Extended CESP Allowance

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities sent this bulletin at 11/02/2023 08:07 AM EDT

OOD Provider News

Hello Vocational Rehabilitation Providers:

In November of 2022, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) responded to providers’ staffing challenges related to delivering Supported Employment Job Development for individuals connected with a county board of Developmental Disabilities (DD). OOD made a temporary allowance related to the Community Employment Support Professional (CESP) credential requirement of that service.

Providers have reported this allowance has been helpful in hiring and developing staff to work toward obtaining their CESP and to allow greater capacity for these services across Ohio. Therefore, OOD is extending this allowance through September 30, 2024. Provider staff may continue to work under the supervision of or with a CESP or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) certified staff (e.g., supervisor, peer mentor) and provide SEJD services.

Provider staff utilizing this allowance must be working toward sitting for their CESP once they have met all requirements, including the one year of service. All current requirements for these staff as they work toward their CESP remain in place.

Thank you.

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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) 2023, OOD received $105,851,906 in federal funds. Funds appropriated by the State covered 21.3 % of the total costs, or $28,648,610. Of these federal funds, $15,877,786 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 2023, OOD received $301,051 for SE Youth with a Disability, and State appropriated funds paid the remaining 10%, or $33,450 of the total costs. In FFY 2023, OOD received $301,051 in regular SE grant funds.

For the purposes of the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program, the federal grant received from DOE in FFY 2023 paid 90% of the total costs incurred under the program. In FFY 2023, OOD received $1,159,083 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid the 10% required match, or $128,787 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 2023. In FFY 2023, OOD received $645,712 in federal grant funds. Funds appropriated by the State paid the 10% required match, or $71,746 of the total costs incurred under the IL Program.