Fiscal Year 2002 Goals and Accomplishments

The following goals were approved by the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council (PaRC) at its meeting October 15, 2001.

Executive Committee

Goal 1). Increase communication with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) Board and the Workforce Investment Board (WIB).

• Implement at least 3 Open Dialogue meetings with the OVR Board, with at least one being in person. The Executive Committee recommends deleting the above objective and keeping the next 2.
• Meet with the State WIB and OVR staff to achieve an operational definition of the Rehabilitation Act requirement that the PaRC consult with the WIB before carrying out its functions in section 105.
• Assure that the PaRC receives copies of all OVR reports to Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) on a timely basis.

Goal 2). Increase the PaRC's knowledge of OVR's fiscal management.

• Develop a process to receive quarterly revenue and expense data.
• Include a fiscal report in the OVR portion of each PaRC meeting agenda.

Goal 3). Assess the flow of communications throughout the system and make recommendations as needed.

Status

• At the Retreat in September, there was a portion of the agenda for open dialogue between the OVR Board and the PaRC. Also, PaRC attended the OVR board meeting on September 18, 2002. PaRC sends representatives to OVR board meetings.
• Council members attend meetings of the OVR board and other disability related organizations on a regular basis.
• OVR staff provides this fiscal information during the PaRC Full Council meetings. Overall, communication has improved between the PaRC, OVR, and other organizations.

Customer Satisfaction Committee

Goal 1). Assess and analyze customer satisfaction with OVR programs, services and outcomes. Develop a process to routinely obtain copies and analysis of results of OVR Surveys. Receive an inventory of surveys sent by OVR over the past three years. Who receives the surveys? What is the purpose of the survey? What is the response rate? What is done with the results? Complete inquiry by January 2002.

• Monitor OVR responses for implementation from the PaRC recommendations in the 1998 and 2000 surveys by communicating with the appropriate OVR contact person every three months.
• Reconvene the Multicultural Advisory Committee to address the ethnic disparity in the customer base as well as to follow-up on recommendations from the PaRC's previous survey. Reconvene the Multicultural Advisory Committee to address the ethnic disparity in the customer bases as well as to follow-up on recommendations from the PaRC's previous survey.
• Compare data re: ethnic makeup of customers and the general ethnic composition of each district.
• Review forms and processes to assure customers understand their rights with respect to selecting vendors, and that their level of understanding is accurately documented.
• Based on the analysis of satisfaction data results collected by OVR conduct 2-4 targeted surveys and/or focus groups (for example the deaf community, employers or counselors.) Note- this would be in lieu of another large survey like 1998's since the $85,000-$90,000 cost of such an effort outweighs the benefits of the information obtained. Complete by December 2002.
• Continue to solicit and analyze data concerning formal and informal customer appeals and mediation activities, and make recommendations as needed. Inquire as to the availability of similar information from other Advocacy Groups. Complete inquiry by the end of the 1st. Quarter 2002.

Status

• OVR has asked the PaRC to begin the Customer Satisfaction Survey in FY03. The PaRC and OVR are scheduling planning meetings to go over deliverables and timeframes for the upcoming survey.
• The Multicultural Advisory Committee has reconvened during the past year to work on areas of ethnic disparity.
• The appeal form and processes for an OVR customer to file an appeal have been reviewed and revised. The committee is researching with OVR to see, if they can get more information in regards to the appeals, to determine trends, consistency of issues, problematic regions, etc.

Disability Agenda Committee

Goal 1). Assist in assuring the accessibility of all aspects of the CareerLink Centers.

• Participate in work groups and other activities related to accessibility.
• Develop a process to receive and analyze information about site assessments and customer concerns.
• Study implementation models in other states and identify best practices.

stakeholders and other organizations with a disability focus.

• Increase PaRC involvement with groups specifically identified in section 105 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• In collaboration with staff, increase the content of the website for members and nonmembers.

Status

• PaRC members have a site accessibility survey to use when evaluating accessibility at CareerLink sites. PaRC members have started visiting CareerLink sites in their local areas to complete the survey.
• PaRC members are participating in work groups, not all are necessarily related to accessibility issues. These work groups include: OVR Transition workgroup, Governor's Advisory Committee for the Blind, MultiCultural Advisory Committee, OVR Board meetings, Statewide Independent Living Council meetings, etc. Other activities include: participation in the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), and the Spring Vision Conference.
• PaRC shares and receives information from other like minded organizations such as Brain Injury Association of PA, Pennsylvania Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Policy Information Exchange, Pennsylvania Council of Independent Living, Statewide Independent Living Council, etc. via newsletters, alerts and meetings.
• The PaRC website has been kept updated with calendars, minutes, and the addition of links to other related organizations. Comments received from the public via the website are referred to OVR.

Legislative Committee

Goal 1). Increase PaRC's advocacy on behalf of job seekers and other persons with disabilities.

• Prepare a portfolio of information for use in advocacy on behalf of Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act and retaining a separate state-federal rehabilitation program.
• Strengthen relationships with both federal and state elected officials.
• Position the PaRC as a resource to federal and state legislators concerning legislation and services for persons with disabilities through position papers and meetings with elected officials.
• Participate in the National Rehabilitation Association's annual Government Affairs training conference. Make at least one additional trip to meet with the PA delegation to Congress.
• Continually monitor information resources and disseminate information to the PaRC's Legislative Network through Legislative updates and Legislative Alerts.

Goal 2). Increase the PaRC's knowledge of the Workforce Investment Act.

• Create a presentation and handbook for the members related to Reauthorization of WIA and the Rehabilitation Act.
• Invite State legislators and or staff to Full Council meetings, to talk about the effect of the legislation and tie-ins on the disability community.

Goal 3). Collaborate with the Disability Agenda Committee regarding remediation of CareerLink issues.

Status

• An official position paper on Public Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) including other information on the council and VR in PA was compiled and used by the council as an advocacy tool with legislators. Members participated in the annual trip to visit with legislators this year in March and disseminated information to 23 legislators in Washington. Members encourage one another to personally meet with their own legislators in their own counties.
• Additionally, the council (legislative committee) is working on developing position statements on various bills and legislation that can be emailed out to legislators on a monthly basis.
• Seven council members and two staff attended the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) conference this year.
• Representatives from the Council spoke at various forums on the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) this summer. A position paper was also developed on IDEA.
• This year to date ten Legislative updates have been distributed. Alerts are generally discussed during conference calls as to action to be taken. Additionally, staff monitor numerous websites, newsletter, etc. and disseminate this information weekly to members via the weekly update.
• Council member, Ms. Jamie Ray gave a presentation on the Rehabilitation Act at the February Full Council meeting.
• Dr. Ralph Pacinelli from the Rehabilitative Services Administration gave a presentation on the Reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act at the August Full Council meeting.

State Plan Committee

Goal 1). Increase the PaRC's role in the development and monitoring of OVR's goals and priorities as described in the attachment to the State Plan.

• Find out OVR's time line for the State Plan, including their deadlines for development and monitoring of the State Plan by February 1, 2002. From this information, create deadlines for PaRC to give their input and be involved with OVR in developing the State Plan draft. Final comments on the State Plan should be given from the PaRC to OVR at least 30 working days prior to the public meetings.
• Ask OVR for copies of the State Plan, or parts of the State Plan, as it is being developed. The PaRC State Plan Committee will review these drafts on an on going basis and provide feedback accordingly. Final comments on the State Plan should be given from the PaRC to OVR at least 30 working days prior to the public meetings.
• Assure completion and approval of the PaRC's attachment by February 2002 for inclusion in the public meetings.
• Maintain direct contact with the OVR/BBVS Consumer Advisory Committees (CAC) through exchange of minutes and joint conference calls (at least four per year), in order to obtain information for the PaRC's attachment. Obtain baseline information about the Consumer Advisory Committees by sending them the survey developed by the Executive Committee, and disseminating the results of the survey to the Full Council by the February 2002 meeting.
• Increase the PaRC's knowledge about programs and services described in attachment 4.12(e) (Innovation and Expansion Grants) by inviting the appropriate OVR contact person to attend a Committee meeting in the next four months. The purpose of this meeting will be to educate the Committee about the purpose of the grants, how they are funded, and how decisions are made about which grants will receive funding.
• Participate in workgroups and committees formed to address aspects of State Plan implementation, for example the Multicultural Advisory Committee, the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development, and the Advisory Council for the Blind. The Committee will also track the number of workgroups and committees that PaRC is participating in. The Committee will also obtain copies of any minutes, reports, recommendations and other documents from the Advisory Council for the Blind by February 1, 2002.

Goal 2). Increase the PaRC's role in publicizing the public State Plan meetings to stake holders.

• Track how OVR and PaRC are publicizing the meetings and how effective these methods are (to be completed within 3 months of the last public meeting for 2002).
• Find out from OVR specifically how many people attended the public meetings, the locations and dates of those meetings, and how many written comments were received and from where during the past two years (to be completed by February 1, 2002).

Goal 3). Continue oversight of OVR policies and procedures.

• Participate in work groups formed to draft new policies or revise existing policies, and track the timeliness of when PaRC is informed about new OVR policies and work groups.
• Track how PaRC receives new or revised policies. PaRC should receive information 30 days prior to a Full Council meeting to ensure it will be available to members in alternate formats. Make recommendations to the Full Council regarding new or revised policies.
• Assure that the PaRC staff has complete and current counselor manuals, numbered memoranda, etc. in the office reference library.
• Assess the flow of communications throughout the system and make recommendations as needed.

Status

• Chris Forbrich (OVR) sent the PaRC the dates and schedules of the public meetings on February 21, 2002 and the Combined State Agency Plan Update with responses on March 13, 2002.
• The State Plan Committee completed the PaRC's attachment and forwarded it to OVR in February to meet OVR's deadline. The State Plan Committee has met four times since October with the Consumer Advisory Committees (CAC's). The Committee developed and conducted a survey October 31, 2001. Only four surveys were received. Members are reviewing other ways to get the CAC's involved.
• PaRC added links to the OVR Public Meeting Schedule. The schedule was sent out to the Full Council, CAC's and posted in the Weekly update. OVR posted the notice in the PA Bulletin, as well as on their website and will pursue other means to publicize the meetings.
• The PaRC has received information from OVR regarding specifics of number of people attending public meetings (locations and dates) and number of written comments received.
• The State Plan Committee sent Chris Forbrich a thank you for her continuing effort to work with them in providing them with the State Plan Public Meeting schedule in a very timely fashion.
• The council created a list of topics for educational development. Topics were prioritized and speakers are being requested following that order. Mr. Raymond Walker (OVR) will be doing a presentation at the December 2003 Full Council Meeting on Innovation and Expansion grants.
• Members are participating in work groups. One of OVR's goals is to send out minutes of the work groups this year.
• Members of the PaRC are invited to be involved in OVR work groups (transition, college, multicultural) which are developing and revising policies. OVR has been sending the new or revised policies on an ongoing basis.
• Project Staff maintains this information in the PaRC Office. Staff have also requested a complete list of numbered memoranda and asked if these documents will become available on the website.