Creating a Formal System for Providing Pre-Employment Transition Services

Pre-employment Transition Services Creating a formal system in OVR for providing Pre-employment Transition Services (PETS) to students with disabilities in a documented, efficient, and cost effective manner. September 17, 2019 1

Presenter Kimberly Robinson Transition & 511 Division Chief kirobinson@pa.gov 2

Learning Objectives Participants will be able to: Explain the difference in approach to PETS provision beginning 10/1/19 and the reason for changes Describe the new PETS workflow Identify the new PETS forms List examples of work based learning experiences Describe the differences between SE and PETS work based learning experience provision Describe the revisions of the 2019 PETS Provider Agreement 3

PETS Review Review of PETS and current service provision. 4

5 Required PETS What are Pre-Employment Transition Services? Self-Advocacy Instruction Counseling On Postsecondary Options Job Exploration Counseling Work Based Learning Workplace Readiness Training 5

Review of PETS and VR Services PETS provide a generalized early start to job exploration. PETS assist students with disabilities in identifying career interests that may be further explored through individualized Vocational Rehabilitation services. PETS must be provided or arranged in collaboration with LEAs. The goal of both PETS and individualized Vocational Rehabilitation services is assisting individuals with disabilities to prepare for and achieve competitive integrated employment. 6

PETS - Service Provision in OVR PETS via Internal OVR Staff: PETS via Outside Agreements: VR Counselors Early Reach Coordinators Business Services Staff BBVS Social Workers Specialized Services Staff Community Rehabilitation Providers K-12 Local Education Agencies/Schools/IU Universities Accessibility Providers (i.e. interpreters) Community Agencies (i.e. CIL) Employers 7

OVR Paradigm Shift WIOA and PETS in 2014: Spend down new PETS federal allocation with limited infrastructure and federal guidance. WIOA and PETS in 2019: Assess and serve the most students possible in the most cost effective manner, consistent with guidance from RSA. 8

PETS 2019: Decision Making How did OVR gather feedback and input on improving PETS delivery in 2019 to meet the goal of serving more students in a cost effective manner? Surveys: Staff Managers Providers School Districts/Educators Outside Technical Assistance: RSA and WINTAC General Guidance and Targeted Technical Assistance Specific to OVR questions Allowable/not allowable costs Internal controls More formalized system RSA 2019 Audit Guidelines for August 2019 Monitoring Internal Feedback: OVR Executive Team Input Business Services Division Input Legal Guidance Customer Satisfaction Surveys Case Reviews 9

PETS 2019 Survey Responses Survey # of Respondents PETS Providers 89 Educators 230 OVR Staff 163 OVR Managers 30 Total: 512 10

PETS 2019 Survey Suggestions 1 Stakeholder Suggestion Action PETS Providers Pay for no-shows. Not an allowable cost. PETS Providers Streamline billing. Yes, introduced the PETS Progress Report, added upload feature to CWDS. PETS Providers More training and technical assistance. Yes, bi-weekly technical assistance calls scheduled. PETS Providers Raise individual rates to Supported Employment regional rates or higher. No, PETS and Supported Employment are not equivalent services. PETS Providers/Schools OVR needs to improve communication about service changes. Yes, intensive training and communication plans. 11

PETS 2019 Survey Suggestions 2 Stakeholder Suggestion Action OVR Staff/Schools/Students Services are not started or billed in a timely manner. Yes, additional time standards added to PETS Agreement. OVR Staff/Schools OVR Staff provide quality service and should be more involved in PETS. Yes, offices will assess staff s ability to provide services before assigning to a provider. OVR Staff/Managers Assess need prior to authorizing. Yes, introduced the School Profile form. This is an internal control to lessen or prevent supplanting. OVR Staff/Managers Eliminate the Stipend Admin fee. No, fee was maintained as requested by providers. OVR Staff/Managers Change workflow (issues with RAP and provider marketing to schools and the over obligation of funds). Yes, streamlined the workflow and eliminated the RAP form. Provider marketing is still allowed. 12

How Decisions were Made Research and Technical Assistance on WIOA and PETS 13

Revised Approach: Service Provision Updated service flow-OVR PETS Continuum Requested services based on OVR assessment of school needs Consideration of internal staff availability first for requested services Expansion of work based learning experiences 14

Revised Approach: PETS Continuum Continuum of Services is found in the preamble Pre-employment Transition Services ( 361.48(a)) Final VR Regulations at 81 FR 55694- 55695 (August 19, 2016) See handout 15

WIOA Assessment of Need Provision of Required Activities Based on Needfound in the preamble Pre-employment Transition Services ( 361.48(a)) Final VR Regulations at 81 FR 55691-55692 (August 19, 2016) Discussion: Section 113(a) and (b) of the Act, as amended by WIOA, when read in concert with each other, as well as final 361.48(a)(2), require the DSU to make certain "required" pre-employment transition services available to all students with disabilities who need them. However, none of these provisions mandate that all five "required" activities be provided to each student with a disability if all the activities are not necessary. Pre-employment transition services, as is true for any vocational rehabilitation service, must be provided solely on the basis of the individual's need for that service. 16

2019 PETS Provider Agreement Highlights 1 PETS Referrals and Workflow OVR is an eligibility-based program designed to assist individuals with disabilities obtain, maintain, regain, or advance in competitive integrated employment. Services must be necessary, as determined by OVR staff, to assist the individual to reach employment goals. Only OVR staff may determine a student s needs and eligibility for services, determine vocational goals and services, develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) with an eligible student, and/or authorize the purchase of services. A. Providers should not discuss services with students, families, and/or schools and then refer them back to their assigned OVR staff, as this could be disruptive to the vocational counseling process. If Providers have recommendations for services, they must be made to OVR staff. OVR staff will consider the service and, if appropriate, discuss it with students, families, and/or schools. B. Service Assignments will be completed by OVR District Office staff and issued to the provider selected to deliver the requested service. The selected provider may then schedule the service with the school, based on the approved number of service hours authorized. 17

PETS Work Flow VR Case Services PETS Release OVR Assesses School Resources and Plans for Service Provision Service Delivery and Reporting OVR Staff Conducts Outreach to Schools Consent for services Disability documentation School Profile 18

New Forms School Profile Group Services Progress Reports Service Assignment (replaces the RAP) 2019 PETS Provider Agreement 19

2019 PETS Timeframes Group Services are authorized for no more than ninety (90) days at a time. Additional service authorizations must be at the request of the school and determined as a needed service by OVR. Individual Services must be completed within six (6) months of authorization. must begin within thirty (30) days of authorization. 20

Work Based Learning 1 Work-Based Learning Experience (WBLE): WBLE now has a new name - Paid Work Experience. Paid Work Experience will still have Development (D) and Learning (L) components There is no change to the code numbers: 59209-D and 59209-L 21

Work Based Learning 2 Examples of a Work Based Learning Experience Activities include: In-person Job Shadow Group Shadowing Workplace Tours Employer Mock Interviews Informational Interview Paid Work Experience Community Work Instruction Internship 22

OVR Closed Order of Selection 23

I am a school/student, what is the impact on PETS? (1 of 2) For Pre-Employment Transition Services (PETS) for students: Students with disabilities are subject to the Order of Selection as VR customers, however, they can receive Pre-Employment Transition Services in certain instances: The potentially eligible student has already participated in one of the five required pre-employment transition services (sponsored by OVR) before receiving a determination of eligibility for VR services and being placed on the Order of Selection wait list. The student who has applied for VR services but has not yet been determined eligible or placed on the Order of Selection, may receive pre- employment transition services that are new or continuing. 24

I am a school/student, what is the impact on PETS? (2 of 2) For Pre-Employment Transition Services (PETS) for students: Please note that if a student has not received PETS prior to being determined eligible for VR services and placed on the Order of Selection waiting list, that student will not be able to receive any of the five required pre-employment transition services OR individualized VR services. 25

Closed Order of Selection Work with your OVR liaison to: Schedule IEP meetings Obtain signed PETS Releases for potentially eligible students Assist students in completing OVR applications Complete your School Profile and set up PETS 26

PETS 2019 Next Steps 27

PETS Updates Go-Live October 1, 2019 28

PETS Training Dates 1 Tuesday, 8/20/19 from 10a-12p Wednesday, 9/25/19 from 10a-12p Title: 2019 PETS Updates Part 1 Title: 2019 PETS Updates Part 2 Target Audience: OVR Staff Target Audience: OVR Staff Friday, 8/23/19 from 10a-12p Thursday, Oct 17 10am-11am Title: IEPs and Auxiliary Aids (PETS Webinar Series 1) Title: PETS Agreement and Updated Service Delivery Model Target Audience: Providers Tuesday, 9/17/19 from 10a-12p Title: OVR An Update on Pre-Employment Transition Services Webinar Target Audience: Education 29

PETS Training Dates 2 Thursday, Oct 24 10am-11am Title: Self-Advocacy (PETS Webinar Series 2) Thursday, Nov 14 10am-11am Title: Counseling on Post- Secondary Options (PETS Webinar Series 5) Thursday, Oct 31 10am-11am Title: Job Exploration Counseling (PETS Webinar Series 3) Thursday, Dec 5 10am-11am Title: Work Based Learning Experiences (PETS Webinar Series 6) Thursday, Nov 7 10am-11am Title: Workplace Readiness Training (including Independent Living) (PETS Webinar Series 4) 30

Questions? 31

Transition Specialists Kaitlin Salvati ksalvati@pa.gov Eastern Region: Allentown, Norristown, Philadelphia, Reading, Wilkes-Barre Melissa Wert-Thrush mwertthrus@pa.gov Central Region: Altoona, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Williamsport, York Beth Ann Fanning bfanning@pa.gov Western Region: Dubois, Erie, New Castle, Pittsburgh, Washington 32