Supported Employment and Long Term Follow-Along for the for the Counselor and Job Coach

Introductions: Who are we? Who are we? –Judy Hill - EES/LTESS Coordinator –Scott Fraley, SE Program Coordinator –Jack Hayek, Program Director ESSP

OFFICE OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS JACK HAYEK JACK HAYEK SCOTT FRALEY SCOTT FRALEY JUDY HILL JUDY HILL TIM OLIVE TIM OLIVE FAX NUMBER FOR ESSP: FAX NUMBER FOR ESSP: DRS TOLL FREE VOICE DRS TOLL FREE VOICE WEBSITE: then click on Employment and Vocational Services then click on Employment and Vocational Services The Supported Employment Guide can be found at:

DRS Impact on ESO Programs DRS Field Spends over $7.7 Million DRS Field Spends over $7.7 Million DRS ESSP LTESS and EES Spend over $7.8 Million DRS ESSP LTESS and EES Spend over $7.8 Million

Topics to Cover: Insights into SE/Long Term Practices Insights into SE/Long Term Practices Brief Historical Background – LTESS Brief Historical Background – LTESS Key Service Requirements for Long Term Follow-Along Key Service Requirements for Long Term Follow-Along

Why are we here? Importance of communication and collaboration between all parties Importance of communication and collaboration between all parties Supported employment specifics Supported employment specifics Long Term Follow-along – LTESS Long Term Follow-along – LTESS

SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT Collaboration and Communication Collaboration and Communication Roles of each of us from referral to follow along Roles of each of us from referral to follow along Clarification of services Clarification of services

DRS Counselor Roles and Responsibilities Once eligibility is established SE planning begins Once eligibility is established SE planning begins Are long term supports needed? If yes, then SE case. If no, consider JCTS. Are long term supports needed? If yes, then SE case. If no, consider JCTS. Identify long term support Identify long term support SE cases must be coded as MSD SE cases must be coded as MSD

DRS COUNSELOR ROLE Establish benchmarks regarding progress Establish benchmarks regarding progress Stop the process if needed and discuss issues Stop the process if needed and discuss issues Clarify expectations Clarify expectations Maintain a separate role with consumer from vendor Maintain a separate role with consumer from vendor Continue to communicate with consumer after referral to job coach Continue to communicate with consumer after referral to job coach Case statuses must be properly updated. Case statuses must be properly updated.

Job Coach Role: Assist consumer with locating suitable job matches Assist consumer with locating suitable job matches Assist in job search efforts Assist in job search efforts Provide timely written reports and phone contacts with updates as needed Provide timely written reports and phone contacts with updates as needed Provide job skills training as needed Provide job skills training as needed Ensure consumer stability and job satisfaction on both consumer and employer side Ensure consumer stability and job satisfaction on both consumer and employer side Provide extended support services, where appropriate Provide extended support services, where appropriate

Job Coach Responsibilities Communicate and collaborate with DRS Counselor and consumers Communicate and collaborate with DRS Counselor and consumers Providing information as to fading plans, need for follow-along, funding options Providing information as to fading plans, need for follow-along, funding options Work as a team with DRS, case managers, consumers, families, etc. to improve likelihood of success Work as a team with DRS, case managers, consumers, families, etc. to improve likelihood of success

Communication Issues Initial Planning Initial Planning Authorizing Services Authorizing Services Service Provision Service Provision Report Writing Report Writing Invoicing Invoicing

Opportunities for Communication and Collaboration Initial Planning Expectations Initial Planning Expectations –Situational Assessment –SE vs. JCTS –Job Development –Placement and training –Stability/Fading –Long Term Follow Along

JCTS Consumer receives initial situational assessment, job development, job skills training, transportation training, or other support services provided by an ESO; however long term follow-along is not necessary after DRS case closure. Consumer receives initial situational assessment, job development, job skills training, transportation training, or other support services provided by an ESO; however long term follow-along is not necessary after DRS case closure. This is a separate service and requires applicable service category on vendor’s rate sheet. This is a separate service and requires applicable service category on vendor’s rate sheet. Service Item Codes are not the same as those for SE. Service Item Codes are not the same as those for SE. Cases can be coded as either MSD or SD. Cases can be coded as either MSD or SD.

Opportunities for Communication and Collaboration Authorizing Services Authorizing Services –Authorizations before Services –Timely Responses for Hours –Justification for Hours –Communicate Justification –Emergencies- including Post Employment

Opportunities for Communication and Collaboration Service Provision Service Provision –Agreement of goals, sufficient service hours –Issues to address in Placement and Training Functional limitations/behavior Functional limitations/behavior Transportation Transportation Job development Job development Report Writing Report Writing –Complete, timely, individualized and accurate

Opportunities for Communication and Collaboration Invoicing Invoicing –Complete, timely, individualized and accurate

Movement of Case to LTFA Ideally, the status of an SE case will go from 18 (training) to 22 (working and stable) at the time intervention levels off and performance is satisfactory. Ideally, the status of an SE case will go from 18 (training) to 22 (working and stable) at the time intervention levels off and performance is satisfactory. LTFA can begin to fund support at the time the case moves into status 22 - communication between DRS and ESO is imperative for this planning to take place LTFA can begin to fund support at the time the case moves into status 22 - communication between DRS and ESO is imperative for this planning to take place

WHAT IS STABILITY? Traditional guideline: job coaching support is 20% or less. This may not always be the case. Traditional guideline: job coaching support is 20% or less. This may not always be the case. Support needs have “flattened out.” Support needs have “flattened out.” Consumer should demonstrate stability for at least 30 days before case is moved to status 22. Consumer should demonstrate stability for at least 30 days before case is moved to status 22.

STABILITY After a minimum of 30 days of stability the case should be placed in status 22 After a minimum of 30 days of stability the case should be placed in status 22 LTESS funds should be used in status 22 and LTESS applications should be submitted as soon as the job coach/counselor thinks the consumer will maintain employment – not when the case is closed LTESS funds should be used in status 22 and LTESS applications should be submitted as soon as the job coach/counselor thinks the consumer will maintain employment – not when the case is closed Exception: SEPD cases Exception: SEPD cases

LTFA VS POST EMPLOYMENT SERVICES LTFA is the maintenance of a person in employment. LTFA is the maintenance of a person in employment. LTFA does not mean case management LTFA does not mean case management If retraining, job placement or other services are needed, the DRS counselor should be contacted immediately. The consumer probably will need services other than LTFA. If retraining, job placement or other services are needed, the DRS counselor should be contacted immediately. The consumer probably will need services other than LTFA.

LTESS HISTORY Grassroots effort by ESOs with General Assembly in FY 94 Grassroots effort by ESOs with General Assembly in FY 94 Success for FY 95 - $375,000 in State funds with primary target of Supported Employment Follow Along for persons with severe disabilities Success for FY 95 - $375,000 in State funds with primary target of Supported Employment Follow Along for persons with severe disabilities Incremental increases most years Incremental increases most years

EES/LTESS BUDGETS FISCAL YEARS 05 & 06 Additional LTESS dollars in FY 05 $150K Additional LTESS dollars in FY 05 $150K FY 2005 LTESS was $4,499,922 FY 2005 LTESS was $4,499,922 Additional LTESS dollars in FY 06 $100K Additional LTESS dollars in FY 06 $100K FY 2006 LTESS is $4,595,104 FY 2006 LTESS is $4,595,104 No new vendors in either year–3 on wait list No new vendors in either year–3 on wait list FY 2007 – New Money???? FY 2007 – New Money????

Long Term Employment Support Services Funding 95-06

LTESS ISSUES Counselor approval must be obtained and documented before applications submitted Counselor approval must be obtained and documented before applications submitted Applications must be thoroughly completed Applications must be thoroughly completed Applications must be submitted by the 20 th Applications must be submitted by the 20 th Applications cannot be submitted for consumers receiving JCTS. Applications cannot be submitted for consumers receiving JCTS.

General Information Services billed through LTESS must be employment related follow-along services Services billed through LTESS must be employment related follow-along services –Job development, retraining, general case management services are NOT considered follow-along –Provide the services needed to maintain employment – not “nice to do” or “always have done it that way” or “the employer likes me to come every week” –Spikes are expected-over 20% of hours worked-send in documentation –Written notification is sent to counselors upon enrollment

LTESS GUIDELINES LTESS funds CANNOT be used to supplant planned or current funding for long term supports. LTESS funds CANNOT be used to supplant planned or current funding for long term supports. –If a consumer is being sponsored by a public source, it should continue - No split funding for employment Vendors cannot charge DRS more than any other purchasers of the same services as specified on the vendor rate sheet. Vendors cannot charge DRS more than any other purchasers of the same services as specified on the vendor rate sheet. Example: Accepting the Medicaid waiver rate for SE individual placement but charging DRS a higher rate. Example: Accepting the Medicaid waiver rate for SE individual placement but charging DRS a higher rate.

LTESS GUIDELINES (continued) As LTESS is the funding of last resort for long term supports, vendors must document attempts to secure sponsorship and the absence of alternative funding sources. As LTESS is the funding of last resort for long term supports, vendors must document attempts to secure sponsorship and the absence of alternative funding sources. Each consumer is required to have an individualized service plan that is clear, complete, and current following CARF guidelines. Each consumer is required to have an individualized service plan that is clear, complete, and current following CARF guidelines. DRS requires monthly progress reports for all consumers sponsored with LTESS dollars DRS requires monthly progress reports for all consumers sponsored with LTESS dollars

LTESS GUIDELINES (continued) Monthly reports (including intervention sheets) should be maintained in the individual consumer file except: Monthly reports (including intervention sheets) should be maintained in the individual consumer file except: –if an individual is billed 20% or more of the total hours worked, the vendor must submit justification in the form of a monthly progress report

Questions? Questions?