Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

	Social Services	Search for:

Acronyms Revisions WAC Number Index WCCC DSHS Home

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

Revised November 16, 2009

Purpose: Individuals with significant barriers to employment due to physical and mental disabilities may be referred to DVR to prepare for, obtain, and retain employment. DVR also assists individuals with long-range career goals.

DVR maintains an excellent website with topics such as:

·        Is DVR right for me?

·        What services are available to me?

·        Frequently asked questions.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION
Base DVR referrals on the following criteria:

An individual must want to work and have a permanent physical or mental disability that constitutes a significant barrier to their employment.

The individual must require vocational rehabilitation services to eliminate or reduce their disability-related barriers(s) to employment.

The individual must agree to the referral to DVR and, if approved by DVR, be willing to fully participate in DVR’s Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).

We may consider referring a person to supported work programs or other activities prior to referring an individual to DVR.

An individual who appears to meet DVR’s eligibility criteria will be given the choice of referral to DVR or other appropriate activity.

If the individual voluntarily chooses to be referred to DVR, they will be held accountable for the reporting of participation in the DVR process as part of their IRP or GA Case Plan.

NOTE:
DVR only serves individuals who voluntarily make an informed choice to engage in vocational rehabilitation services. Upon choosing to participate, a person’s GA Case Plan or WorkFirst Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP) may require participation in DVR activities.

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES
Referral to DVR:

1.   Discuss the services and benefits DVR offers with the person.

2.   Update the WorkFirst IRP or GA Case Plan when a person is referred to DVR.

3.   If a person agrees to participate with DVR, the IPE requirements will be incorporated into the person’s WorkFirst IRP or GA Case Plan.

4.   Send a referral packet to the designated liaison at the local DVR office that includes:

a.   The (01-123x) DVR/CSO Communication,

b.   Copies of current medical reports/documentation from the case record,

c.   A Consent form (14-012x) and the HIPPA consent form “Consent For Private Health Information Addendum” (14-012b) signed by the individual,

d.   A copy of the most recent IRP or GA Case Plan, and

e.   Background information on the individual’s involvement in work or work-like activities.

NOTE:
Individuals who already have a DVR plan do not need an entire referral packet. Obtain the appropriate consent forms and send with the DVR/CSO communication to the local DVR office.

DVR Participants:

1.   If a person agrees to participate with DVR, incorporate the DVR IPE requirements into the person’s WorkFirst IRP.

2.   Follow the sanction process for individuals who fail to participate in the DVR portion of their IRP or GA Case Plan.

3.   For WorkFirst clients, provide support services as available to support DVR participation.

4.    Review the participant’s progress with DVR every three months for WorkFirst clients or at the time of Incapacity Review for General Assistance clients. Review a mutual participant’s progress more frequently when:

a.    The individual becomes employed,

b.    The individual is not making satisfactory progress,

c.    The individual’s disability significantly improves or deteriorates,

d.    The individual is unable or refuses to participate, or

e.   The Individual's IPE is completed.

WORKFIRST

1.   Include DVR in case planning for persons determined eligible for DVR services. This relationship will continue until the individual has terminated DVR services. A DVR IPE will be considered to fulfill requirements for a participant’s IRP or GA Case Plan.

2. If a person agrees to participate with DVR, work with DVR to incorporate a parent’s DVR Plan into her or his IRP. If the WorkFirst IRP and DVR IPE requirements conflict, a case staffing involving DVR, WorkFirst staff, and the individual shall be held to amend the IRP/IPE. To receive credit for WorkFirst participation, the parent must meet the WorkFirst requirements as specified in the IRP.

3.   Coordinate with DVR to incorporate the IPE into the IRP when an individual has already established a relationship with DVR before he or she becomes eligible for WorkFirst.

4. If the individual becomes able to work, the IPE, along with the IRP will be revised to assist the    individual with obtaining employment while continuing training or education.

If the individual is unable to work, the IRP will incorporate the work preparation activities in the IPE. The individual will be informed of the value of obtaining employment and becoming independent of TANF.

For those existing DVR plans involving training or education, consult with DVR to determine if the individual is able to engage in core activities while attending training.

When verifying and reporting hours of participation in a parent’s IRP:

·        Use the eJAS code that best describes the activity.

·        Enter the start and end date of each IRP activity into eJAS, not to exceed 12 months.

·        Require participation verification from whoever provides the activity, except the DVR counselor will only verify hours when the individual is spending 20 hours or more per week with the counselor.

·        The DVR counselor or a DVR contractor who is providing activities like job clubs or WorkStrides may excuse absences on the WorkFirst participation verification form if the individual has a good reason for missing scheduled activities.

If conflicting program requirements arise between the WorkFirst and DVR programs, resolution will be provided through the respective chains of command.

See WorkFirst Handbook section 6.8, Exemptions, and “Reporting DVR Plan Hours” for information on WorkFirst and DVR.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION
Guidelines for Collaboration and Coordination with DVR

1.     CSD and DVR staff will exchange information and documentation essential to the establishment of program eligibility and mutual case management, including:

a. Medical reports/documentation

b. Consent of Information Forms

c. Employment Plans: IRP (WorkFirst), GA Case Plan (GA), Individualized Plan for Employment (DVR)

d. DVR/CSO Communication (01-123x)

c. Key information using the DVR/CSO Communication (01-123x)

2.    DVR will assign a liaison for each CSD Community Services Office (CSO).

3.    Each CSO will identify a DVR liaison. The liaisons are responsible for facilitating an effective interagency relationship.

4.    Funding and Services

a. Diagnostic and vocational assessment services required for DVR Eligibility Determination or IPE development are funded by DVR.

b. Support Services are funded by WorkFirst to complete the DVR Eligibility Determination and support the IPE.

c. WorkFirst partner and other contracted services may be considered and included in an IPE.

d. Services not available under WorkFirst contracts may be considered and included in an IPE.

e. The IPE is mutually agreed upon by the individual and DVR.

f.    CSD staff will incorporate into the WorkFirst IRP the specific activities that will be required of the individual to fulfill the obligations within the IPE.

g. DVR will pay for foreign language or sign language interpreters, if needed by an individual to participate in DVR services.

h. GA and WorkFirst clients may also be required to cooperate with the SSI application process.

Social Services