Hello DVR Service Providers,

As we informed you last week, DVR secured additional General Purpose Revenue (GPR) funding from the legislature for the remainder of SFY 26 (ends 6/30/2026) and SFY 27. This is great news! DVR's goal is to activate all individuals from the waitlist by June 30, 2027. We have already activated 1000 individuals. At our meeting on June 18, we will discuss the plan for subsequent waitlist activations.

We appreciate everyone’s support over the past six months. The services you provide to our consumers are crucial for their success. We know the effects of the waitlist impacted many of you and prevented thousands of our consumers from getting the services they need to achieve their goals. We look forward to your continued partnership as we transition out of the waitlist.

To meet our goal of activating all individuals from the waitlist, we will need your assistance!  Many of these individuals will need statewide services. We know that Supported Employment job development and systematic instruction services will be in demand. Prior to DVR’s waitlist, many providers had their own waitlist for services, and many still do. We are asking for your help to think about ways and strategies to help with increasing capacity so that the individuals activated from DVR's waitlist do not have to end up on a Service Provider's waitlist.

DVR staff will be analyzing where there are Service Provider capacity gaps and reaching out to see if other providers can assist. For example, could using remote supports or Partners with Business be leveraged to assist areas where Service Providers are needed? Can systematic instruction resources be pooled?  Can providers expand into other WDAs? We hope to go over areas of need during the meeting on June 18.

We are also looking for your ideas on service gaps, and what other services would be beneficial and help get consumers employed - like increasing use of On-the-Job Assessments, as well as new ideas or services that could help consumer prepare for and get jobs as well as help with capacity issues.

Even with this additional funding, we are not out of the woods. The budget is tight and will continue to be closely monitored. We will continue to make strategic cost investments that support individuals reaching quality employment outcomes.

Please take some time to think about your agency's capacity to increase services to our DVR consumers. Come with those ideas on June 18 or share them ahead of time. Your thoughts and ideas can be emailed to: DVRServiceProviders@dwd.wisconsin.gov   

Thank you and I look forward to our discussion on June 18.

Deanna Krell
DVR Bureau of Management Services Director
deanna.krell@dwd.wisconsin.gov