DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCE
Education - Vocational Rehabilitation
David Mitchell,
Administrator
Mission Statement:
We provide expert, individualized services to Iowans with disabilities to achieve their independence through successful employment and economic support.
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 Performance
Plan - How we measure our progress
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Strategic
Plan - How we plan for progress
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Performance
Report - How we report our progress
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Department Home
Page - Learn more about this department
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Why
this is important:
This measure indicates that intervention by the professional counselors
of Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services has
benefited consumers by increasing their wages.
What we're doing about this:
IVRS reacted quickly to the pandemic, moving staff to virtual service delivery within the first week. We have made a commitment towards continuing to advance our technology applications through mobile and flexible usage. We emphasized service delivery will not be interrupted, we are not closed - even during the pandemic, but that services should be provided virtually. We established goals to protect staff and job candidates with health and safety measures, to keep staff in paid work status when possible and ensured service delivery would continue. The clear message was services can and should be provided virtually, but there are times and needs when on-site visits are required and those are allowable following all of the CDC safety guidelines.
The pandemic has seen a major shift in how business is implemented. Our business customers and job candidates have had their lives significantly ipmacted, but we have found innovative ways to keep vocational rehabilitation services in the forefront. Job candidate referrals and employment outcomes have decreased, but that is expected given current conditions. We remain optimistic our hybrid service delivery options will continue to lead us into the future months. We continue to see an emphasis on a growing transition population with service to students who are receiving special education services under an individual Education Plan or 504 plan. We also continue to see individuals with the most significant disabilities attempting to access competitive integrated employment opportunities for the first time. This is exciting as we know from our data that when individuals can work in the community there is a positive return on investment and social health. Our Employment First philosoph,y with a belief that all individuals can work with the right services and the right supports, provides a strong foundation in continuing to provide outreach during the pandemic.
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