COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES DIVISION

1. COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES DIVISION Director: Mary-Margaret Cash Program Managers: William Rhodenhiser, Patricia Goodall, Theresa Preda, & Carolyn Turner

2. DRS Mission Statement In partnership with people with disabilities and their families, the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services collaborates with the public and private sectors to provide and advocate for the highest quality services that empower individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and full inclusion into society.

3. What is the Department of Rehabilitative Services? • Federal / State funded vocational rehabilitation agency (funding is approx. 78%/22%) • Originally established by federal government to assist injured war veterans • Initial focus was on “physical restoration”

4. FOUR DIVISIONS OF DRS: • Field Rehabilitation Services (FRS) • Community Based Services (CBS) • Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) • Disability Determination Services (DDS)

5. Field Rehabilitation Services (FRS) • Community Based Services (CBS) • Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) • Disability Determination Services (DDS)

6. Field Rehabilitation Services Division (FRS) • Legally eligible to work in U.S. • Resident of state where applying for services. • Documented physical or mental impairment. • Impairment is a substantial barrier to employment. • DRS services will be of benefit in terms of employment. Eligibility criteria for FRS (Vocational Rehabilitation Program):

7. Field Rehabilitation Services (FRS) • Financial criteria: must contribute to “cost services” based on ability to pay. SSI/SSDI recipients presumed financially eligible. • Steps in the VR Process: • meet VR counselor; • determine eligibility for VR program; • evaluate rehabilitation service needs; • develop Individual Plan for Employment (IPE); • Preparation/training if needed, then job search and employment.

8. VR Program Services • “No Cost” Services: evaluation, counseling/guidance, information & referral, unpaid work experience; job placement assistance • Cost Services: rehabilitation technology (goods & services); personal assistance services; transportation; medical/psychological; vocational training; education; job seeking skills; supported employment; post employment services

9. Field Rehabilitation Services (FRS) • Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) • Disability Determination Services (DDS) • Community Based Services (CBS)

10. Community Based Services Division (CBS DIV) Mission Statement “Respectfully creating real life solutions that maximize the employment, independence, and full inclusion of people with severe disabilities.”

11. History of Community Based Services Division (CBS DIV) • DRS Commissioner Susan Urofsky was instrumental in advocating for the establishment of a “disability commission” • 1990 General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution (HJR) 45 patroned by Del. Alan Mayer to establish the “Commission on the Coordination of Services to Facilitate the Self-Sufficiency and Support of Persons with Physical and Sensory Disabilities” • Known as the “Disability Commission”

12. History of Community Based Services Division (CBS DIV) cont’d. • “Disability Commission” initiatives led to 1992 changes in Code of Virginia: • DRS designated as “lead agency to coordinate services” for people with physical and sensory disabilities, including brain injury and spinal cord injury • Established the long term rehabilitation case management program • Established a central registry for reporting people with brain injury and spinal cord injury

13. History of Community Based Services Division (CBS DIV) cont’d. • DRS is responsible for administering state funds for programs and services established through Commission-related legislation and budget amendments for this population • DRS also carries out legislative study resolutions • DRS Community Based Services Division manages state-funded programs providing services for people with physical and sensory disabilities (non VR)

14. Community Based Services Division (CBS DIV) • Serves individuals with the most significant disabilities • Collaborates with DRS Field Rehab Services program • Able to serve people not in, or not eligible for, DRS Vocational Rehabilitation program services • Often the fund of “last resort” • Provides information and referral; goods and services; and financial assistance

15. Community Based Services Division (CBS DIV) Collaborative Activities • Staff serve on work groups, task forces, advisory committees; • participate in federal/state grant activities; • provide information to legislators and advocates; and • provide training and technical assistance to professionals, family members, and the public.

16. Community Based Services Division (CBS DIV) Mission Statement “Respectfully creating real life solutions that maximize the employment, independence, and full inclusion of people with severe disabilities.”

17. Community Based Services Division (CBS DIV) • Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Services (BI/SCIS) • Community Rehabilitation Case Management Services (CRCM) • Disability Services Boards (DSBs) and Rehabilitation Services Incentive Fund (RSIF) • Independent Living Services (ILS) • Personal Assistance Services (PAS)

18. Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury Services Program Manager: Patricia Goodall Phone: 804/662-7615 Email: Patti.Goodall@drs.virginia.gov

19. Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Services (BI/SCIS) • DRS Brain Injury Services staff hired in 1992 • BI/SCIS Unit administers $5.5 million in state-funded programs and services • State general funds - appropriated by the General Assembly – are used for: • case management services (adults and children) • specialized clubhouse programs • life skills services • regional resource coordinators, and • supported residential services (Northern Virginia)

20. Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Services (BI/SCIS) cont’d. • BI/SCIS staff supports the Virginia Brain Injury Council (VBIC), an advisory group to the DRS Commissioner. • BI/SCIS works with VBIC, Virginia Alliance of Brain Injury Service Providers (VaBISP), and other groups to develop and monitor a state action plan for people with brain injury.

21. Brain Injury & Spinal Cord Injury Services (BI/SCIS) cont’d. • Administers two Virginia Code-mandated programs: • Virginia Central Registry for Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury • Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative (CNI) Trust Fund (www.vacni.org) which manages $2 million in grant funds each year for research and rehabilitative services for people with brain and spinal cord injury. • Manages a three-year (2002-05) federal TBI Act grant, Project START, that established three Regional Brain Injury Resource Centers in unserved areas of state.

22. Community Rehabilitation Case Management Services Program Manager: Carolyn Turner Phone: 804/662-7107 Email: Carolyn.Turner@drs.virginia.gov

23. Community Rehabilitation Case Management Services (CRCM) • Established by the 1988 General Assembly to provide service coordination for individuals with severe physical and sensory disabilities. • Formerly known as the Long Term Rehabilitation Case Management Program (LTRCM). • Currently merged with OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987) which provides specialized services to eligible people in nursing facilities.

24. Community Rehabilitation Case Management Program (CRCM)cont’d. • Individual must have a documented disability that includes but is not limited to the following: • traumatic brain injury • spinal cord injury • cerebral palsy • arthritis • muscular dystrophy • multiple sclerosis • Prader-Willi • systemic lupus

25. Disability Services Boards andRehabilitation Services Incentive Fund Program Manager: Shirley Ferguson Phone: 804/662-7070 Email: Shirley.Ferguson@drs.virginia.gov

26. Disability Services Boards (DSBs) • Established by the General Assembly in 1992 • Duties: • Assess local needs and priorities of people with physical and sensory disabilities • Administer Rehabilitation Services Incentive Fund • Advise local and state government • Educate and inform local community • Members: • Appointed by local government • Local official from each participating jurisdiction • Two representatives from business community • People with physical and sensory disabilities or their family members

27. Rehabilitation Services Incentive Fund (RSIF) • Established by General Assembly in 1994 to “Meet programmatic and individual recipient needs not otherwise met through existing federal, state, or local programs…and develop community programs to meet the needs of persons with physical and sensory disabilities.” • RSIF funds allocated to DSBs for funding of grant proposals. Limited funds available for DSB-related administrative tasks. • Funding of RSIF grant applications based on needs assessments conducted by local DSB.

28. Independent Living Services Program Manager: Theresa Preda Phone: 804-662-7078 Email: Theresa.Preda@drs.virginia.gov

29. Independent Living Services (ILS) • What is a CIL? Centers for Independent Living – or CILs - are non-residential places of action and coalition where people with disabilities develop skills that empower them to make life style choices. • What do CILs do? CILs provide services to: • individuals with significant disabilities: information and referral, peer counseling, independent living skills training, and individual and systems advocacy. • communities: disability awareness, technical assistance regarding accessibility and legal issues, and general disability related information.

30. Independent Living Services (ILS) cont’d. • Where are CILs located? CILs are in 17 of the 23 Planning Districts. Per capita, Virginia has one of the largest numbers of Centers in the country. • How are CILs created?CILs are created through the local efforts of people with disabilities, family members, friends, and others. Establishing a CIL requires building a coalition of people willing to become involved in the empowerment of people with disabilities. • How are CILs funded?CILs are funded with state, federal, local, and private funds. Nearly $6 million in state and federal dollars operate Virginia’s 17 CILs.

31. Personal Assistance Services Program Manager: William Rhodenhiser Phone: 804-662-7070 Email: William.Rhodenhiser@drs.virginia.gov

32. Personal Assistance Services (PAS) • PAS - sometimes called attendant care – is the provision of services such as bathing, eating, dressing, transferring, and other necessary activities of daily living. • Services are provided to individuals with physical disabilities (such as spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy) who require assistance from another person to perform non-medical activities of daily living. • PAS may also include assistive technology evaluation, transition services, and rehabilitation engineering.

33. Personal Assistance Services (PAS) cont’d. DRS manages three PAS programs: • Vocational Rehabilitation PAS (VR-PAS) • funded through Title I of the Federal Rehabilitation Act • Consumer-directed PAS - available to VR consumers who are interested in and able to manage their personal assistant. • Agency-managed PAS - available to VR consumers who do not wish or are not able to manage their own assistant. • State-funded PAS • funded through State General Funds; generally a waiting list • consumer-directed program • available to individuals who do not qualify for PAS services under VR-PAS, Medicaid Waiver, or any other source

34. Personal Assistance Services(PAS) cont’d. • PAS for Individuals with Brain Injury (PAS/BI) • funded through State General Funds • small amount of funding, therefore serves a limited number of people • consumer-directed in nature, but individual must designate a representative who is available to assist in management of the program • available to eligible individuals with brain injury who do not qualify for PAS from any other source

35. Community-BasedServices Division (CBS) For more information about CBS Division programs and services, visit the DRS website at http://www.vadrs.org