Intern-Pro

Applicant Eligibility

1.Project Description

The Division of Rehabilitation Services requires the timely execution of all initial and amended contractual agreements. Vendors will have 14 business days to sign and return the required contract documents issued by the State, which may include one or more of the following: initial contract signature page, amendment page, Financial Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest, and the Taxpayer Identification Page. Non-compliance may result in a modified start date of the contract to align with the vendor's submission of the required execution documents. Vendors will not be reimbursed for services provided in advance of the modified start date. When a contract amendment is issued to reduce the value of the contract, non-compliance may result in the full de-obligation of the contract balance regardless of the amended amount.

The Final Reconciliation of a contractual agreement will follow prescribed timeframes communicated annually to community providers.

This contract is for purchase of care services related to the Vocational Rehabilitation Program.

The Intern Program is a unique program under the direction of the Illinois Department of Human Services - Division of Rehabilitation Services' (IDHS- DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation Program. It is a business-led training program that takes place at the workplace.

This program assists individuals with various disabilities in obtaining and maintaining community based competitive employment and measures success at 90 days of competitive integrated employment, which is the goal for each individual.

VR regulations established under WIOA and subsequent guidance from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) find that there are three key components to determining whether a given job meets the criteria of competitive integrated employment: competitive wages and benefits; integrated location, which means that it is a job that is "typically found in the community"; and opportunity for advancement. Competitive integrated employment is employment within the community which pays the Customer (employee) at least minimum wage or a wage commensurate to the prevailing wage and applicable fringe benefits. Providers use job matching techniques to assist individuals in identifying specific jobs or potential employers that are available and accessible in the community.

Individuals participating in these services, will have been found eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation services, and will be in Plan Status. Providers are expected to employ a variety of techniques and services necessary in obtaining and maintaining community based competitive employment consistent with the employment outcome goal identified on the Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). Services and training may include but are not limited to assessments and evaluations of job readiness, specialized training, career development services, trial work, transferable skills, social and personal characteristics, vocational skills, computer skills, communication skills, interviewing skills, employment preferences, and job seeking skills. Job retention services, including observation and monitoring. As well as direct on-the-job supports including job coaching are also included and designed as follow- up services to ensure job stability and job performance.

To achieve this goal, there are strategically designed internships in real-life work settings that allows the individual to gain relevant job skills and explore career options prior to employment. This includes but is not limited to interviewing for the position, participating in the initial job orientation, training, shadowing other employees, taking normal breaks, eating lunch with peers, clocking in and out, wearing the correct uniform, if required, working with a supervisor, and being evaluated on acquisition of skills, performance, pace, and productivity.

Within this contract, there are two tracks of available services. The first track is for those individuals that will require more extensive training before obtaining employment due to very limited work skills. They will complete two ten-week internships and then be assisted with obtaining and maintaining stable competitive, community employment for 90 days.

The second track is for individuals who have some work skills but are still in need of improving work skills before finding employment. They will participate in one internship and then be assisted with obtaining and maintaining stable competitive, community employment for 90 days.

Track determination will be discussed with the DRS counselors, customer, and CRP to determine the best fit. All placements should be based on the customer's unique strengths, priorities, concerns, abilities, resources, capabilities, career interests, and informed choice. Movement within the tracks is not allowed.

Staffings must occur at a minimum every eight weeks, from the time of referral to the CRP, and continue throughout the case. The staffing reports must be submitted by fax or e-mail to the DRS Counselor every eight weeks and contain the customer signature, CRP signature, and DRS counselor signature.

Program Standards:

Accreditation- per IDHS-DRS Rules found at 89 IL Adm. Code 530.5 Part 530 criteria for the evaluation of programs of services in community Rehabilitation agencies : sections listing (ilga.Gov) The CRP must submit a copy of the most recent national accreditation survey report to the IDHS-DRS Contract Advisor within 30 days of receipt.

Vendors are required to comply with all provisions outlined in 2 CFR 200.327 Contract Provisions, Appendix II to Part 200 - Contract Provisions for Non-Federal Entity Contracts Under Federal Awards.

2.Deliverables

Customers will participate in internships to gain employability skills. This contract allows for participation in one or two ten-week long internships. The ultimate goal is competitive integrated community employment.

Outcome Based Measures

  1. Provide support to customers participating in the First 10-week internship.
  2. Provide support to customers participating in the Second 10-week internship.
  3. Provide support to customers achieving 90 days of competitive integrated community employment.

Providers are expected to employ a variety of services to assist the individual in achieving competitive integrated employment.

Designated Activities:

  1. Assessment-Assess the individual through the observation of job readiness, transferable skills, social and personal characteristics, vocational interest, employment preference, and retention and coping skills, and develops a job match profile.
  2. Job Coaching- Supports and individual in maintaining satisfactory work output once employed. Job Coaching may involve one-on-one personal training while the individual is working, observation of the individual with only limited direct intervention, one-on-one meetings with the individual to discuss work-related progress or issues, suggestions for enhanced efficiency and productivity, creative use of pictorial or other cues to direct task completion, development of natural supports in the workplace, and any other tools or techniques deemed appropriate in the helping an individual to achieve satisfactory work output and to maintain or retain employment.
  3. Job Development and Placement-Uses job match techniques and assists the individual in identifying specific jobs that are available and accessible in the community. Job readiness, job seeking, and retention skills training can be used to develop necessary skills to enable the individual to secure the job and to develop an understanding of how to keep the job.
  4. Job Retention-Is provided the customer if he or she needs training, monitoring, or job coaching for specific tasks associated with the job. Services may also involve working with the employer, co-workers, and family members to enhance the customer's job stability. These services are expected to decrease in frequency and eventually be discontinued as the individual's performance on the job is stabilized.

Staffings must occur at a minimum every eight weeks, from the time of referral to the CRP, and continue throughout the case.

The following reporting requirements apply:

  1. The provider must submit to both the DRS Local Office(s) and Contract Advisor a Monthly Group Billing either by fax, e-mail and/ or regular mail within 5 working days of the beginning of the month. Group Billing Sheet must include all required information.
  2. If there is no billing for that month, an e-mail can be sent stating that to the Contract Advisor. Local DRS Office cc'd as requested.
  3. Provider will complete and submit a roster of customers being served monthly to the Contract Advisor. Local DRS Office as requested.
  4. As requested for review once a 90-day placement has been earned, the Provider must submit to the Local DRS Office, or Contract Advisor, wage records with the 90-day billing. This will then be reviewed by DRS Quality Assurance.
  5. Signed staffing reports must be submitted to DRS by fax, email, and/or regular mail following the eight-week staffing.
  6. On Site reviews of contractual requirements, including Provider files, will be performed no less than once every three years, or more often as needed.
  7. Final Reconciliation will be submitted to the Contract Advisor by the 5th working day of July.

The following information is critical to ensure timely payments and program operations:

  1. Billings are to be completed monthly.
  2. Incomplete, inaccurate forms required for payment will result in delayed payments.
  3. Non-compliance per Provider Responsibilities/Assurances may result in suspension of payments until DHS/DRS is satisfied that compliance concerns have been addressed.

3.Performance Measures

Performance measures will be reported monthly to the DRS Contract Advisor on the Group Billing Sheet.

  • and % of customers completing one internship. This will be measured via submission of the Monthly Group Billing. The provider must submit to both the DRS local Office(s) and Contract Advisor a Monthly Group Billing by fax, email, or regular mail within 5 working days of the beginning of the month.
  • and % of customers completing two internships. This will be measured via submission of the Monthly Group Billing. The provider must submit to both the DRS local Office(s) and Contract Advisor a Monthly Group Billing by fax, email, or regular mail within 5 working days of the beginning of the month.
  • and % of customers maintaining competitive employment for 90 days. This will be measured via submission of the Monthly Group Billing. The provider must submit to both the DRS local Office(s) and Contract Advisor a Monthly Group Billing by fax, email, or regular mail within 5 working days of the beginning of the month.

4.Performance Standards

Approximately 70% of customers participating in Track One will obtain competitive integrated employment.

Approximately 70% of customers participating in Track Two will obtain competitive integrated employment.

90% of the customers referred will complete at least one internship.