Job-Driven Technical Assistance Center (JD-VRTAC): Connecticut Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind Using LMI to Improve Client Employment Outcomes: Connecticut BESB's JD-VRTAC Project  Presenters: Mary Burgard, VR Supervisor Julie McLean, Rehabilitation Teacher Jonathan Richmond, Business Consultant 1

Webinar Objectives Explain JD-VRTAC goals, partners, TA, and Learning Collaborative Describe, explain, and share Connecticut BESB’s: Background/services JD-VRTAC project background JD-VRTAC project purpose & goals JD-VRTAC project implementation JD-VRTAC project accomplishments Challenges & lessons learned from Connecticut BESB JD-VRTAC project Current status of JD-VRTAC project Share what was most helpful from the TA and Learning Collaborative throughout this process Share next steps, future direction, & goals 2

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 3

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 4

JD-VRTAC Technical Assistance The JD-VRTAC provides 3 types of TA: Intensive: 11 VR agencies participated in Cohort 1 of the center’s Intensive TA and 8 agencies will participate in Cohort 2 of the center’s Intensive TA. 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.  5

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 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 6

Connecticut BESB Background and Services Bureau of Education and Services for the Blind (BESB) is part of the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) BESB has 4 major Divisions: 1) Adult Services, 2) Children Services, 3) Business Enterprise Program, and 4) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) BESB serves approximately 3,000 active clients with 100 staff. VR has approximately 850 clients with 17 staff 7

Connecticut BESB JD-VRTAC Project Background New WIOA requirements and measurements (paperwork, partners with employers) High Case loads: 100 clients/counselor VR Counselors and clients not accessing LMI to make viable career goals Not having qualified and prepared clients for employer’s job openings 8

Connecticut BESB JD-VRTAC Project Purpose and Goals Increase VR Counselors’ knowledge and systematic use of LMI Decrease in the number of clients choosing careers without good job prospects Help counselors plan educational and career pathways that meet both individuals who are blinds’ needs and business needs Project goals 9

Connecticut BESB JD-VRTAC Project Implementation Reviewed all VR processes with staff and looked at ways to streamline paperwork Conducted a pre-survey to assess counselors current knowledge of using LMI Researched, reviewed, and chose LMI data source Provided VR counselors LMI professional development through multiple sources Established a single point of contact for the Career Index Plus 10

Connecticut BESB JD-VRTAC Project Accomplishments Streamlined paperwork and processes in VR Rolled out the use of Career Index Plus 8 months ago Conducted a post survey on the use of LMI All staff are using the Career Index Plus for developing career goals and IPEs Sent a mailing to all clients informing them about how to access The Career Index Plus and encouraging them to call for training Assigned a Rehabilitation Teacher as the point person to train clients to use Career Index Plus 11

Case Example 1 Training and preparing to become the single point of contact

Case Example 2 Client Training

Connecticut BESB JD-VRTAC Challenges and Lessons Learned Multiple staff retirements Delay with rolling out Career Index Plus Streamlining the entire VR paperwork process Introducing several different types of LMI to counselors 14

Connecticut BESB JD-VRTAC Project Today Counselors continue to refer clients to Rehabilitation Teacher for training on the Career Index Plus Counselors are using Career Index Plus each with personal goals to increase the use Adding employer information into PC Recruiters to access for clients later Continue reviewing and implementing new processes and streamlining paperwork 15

What was most helpful about receiving TA? Assistance evaluating VR needs Guidance with prioritizing needed changes Leaning about different LMI resources which counselors are using to assist clients with making better career choices Having clients learn and use the Career Index Plus to establish a career goal Attending out-of-state cohort meetings (Learning Collaboratives) to learn best practices from other states. 16

Next Steps, Future Directions, and Goals Make Career Index Plus fully accessible to individuals who are legally blind Continue to assess staff’s knowledge of current LMI and use of the Career Index Plus Increase client ability to independently research job occupations Set employer engagement objectives 17

Questions? 18

Contact Information Connecticut BESB Agency Presenter Contact Information: Mary Burgard: Mary.Burgard@ct.gov Jonathan Richmond: Jonathan.Richmond@ct.gov Julie McLean: Julie.McLean@ct.gov JD-VRTAC TA Contact Information: Vito DeSantis: Vito.DeSantis@umb.edu Dana Jefferson: Dana.Jefferson@umb.edu 19