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

2. 2017 National Survey of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies and Business Relations

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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%

7. 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.

8. Index and Case Studies

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. Questions?

15. Contact Information
Linda Mock: Kathy West-Evans: May-Lorie St. Laurent: Melissa Alford: