Lisa Hinson-Hatz, VR State Director Tracey Frye, Program Specialist Job-Driven Technical Assistance Center (JD-VRTAC): New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation Business Engagement: New Hampshire-Style Success, Setbacks, & Lessons Learned Lisa Hinson-Hatz, VR State Director Tracey Frye, Program Specialist

Webinar Objectives In today’s webinar, we will: Explain JD-VRTAC goals, partners, TA, and Learning Collaborative Describe New Hampshire VR’s background/services Explain New Hampshire VR’s JD-VRTAC project background Discuss New Hampshire VR’s JD-VRTAC project purpose & goals Describe New Hampshire VR’s JD-VRTAC project implementation Share New Hampshire VR’s JD-VRTAC project accomplishments Share challenges & lessons learned from New Hampshire VR’s JD-VRTAC project Describe current status of New Hampshire VR’s JD-VRTAC project Discuss what was most helpful from the TA and Learning Collaborative throughout this process Share New Hampshire VR’s next steps, future direction, & goals

JD-VRTAC Goals Improve skills of state VR agency staff, other rehab professionals & providers of VR services, who are trained to provide “job-driven” VR services & supports to PWD, employers & customized training providers. Four Topic Areas: Business Engagement Employer Supports Labor Market Information (LMI) Customized Training Providers www.explorevr.org

In Collaboration with: JD-VRTAC Partners Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI), Univ. of Massachusetts/Boston In Partnership with: Jobs for the Future (JFF) Univ. of Arkansas/CURRENTS Univ. of Washington Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN) Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) In Collaboration with: National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) Technical Assistance Center Collaborative

JD-VRTAC Technical Assistance The JD-VRTAC provides 3 types of TA: Intensive: VR agencies receiving Intensive TA become members of a Learning Collaborative to share strategies and solutions. Targeted: Several agencies have requested targeted TA related to one of the four job-driven topical areas. Additionally, the Center is hosting communities of practice and forums on relevant issues. Universal: The Center hosts and archives webinars on topics related to the four job-driven topical areas and presents project information at CSAVR and NCSAB. 

JD-VRTAC Learning Collaborative As part of receiving intensive TA, states attended 2-3 in-person Learning Collaborative meetings to provide project updates, collaborate across agencies, and participate in topical discussions Learning Collaborative states participate in conference calls with their cohort to discuss job-driven topics 18 state VR agencies are part of the JD-VRTAC Learning Collaborative

VR Background and Services 7 Offices (Nashua, Manchester, Concord, Berlin, Keene, Portsmouth, Lebanon and Services for Blind and Visually Impaired) 100 Staff, 41 VR Counselors, 5 Business Relations Consultants (when staffed), 1 public relations specialist and 1 program specialist (CRP and Business) Approximately $14 million annual budget 5000 customers, 1.2 million population Housed in the Department Of Education in the State

JD-VRTAC Project Background NHVR wanted in early! JD-VRTAC was a resource not to be missed! In the fall of 2015 we had a statewide business supervisor and two internal placement specialists Transformation to “business engagement” versus job placement needed to occur

JD-VRTAC Project Purpose and Goals We went back to our application: Evaluate current staff capacity and knowledge to provide successful (business engagement) activities Examine current staff structure and recommend changes Evaluate current business services and changes to be made Project goals

JD-VRTAC Project Implementation I With JD-VRTAC assistance we developed job descriptions for Business Relations Consultant (BRC) and identified four vacancies we could transform to BRC positions in the state-fall 2015 Program Specialist moved into Central Office (with CRP and Business role) 6/2016 and internal placement staff was transitioned into Business Relations Consultants) 10/2016

JD-VRTAC Project Implementation II Statewide VR Director regional office visits to discuss importance of (Business Engagement) Spring 2016 Individual Regional Office Plans in Spring 2016 with Program Specialist and Business Relations Supervisor allowed Regional Office creativity and ability to address regional differences along with JDVRTAC staff (Cee and Lara) BRC positions in Nashua Regional Office, Keene Regional Office were developed, posted and hired in Fall 2016

JD-VRTAC Project Implementation III Winter/spring 2017 training for new BRC staff was developed and standards and indicators were compiled as a baseline The bottom dropped out--- NRO BRC left for new job offer/work from home (May 17) KRO BRC left due to difficulty with assimilating into RO (May 17) Supervisor moved to Department of Business and Economic Affairs (June 17)

JD-VRTAC Project Implementation IV Rebuilding BRC staff and Statewide Supervisor positions Hired Manchester Regional Office BRC in August 17 and training has begun Wrap-up/next steps with JD-VRTAC staff Regional Office Assimilation Issue Tasks and Standards solidified Hiring of 3 additional staff (Fall/Winter 17/18)

JD-VRTAC Project Accomplishments We got the job descriptions, positions identified, and training to have our structure for the (Business Engagement Unit) We have started the regional office conversation about what business engagement really is… but we have a long way to go… Office plans

Challenges and Lessons Learned Regional Office Assimilation Issue Supervision Issue to be determined (is it CO or RO Supervisor)? Hiring is hard (to get and keep great talent) Retention of BEU staff (lots of competition and compensation) Are we looking for “sales” staff or something else (hybrid)? Tracking of the data for (BE) activities? AWARE and NEOSERRA integration/use How to motivate and encourage VRC buy-in?

What was most helpful about receiving TA? Having a national TA center driving the changes that needed to happen and bringing together the learning collaborative to accomplish the goals (SJD’s, training materials, marketing materials, sharing business collaborations/tools). In-person TA really motivated and affirms the work staff are going to be doing! Cee, Bob, Joe, Lara, DeBrittany, May Lorie, Julisa

Next Steps, Future Directions, and Goals Re-building the BEU team with regional office staff weaved into the fabric Developing a full menu of business services Deepening our data tracking abilities so we are able to see the benefits of Business Engagement Developing a Business Customer Satisfaction Method that works Updating Business Service Marketing Materials Exploring how CRP’s can assist with Business Engagement Activities

Questions?

JD-VRTAC: (State VR) Contact Information State VR Agency Presenter Contact Information: Lisa Hinson-Hatz lisa.hatz@doe.nh.gov 603-271-7080 Tracey Frye tracey.frye@doe.nh.gov 603-271-2930