Attachment 4.9(c)(4)
Evidence of Collaboration Regarding Supported Employment Services and Extended Services
The Department for the Visually Handicapped (DVH) and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services have developed a state-to-state agreement ensuring that extended supported service dollars will be provided for blind or visually impaired individuals with mental disabilities, as long as those dollars are available. Local community service boards that have funds targeted for extended employment services will sign individual agreements verifying that dollars are available for an individual customer to provide ongoing support.
State funds continue to be appropriated to provide extended employment services for those individuals with physical disabilities. These state funds first became available in FY 89. It is anticipated that individuals who are blind with a secondary physical or mental disability will continue to have supported employment available as an employment option through June 30, 2005.
Natural supports can be utilized on an individual basis, as appropriate, for extended services. Natural supports include services by a family member, friend, co-worker, supervisor, peer, etc. Natural support services, as other extended support services, are to provide the necessary assistance (whether on-site or off-site) in order to help maintain the placement. Two deafblind specialists, employed by DVH and whose salaries are paid primarily for with General Funds, are also available to provide extended support services for deafblind customers.
Generally, for all supported employment cases the agency requires that a Memorandum of Understanding be signed by the provider of extended employment support funds. The Memorandum of Understanding is placed in the individual's case record before Title VI, Part B, funds are expended. However, when there is a reasonable expectation that the provider of extended employment service funds will be in place at the proper time, Title VI, Part B, funds can be expended before the memorandum is fully executed.
