Strengthening Partnerships between SILCs and DSUs

1. Strengthening Partnerships between SILCs and DSUs Presented by: Mike Bachhuber Charlene Dwyer

2. The SILC & DSU Partnership StrengthA Self-Assessment Exercise • A series of questions for SILCs and their DSUs • Select the item that best describes your SILC and DSU partnership

3. 1. The SILC and DSU leadership jointly worked throughout the process of developing the SPIL goals. The DSU had influence on the framing of one or more SPIL goals. 2. The SILC and DSU leadership reviewed drafts and provided feedback while the SPIL was being developed as well as at the final draft stage. In my opinion, the “degree of joint preparation” of the State Plan prior to sign off was:

4. 3. The SILC and DSU leadership provided feedback when the SPIL was in the final draft stage.4. The SILC and DSU leadership provided little to no joint effort or feedback during SPIL development. The DSU focus, if any, was on RSA compliance issues. In my opinion, the “degree of joint preparation” of the State Plan prior to sign off was, cont’d:

5. Debrief and Sharing Section 705: • The Council shall‑‑ (1) jointly develop and sign (in conjunction with the designated State unit) the State plan required in section 704; • Participant experience, sharing and Q & A (5 minutes)

6. 1. The DSU leadership regularly engages in monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the State Plan implementation via their active involvement with the SILC, provides regular feedback, and offers usable suggestions or staff assistance in support of these activities.2. The DSU leadership regularly engages in monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the State Plan implementation via their active involvement with the SILC and provides occasional feedback. The degree of DSU involvement in the monitoring, review and evaluation of the State Plan implementation is:

7. 3. The DSU leadership sporadically or very selectively engages in monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the State Plan implementation.4. The DSU leadership has little to no meaningful involvement in monitoring, reviewing or evaluating the plan. The DSU engages in these activities only when there is an RSA compliance issue. The degree of DSU involvement in the monitoring, review and evaluation of the State Plan implementation is, cont’d:

8. Debrief and Sharing • Section 705: The Council shall‑‑ (2) monitor, review, and evaluate the implementation of the State plan; • Participant experience, sharing and Q & A (5 minutes)

9. 1. There is a SILC liaison Council member who serves on both the SILC and SRC. The liaison effectively shares information. The two Councils have identified ways to “coordinate both priorities and activities ” in support of their respective State Plans. One or more priorities are common to the SPIL and the VR State Plan. 2. There is a SILC liaison Council member who serves on both the SILC and SRC. The liaison effectively shares information. The two Councils have identified ways to “coordinate activities”. The degree of coordination between the State Independent Living Council and the State Rehabilitation Council is:

10. 3. There is a SILC liaison Council member who serves on both the SILC and SRC. The liaison effectively shares information. The two Councils, while informed of their respective priorities, have not “coordinated activities”.4. There is not a SILC liaison Council member who serves on both the SILC and SRC. There is little to no communication on priorities or coordination of activities between the two Councils. The degree of coordination between the State Independent Living Council and the State Rehabilitation Council is, cont’d:

11. Debrief and Sharing • Section 705: The Council shall‑‑ (3) coordinate activities with the State Rehabilitation Council established under section 105, if the State has such a Council, or the commission described in section 101(a)(21)(A), if the State has such a commission, and councils that address the needs of specific disability populations and issues under other Federal law; • Participant experience, sharing and Q & A (5 minutes)

12. Identify True or False for each statement as it relates to your SILC • SILC leadership is present at SILC meetings, hearings and forums. • DSU (VR Agency) leadership is present at SILC meetings, hearings and forums. • SRC leadership is present at SILC meetings, hearings and forums. • SILC leadership is present at DSU (VR Agency) meetings, hearings and forums. • SILC leadership is present at SRC meetings, hearings and forums.

13. Debrief and Sharing • Section 705: (3) coordinate activities with the State Rehabilitation Council established under section 105, if the State has such a Council, or the commission described in section 101(a)(21)(A), if the State has such a commission, and councils that address the needs of specific disability populations and issues under other Federal law; And, • The Rehabilitation Act34 CFR 361.17  Requirements for a state rehabilitation council... (b) (i) At least one representative of the Statewide Independent Living Council, who must be the chairperson or other designee of the Statewide Independent Living Council; • Participant experience, sharing and Q & A (5 minutes)

14. Identify True or False as it relates to your SILC resource plan as prepared for FFY ’08 • The Council and DSU work cooperatively to prepare the SILC resource plan. • The DSU assists the Council in identifying other allowable sources of funding. • The DSU provides DSU staff support to assure a sufficient resource plan. • The resource plan, including staff and personnel, is sufficient to carry out the functions of the council (i.e., meetings, hearings, . . .) • The DSU and SILC agreed upon accounting mechanisms and controls to assure the SILC can be responsible for the proper expenditure of funds and resource use.

15. Identify True or False as it relates to your SILC resource plan as prepared for FFY ’08, cont’d. • The DSU responsibly awards and manages subcontracted funds in support of the activities of the Council and of the goals of the State Plan without unduly influencing the independence of the SILC or the funding priorities of the plan. • The Council has the sole responsibility to supervise and evaluate staff and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council. • The DSU or any other agency or office the State refrains from assigning duties to the Council or the Council’s staff that may create a conflict of interest.

16. Debrief and Sharing • Section 705 SILC resources: The Council shall prepare, in conjunction with the designated State unit, a plan for the provision of such resources, including such staff and personnel, as may be necessary and sufficient to carry out the functions of the Council under this section, with funds made available under this chapter, and under section 110 (consistent with section 101(a)(18)), and from other public and private sources. The resource plan shall, to the maximum extent possible, rely on the use of resources in existence during the period of implementation of the plan.

17. Debrief and Sharing, cont’d. • Each Council shall, consistent with State law, supervise and evaluate such staff and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council under this section. • While assisting the Council in carrying out its duties, staff and other personnel shall not be assigned duties by the designated State agency or any other agency or office of the State, that would create a conflict of interest.

18. Debrief and Sharing, cont’d. • For the Resource Plan, federal regulations [34 CFR 364.21 (i)(3 & 4)] also state • No conditions or requirements may be included in the SILC’s resource plan that may compromise the independence of the SILC. • The SILC is responsible for the proper expenditure of funds and use of resources that it receives under the resource plan. • Participant experience, sharing and Q & A (5 minutes)

19. Today’s facilitators Mike Bachhuber . . . Charlene Dwyer, Administrator Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Charlene.Dwyer@dwd.wisconsin.gov 608-261-2126