment should be
  shared with all individuals and their families
• Employment is the desired outcome for individuals
  with disabilities

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Supported Employment Services Resources
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Additional Resources available on the DDD SE
Website

• MOU
• DDD Supported Employment Manual
• Glossary of Terms
• State Agency Contact List
• Supported Employment Vendor List
• http//www.state.nj.us/humanservices/ddd/ses.htm

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Additional Resources

• The Arc of New Jersey
• www.arcnj.org
• The Boggs Center http//rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscente
  r/index.htm
• New Jersey Transit
• http//www.njtransit.com/index.jsp
• New Jersey Work Incentive Network System
  www.njwins.org
• Workforce New Jersey Public Information System
  http//lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/wnjpin_ind
  ex.html
• Family Support Center of NJ
• www.fscnj.org

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QUESTIONS?