Project Search

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 Project SEARCH program is a statewide program under the direction of the Illinois Department of Human Services - Division of Rehabilitation Services' (IDHS- DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Project SEARCH has a High School Transition Team that creates a unique, business-led, school to work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of work-based readiness training, job exploration counseling, and relevant job-skills training through work-based learning internships. The goal for each student participant is competitive integrated employment. The program provides real-life work experience combined with instruction in employability, self-advocacy skills, and independent living skills to help youth with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life.

Project SEARCH is available for those students with an intellectual or developmental disability between the ages of 18-22 who are, in their last year of high school, have completed all academics, and are working on their individual transition goals. Individuals participating in these services, will have been found eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation services, and will be in Plan Status.

Project SEARCH is a collaboration between a host business, the student intern/family, Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP), the high school district, IDHS-DRS, Workforce Investment Board, and Division of Developmental Disabilities. The entire school year long program takes place at a host business in the community. The Project SEARCH model involves continuous feedback from teachers, skills instructors, and employers. As a result, at the completion of the training program, students with significant intellectual disabilities are employed in competitive integrated employment.

The ultimate goal of Project SEARCH is competitive integrated employment for each student intern. To achieve this, student interns complete a variety of internships at the host business that simulate a real work environment, with each internship lasting ten weeks. This includes interviewing for the internship positions, participation in the initial job orientation and training, shadowing other employees, taking normal breaks, eating lunch with peers, clocking in and out, wearing the correct uniform, working with a supervisor, and being evaluated on acquisition of skills, performance, pace, and productivity. The role of the instructor is to provide classroom training on these job skills and all other areas of intern and program development. The role of the skills developer from the CRP is to assist the employee in being successful in these tasks in both the classroom and at the internship site with as much independence as possible.

Project SEARCH provides Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) which includes evaluation, training, and work-based learning components designed to prepare students with disabilities for transition to employment and optimum community participation during and after high school.

IDHS-DRS requires customized services that are responsive to the individual support needs and learning styles of students and include linkages to education, other agencies, and adult services; compliance with Department of Education 34 CFR based on the Rehabilitation ACT of 1973 as amended by WIOA; and compliance with all state and federal Department of Labor (DOL) regulations.

The following services under Pre-ETS are available to be provided.

  1. Work-based learning experiences: Work-based learning experiences, which may include in-school or after school opportunities, or experience outside the traditional school setting (including internships), that is provided in an integrated environment to the maximum extent possible. These will include: Community OJT, Employer Paid Work Experiences, Worksite Tours to learn about necessary job skills, job shadowing, mentoring opportunities in the community, internships, apprenticeships, and employment.
  2. Workplace Readiness Training: Classroom or community-based instruction beyond that received in a work-related class. This typically provides training in skill areas other than vocational development that students will need to function independently within the community. Skill areas may include, but are not limited to, communication and interpersonal skills, job seeking skills, understanding employer expectations, and are tailored to the individual's needs.

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

Project SEARCH provides real-life work experience combined with instruction in employability, self-advocacy skills, and independent living skills to help youth with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. The goal for each student participant is competitive integrated employment.

Under this contract, there are a variety of services provided to support the student interns during the internships and in obtaining and maintaining competitive integrated employment.

Outcome Based Measures

  1. Provide support to customers in completing the 1st Internship.
  2. Provide support to customers in completing the 2nd Internship.
  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.

Provider will ensure program accessibility to students with disabilities that meet the criteria for Project SEARCH. Provide a minimum of two internships during the school year and assist with obtaining and maintaining competitive integrated employment after the completion of the internships.

All partners should participate in the student intern selection process. The Student Selection process is carried out with the involvement of all team members with the school taking the lead on many of these tasks The team should include the business liaison(s), representative from the school district, Project SEARCH instructor, DRS counselor, CRP, Developmental Disability staff (someone from the agency that works with transition or young adults), family representative, and other interested stakeholders.

Referral information to determine student eligibility for VR services and participation in Project SEARCH should be submitted to IDHS-DRS and contain the following:

  1. Social security number
  2. Consent for services
  3. Release of information if the customer is under 18 or has a legal guardian
  4. Most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  5. Existing medical documentation, most recent psychological and record reviews. If applicable, social history will also be included; or
  6. Any other verification that the student has been determined by another educational or governmental agency to be an individual with a disability
  7. coordinated educational plan (IEP) and a vocational plan (IPE) will be developed with student interns/parents/guardian, school personnel, DRS counselor, CRP, and other community agency providers. DRS counselor must be involved in any decisions that would alter previously agreed upon transition programming for individual students, including placement in or removal from work-based learning experiences. A copy of the students' most recent IEP must be sent annually to IDHS-DRS while a student is in Project SEARCH.

Monthly billings and progress notes will be submitted within 5 working days of the beginning of the month.

Identify potential Project SEARCH participants for IDHS-DRS referrals.

Inform parents and students of the availability of Project SEARCH and IDHS-DRS services, and of their rights and responsibilities in transition planning.

Encourage active participation on the local Transition Planning Committee(s).

The CRP agrees that it will provide Project Search services only to individuals have been found eligible for DRS vocational rehabilitation services and are in Plan Status. All questions about the potential eligibility of an individual will be referred to DRS before any services are provided under this agreement.

DRS staff is exclusively responsible for determination of eligibility of an individual for the vocational rehabilitation program and for placement of an individual into a category under the order of selection policy.

The following reporting requirements apply:

  1. The provider must submit to both the DRS Local Office(s) and Contract Advisor a Monthly Group Billing and Progress Notes 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. On Site reviews of contractual requirements, including Provider files, will be performed no less than once every three years, or more often as needed.
  6. 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.

  1. Number and percent of students in the program.
  2. The number and percent of students that participated in the first internship.
  3. The number and percent of students that participated in the second internship.
  4. The number and percent of students that achieved a 90-day competitive integrated employment outcome.

4.Performance Standards

  1. 100% of the students will be certified as eligible and in Plan Status.
  2. At least 80% of students will complete the first internship.
  3. At least 80% of students will complete the second internship.
  4. At least 70% of students that complete both internships will obtain a 90-day competitive integrated employment outcome.