VR and Business Relations: State of the Research Linda Mock Kathy West-Evans May-Lorie St. Laurent Melissa Alford

2017 National Survey of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies and Business Relations

Survey Responses The NET Single Point of contact’s (SPOC) profile is changing In 2014, 72.7% of SPOCs had a Master’s degree, 53.1% were CRCs, and 39.4% came from a business background. In 2017, the percentage of SPOCs with a Master’s degree is 69.7%, 40.6% were CRCs, and 60.6% came from a business background.

Survey Responses Business relations capacity is changing across agencies: In 2017, 62.1% of SPOCs are spending 1FTE on business relations compared to 51.5% in 2014. 81.8% of SPOCs indicated that their VR agency had expanded business relations programs or initiatives since 2014. 73.5% of VR agencies had specialized staff implementing business relations. There is a diversification in the type of staff with business relations responsibilities. In addition to staff that traditionally have business relations responsibilities, agencies are hiring staff with titles such as business account managers, business development specialists, business engagement representatives, and business outreach specialist. They’ve also expanded the role of others to include BR. Such as voc evaluators and assistive technology staff

Survey Responses In 2014, 83.9% of SPOCs indicated that they were implementing BR initiatives. In 2017, 90.6% of SPOCs belong to agencies that are currently implementing BR initiatives. 54.5% of SPOCs indicated that their agency had a dedicated business relations unit or department.

Survey Responses Key Responsibilities 2014 2017 Serve as a liaison between your VR agency and business 84.4% 93.9% Market VR business services at the state level 75% 90.9% Coordinate services provided to businesses 81.3% Provide services directly to business 65.6% 84.8% Serve as the first point of contact to businesses 81.8% Conduct training for businesses 68.8% 78.8% Connect qualified applicants with businesses 59.4% 75.8% Manage agency resources dedicated to business relations 62.5% 69.7% Coordinate a team of staff who work with businesses 63.6% Other 31.3% 2.8% Don’t know 3.1% 0.4%

Survey Responses At the center of these changes is the idea of the dual customer model, where business is seen as a customer, and WIOA In 2014, 93.8% of SPOCs indicated that their VR agency served businesses as VR customers. In 2017, 97% of responding SPOCs serve businesses as customers. 90.6% of SPOCs indicated that their agency had business relations programs or initiatives related to WIOA.

Index and Case Studies

Selecting Practices Instituted a nationwide call for nominations Requested nominations on ICI publications, webinars, facebook, and twitter Compiled a modified Delphi Panel of experts to help us decide which ones to examine 19 practices were considered. We conducted case studies on 9 of them (a 10th practice was added per ICI’s Senior Research Staff recommendation)

Panel Feedback In many nominations it was difficult to determine outcomes Some practices are new, and no one knew if they could stand the test of time or work for more than a small group of people Others focused more on capacity building (connecting people to relevant information). The panel was not convinced the activities would actually translate into jobs for PWD In some nominations the panel was divided as to whether a practice really met a business need

Interviews Conducted 33 interviews with 10 different practices Interviews were with founders, administrators, frontline staff, practice participants, and VR employees working directly with the practice Questions focused on How practice began How practice evolved How practice works to meet both business and job-seeker needs Problems it has faced Plans for the future

Practices We are currently conducting research in 10 practices: Bridges from School to Work Business Development System Colville Tribes Confederation Hands On @ Hyatt Hershey’s Extends Real Opportunities to Succeed The NET Project SEARCH PWDNET TAP Working Partners Program

Challenges Determining whether a practice is genuinely dual-demand. Is it really meeting the needs of both businesses and PWD seeking employment or simply providing standard counseling, training, or short-term job experience? How to expand services while still meeting the needs of both businesses and PWD seeking employment

Questions?

Contact Information www.explorevr.org Linda Mock: linda.mock@umb.edu Kathy West-Evans: kwest-evans@rehabnetwork.org May-Lorie St. Laurent: maylorie.stlaurent@umb.edu Melissa Alford: melissa.alford@umb.edu