Project Search & Job Readiness Training Support
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 12/18/2019 01:19 PM EST
Hello Vocational Rehabilitation Providers,
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) appreciates the important provider partnerships that are necessary to make Project Search partnerships and Job Readiness Training (JRT) a successful service. Recently, providers have requested more guidance and support around the service requirements. We have heard that providers are sometimes asked to complete activities that are not part of the service definition and therefore, are not billable. We want to support providers in understanding their roles, and OOD’s expectations for the services they purchase as a partner in this collaboration.
OOD is currently working on additional written guidance that more fully outline the roles and responsibilities of each JRT partner. This will benefit all Project Search partners by having clear guidelines that all parties have agreed upon. In the meantime, there are four areas recently identified from reviews of the JRT service that require immediate guidance:
- The JRT service time begins during internship rotations. Classroom time is sponsored by the school district. The teacher provides classroom instruction and manages student behavior. Only the Job Coach/Skills Trainer’s direct service time during the internship rotations will be reimbursed, and should be documented on the OOD invoice (i.e. 9:30-11:30 and 12:00-2:00).
- Lunch breaks are not a part of the billable service time. OOD has made it easier to document lunch on the new forms.
- Service start and end times should reflect a set schedule of services, which are generally adhered to. School Based Job Readiness Training services are expected to be scheduled two and a half (2 ½) hours for Half Day services and four (4) hours for Full Day services, not including classroom time and lunch time.
- Reports must be fully completed, including work tasks and a narrative of each individual’s performance. This will expedite the review and processing of payments. Current performance and areas of improvement should be clearly identified.
OOD thanks our providers and we look forward to continuing these partnerships as they greatly benefit students with disabilities.
- Provider & Contract Management Unit and Supported Employment & Transition Unit
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Programs provided by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) are funded, in whole or in part, with federal grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program, including Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), OOD received 78.7% of its funding through the DOE VR grant. In Federal fiscal year (FFY) 2019, OOD received $99,548,657 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $26,942,648. Of these federal funds, $14,932,299 is set aside for Pre-ETS. For purposes of the Supported Employment (SE) Program, the DOE SE grant funded 90% of the costs for the Supported Employment for Youth with a Disability Program up to the grant amount and 100% of the costs of regular Supported Employment program costs up to the grant amount. In FFY 2019, OOD received $297,857 for SE Youth with a Disability and State appropriated funds paid a small amount more than the remaining 10% or $33,192 of the total costs. In FFY 2019, OOD received $297,857 in regular SE grant funds. For purposes of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program, the federal grant received from DOE in FFY 2019 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2019, OOD received $1,153,208 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid over the 10% required match or $130,000 of the total costs incurred under the OIB program.For purposes of the Independent Living (IL) Program, the federal grant received from HHS paid 90% of the total costs incurred in FFY 2019. In FFY 2019, OOD received funding of $640,571. Funds appropriated by the State paid 10% or $71,175 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program. |