Milestone

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 Milestone Program is a statewide program under the direction of the Illinois Department of Human Services - Division of Rehabilitation Services' (IDHS- DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation Program. This program assists individuals with various disabilities in obtaining and maintaining community based competitive employment and measures success at 15, 45 and 90 days of competitive employment. Competitive employment is integrated 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 assists 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.

No provider may claim payment for a competitive employment outcome when the provider is the employer of the DRS customer without the prior written approval from DRS. DRS will evaluate the nature of the job placement and determine whether it meets the criteria for "competitive integrated employment" as defined in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and is consistent with the guidelines provided in Rehabilitation Services Administration Technical Assistance Circular TAC-06-01.

Staffing will occur every eight weeks, from the time of referral to the CRP, and will include the customer/guardian, CRP, and DRS, at minimum. Signed staffing reports must be submitted to DRS by fax, email, and/or regular mail following the staffing.

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

Competitive employment is integrated 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. The goal is for the customer to reach job stability of at least 90 days on a competitive job. Upon achievement of job stability of at least 90 days of successful employment, the Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) will contact the customer for final employment verification. Deliverables are customer specific and unique to the IPE and may include one or more of the following activities to meet employment milestones of 15, 45 and 90 days of employment.

Outcome Based Measures

  1. Provide support to customers in achieving 15 days of competitive employment using one or more of the designated activities below.
  2. Provide support to customers achieving 45 days of competitive employment using one or more of the designated activities below.
  3. Provide support to customers achieving 90 days of competitive employment using one or more of the designated activities below.

Designated Activities

  1. Assessment - Assess the individual through observation of job readiness, transferable skills, social and personal characteristics, vocational interest, employment preferences, and retention and coping skills, and develops a job match profile.
  2. Job coaching - Supports an 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 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 to 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.
  5. Skills Training - Trainees become acquainted with the daily routine of work and develop specific vocational skills, including the use of basic occupational tools and equipment. Training is provided for the purpose of employment in a specific occupation.
  6. Career Development Services (CD) - supports an individual in developing a clear vision regarding the individuals preferred employment outcome, establishes the steps needed to achieve this outcome, and supports the individual in navigating each of these steps. Career Development supports an individual in directly connecting with appropriate identified community-based employment opportunities.

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.
  8. For Individual Placement and Support [IPS] Providers - Must demonstrate participation in the Fidelity Review Process and show evidence of receiving a minimum score of 75. IPS is an evidence-based practice based on a 25-item fidelity scale and the following practice principles: Focus on Competitive Employment; Eligibility Based on Client Choice; Integration of Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services; Attention to Client preferences; Personalized Benefits Counseling; Rapid Job search; Systematic job and Employer Relationship Development; and Time-Unlimited and Individualized Support.

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.

  1. and % of customers maintaining competitive employment for 15 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.
  2. and % of customers maintaining competitive employment for 45 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 on all DRS customers placed either by fax, email, and/or regular mail within 5 working days of the beginning of the month.
  3. 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 on all DRS customers placed either by fax, email, and/or regular mail within 5 working days of the beginning of the month.
  4. and % of customers achieving 90 days of competitive employment with verified earnings. This will be measured by submission of records that are sufficient to document the wages and earnings of cases selected by DRS. Wage records will be submitted to the Local Office, the Contract Advisor and DRS Quality Assurance no later than 30 days after the request by DRS.

4.Performance Standards

At least 70% of customers served will maintain competitive employment for 15 days. This will be measured monthly by comparing the total customers served from the master list to the number of customers completing a 15-day milestone.

At least 80% of customers achieving a 15-day milestone will maintain competitive employment for 45 days. This will be measured monthly by comparing the customers who reached both a 15 day and a 45-day milestone.

At least 80% of customers achieving a 45-day milestone will maintain competitive employment for 90 days. This will be measured monthly by comparing the customers who reached both a 45 day and a 90-day milestone.

At least 80% of customer records selected by DRS will include sufficient information to verify customer wage and earnings.