Section 6: Service Provider Requirements

Describe how the following service provider requirements will be met:

6.1 Staffing – 34 CFR 364.23; 34 CFR 364.24; 34 CFR 364.31

• Inclusion of personnel who are specialists in the development and provision of IL services and in the development and support of centers.
• Availability, to the maximum extent feasible, of personnel able to communicate (1) with individuals with significant disabilities who rely on alternative modes of communication, such as manual communication, nonverbal communication devices, Braille, or audio tapes and (2) in the native languages of individuals with significant disabilities whose English proficiency is limited and who apply for or receive IL services under title VII of the Act.
• Establishment and maintenance of a program of staff development for all classes of positions involved in providing IL services and, where appropriate, in administering the CIL program, improving the skills of staff directly responsible for the provision of IL services, including knowledge of and practice in the IL philosophy.
• Affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with significant disabilities on the same terms and conditions required with respect to the employment of individuals with disabilities under section 503 of the Act.

DRS has 12 counselor positions and DBS has 20 IL Worker positions that provide ILS services to consumers. Program specialists within the DSU provide technical assistance in the development and support of CILS. Service coordinators within the CILS are qualified to provide the four core services.

The IL program of each DSU has specific staff development criteria from orientation of new personnel (caseload and administrative) to ongoing training to enhance performance. Similarly, CILs as per requirements of the Rehabilitation Act, provide training opportunities for personnel both internally as well as through workshops and conferences in the community, such as the statewide IL conference. An annual joint staff training is sponsored by the SILC and targeted to the administrative staff of CILs and addresses operational issues.

DSU and CIL staff are provided training both at service delivery and management levels that address essential components of the staffing requirements:

• Awareness of IL network (including DSU, and CILS)
• Emphasis on awareness of and application of IL philosophy
• Ability to effectively communicate and provide services to individuals needing alternate communication style for physical reasons such as hearing or vision loss or because of varying native language.
• In areas where staff are unable to provide such accommodations, professionals are hired to meet the need.

Both the DSU and CILs adhere strongly to affirmative action practices to employ and advance in employment individuals with significant disabilities. The majority of the staffs of CILs are composed of persons, who are disabled, in compliance with IL standard requirements and federal regulations.

6.2 Fiscal Control and Fund Accounting – 34 CFR 364.34

• Adoption of those fiscal control and fund accounting procedures as may be necessary to ensure the proper disbursement of and accounting for funds made available through parts B and C of chapter 1 of title VII of the Act, in addition to complying with applicable EDGAR fiscal and accounting requirements.

These requirements are met in the standards for providers required with the application process before contracts are authorized. Additional guidelines are available to DSU staff in the Rehabilitation Policy Manual and Vocational Rehabilitation Manual. Compliance with this requirement is reviewed as part of the monitoring process.

Centers that are federally funded comply with RSA fiscal regulations and with OMB Circular 133-A.

6.3 Record-Keeping, Access and Reporting – 34 CFR 364.35; 34 CFR 364.36; 34 CFR 364.37

• Maintenance of records that fully disclose and document the information listed in 34 CFR 364.35.
• Submission of annual performance and financial reports, and any other reports that the Secretary determines to be appropriate
• Access to the Commissioner and the Comptroller General, or any of their duly authorized representatives, for the purpose of conducting audits, examinations, and compliance reviews, to the information listed in 34 CFR 364.37.

These requirements are met in the standards for providers required with the application process before contracts are authorized. Additional guidelines are available to DSU staff in the Rehabilitation Policy Manual and Vocational Rehabilitation Manual. Compliance with this requirement is reviewed as part of the monitoring process.

Federally funded CILs are required to meet standards for record keeping, access and reporting established by RSA and reflected in individual organization operational policies and procedures.

6.4 Eligibility – 34 CFR 364.40; 34 CFR 364.41

• Eligibility of any individual with a significant disability, as defined in 34 CFR 364.4(b), for IL services under the SILS and CIL programs.
• Ability of any individual to seek information about IL services under these programs and to request referral to other services and programs for individuals with significant disabilities.
• Determination of an individual's eligibility for IL services under the SILS and CIL programs in a manner that meets the requirements of 34 CFR 364.51.
• Application of eligibility requirements without regard to age, color, creed, gender, national origin, race, religion, or type of significant disability of the individual applying for IL services.
• Non-exclusion from receiving IL services of any individual who is present in the State and who is otherwise eligible for IL services, based on the imposition of any State or local residence requirement.

These requirements are met in the standards for providers required with the application process before contracts are authorized. Additional guidelines are available to DSU staff in the Rehabilitation Policy Manual and Vocational Rehabilitation Manual. Compliance with this requirement is reviewed as part of the monitoring process.

Centers supported through federal grants use the criteria for service eligibility defined in the Rehabilitation Act. Determination of disability is self-verifying.

6.5 Independent Living Plans – 34 CFR 364.43(c)

• Provision of IL services in accordance with an IL plan complying with Sec. 364.52 and mutually agreed upon by the individuals with significant disabilities and the appropriate service provider staff unless the individual signs a waiver stating that an IL plan is unnecessary.

These requirements are met in the standards for providers required with the application process before contracts are authorized. Additional guidelines are available to DSU staff in the Rehabilitation Policy Manual and Vocational Rehabilitation Manual. Compliance with this requirement is reviewed as part of the monitoring process.

All consumers served by CILs supported by federal sources are required to develop an Independent Living Plan or to sign a waiver relinquishing their right to the development of such a plan.

6.6 Client Assistance Program (CAP) Information – 34 CFR 364.30

• Use of accessible formats to notify individuals seeking or receiving IL services under chapter 1 of title VII about the availability of the CAP program, the purposes of the services provided under the CAP, and how to contact the CAP.

These requirements are met in the standards for providers required with the application process before contracts are authorized. Additional guidelines are available to DSU staff in the Rehabilitation Policy Manual and Vocational Rehabilitation Manual. Compliance with this requirement is reviewed as part of the monitoring process.

All consumers of federally funded CILs are informed of the availability of and the purpose and contact information for the Client Assistance Program. This notification is provided in alternate formats. Consumers are required to provide signed verification that they have received such information.

6.7 Protection, Use and Release of Personal Information – 34 CFR 364.56(a)

• Adoption and implementation of policies and procedures meeting the requirements of 34 CFR 364.56(a), to safeguard the confidentiality of all personal information, including photographs and lists of names.

These requirements are met in the standards for providers required with the application process before contracts are authorized. Additional guidelines are available to DSU staff in the Rehabilitation Policy Manual and Vocational Rehabilitation Manual. Compliance with this requirement is reviewed as part of the monitoring process.

Federally funded centers comply with confidentiality requirements established by RSA. No information concerning a consumer, nor a photo of a consumer, is released to another individual or entity without signed authorization from the consumer. Consumer service records are maintained in locked files.

Next, Section 7: Evaluation