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The following Email and material was received from Maine's RSA regional representative on September 13, 2006.

TO ALL:

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is pleased to provide you with a summary of the state visit that was conducted from August 14, 2006 through August 18, 2006 with the Maine Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired agencies. The visit was designed as an opportunity to learn from and meet with staff from the vocational rehabilitation agency, the State Rehabilitation Council, centers for independent living, the State Independent Living Council and other key stakeholders involved with the provision of vocational rehabilitation and independent living services for individuals with disabilities. As the summary reflects, RSA was able to successfully accomplish the tasks set forth for this state visit. This success is due primarily to the collaborative efforts between RSA staff and representatives from the state vocational rehabilitation agencies and other stakeholder organizations.

We appreciate the time and effort spent by all involved in helping make this state visit a success, and look forward to our continued partnerships in improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. If you have any questions or comments about the summary or the visit, please do not hesitate to reply to Joseph.Doney@ed.gov or call me at 202-245-7526.

Sincerely,

Joseph F. Doney
State Liaison

RSA Staff: Joe Doney

Part 1: Summary of Activities

Monday, August 14

The state visit commenced with an introductory meeting with the Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) management teams. Staff represented at this meeting included fiscal management, regional managers, and casework supervisors from various offices in Maine as well as BRS Director Jill Duson, DVR Director Penny Plourde, Assistant to the DVR Director Art Jacobson, and DBVI Director Bud Lewis. The topics discussed included the following: the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s (RSA’s) reorganization; an overview of the new State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division (SMPID); Maine’s system for ensuring continuous quality improvement and its quality assurance procedures; and partnering with RSA to improve the quality of services provided to Mainers with disabilities.

BRS staff explained a new unit intended to ensure that both divisions meet quality standards. Comprised of management and program staff from both departments, the Systems Improvement and Quality Improvement Team evaluates and analyzes consumer services. This team routinely reviews case record and service policies in an effort to enhance services provided to persons with disabilities.

RSA then met with the DVR management team to discuss the implementation status of its Corrective Action Plan. Transient populations generate a great deal of interest among DVR management staff members, and DVR expressed an interest in collaborating with other states delivering services to underserved transient populations. DVR requested RSA’s assistance in designing a nationwide system to serve people with disabilities moving into and out of the state. A second area of concern for DVR is serving individuals with mental illness. DVR requested RSA’s assistance in its efforts to improve services to this population.

Staff cited the recent consolidation of the Department of Human Services with the Department of Mental Health and discussed a possible opportunity to work with recently appointed management staff in the new Department of Human Services. Participants cited the ongoing BRS effort to complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Maine Department of Labor, the Designated State Agency (DSA). This MOU would develop a statewide system of vocational rehabilitation services under the DSA to better serve people with disabilities in Maine. Additional topics discussed were the recruiting of new counseling staff, the casework supervisors’ roles in the DVR system, the training efforts, and procedural directives developed by the BRS management team to train vocational rehabilitation counselors in the appropriate interpretation of policies and procedures. BRS staff stated that the directives are valuable tools in their efforts to deliver policy information statewide.

Tuesday, August 15

RSA met with DBVI Director, Bud Lewis, and Casework Supervisor Carolyn Bebee, to learn about the Independent Living (IL) Older Blind Program. Mr. Lewis noted that Maine has the highest concentration of older adults in the U.S. according to the Census Bureau. DBVI serves a population with an average age of 62 years old. This high concentration of older adults creates a resource issue, and DBVI uses additional funds from the Title I formula grant to fund vocational services to IL consumers. However, according to DBVI this allocation is not sufficient to fund specialized assistance and equipment needed for the older blind population.

The DBVI staff discussed their long-tem partnership with the IRIS Network. The IRIS Network provides rehabilitation, training, education, and other related services for individuals, their families, and other support systems to blind and visually impaired in Maine. DBVI also uses Catholic Charities as a service provider and collaborates with the Department on Aging for referral and education and training. Additional outreach activities include collaborating with local area optometrists and ophthalmologists in order to educate them about DBVI services.

RSA then met with the State Independent Living Council (SILC) members including the Chairperson Russell Anderson, as well as Mary McKeen, John Dunleavy, Steve Hoad, and Alice Johnson. The conversation centered on the SILC’s recent designation as a 501(c) 3 organization, their restructuring efforts, and their difficulty with recruiting members. The SILC requested RSA’s assistance in identifying best practices in the recruiting of new members as well as methods of involving members in the oversight of IL services. Members expressed concern about the revised RSA-704 Reporting procedures and were encouraged to attend the upcoming ILRU web-based training events on August 23-24, 2006. The SILC described a new Ad-Hoc Committee formed to look at the emergency preparedness procedures in Maine and the extent to which they address the needs of persons with disabilities. This Committee is studying the rights of persons with disabilities in emergency preparedness efforts as well as effective preparedness practices.

RSA met with the Disability Right Center (DRC) Executive Director Kim Moody and Litigation Director Peter Rice. The DRC serves as the independent Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights (PAIR) program in Maine. This non-profit organization houses nine programs dedicated to assisting persons with disabilities with civil rights issues in Maine. DRC provides assistance to persons with disabilities in the areas of employment law, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, voting rights, educational advocacy, and public policy. DRC requested RSA’s assistance in identifying additional areas where they could develop services to persons with disabilities in Maine. They also were interested in identifying who at RSA receives the annual PAIR report, improving collaboration with the CAP, and supporting better VR program outcomes in the state.

RSA met with Mel Clarrage, Chair of the Maine Jobs Commission on Disability and Employment. This Commission functions as the Governor’s Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities and is active entity under the Maine State Workforce Investment Board. Mr. Clarrage described the Commission’s role in implementing the Maine Strategic Plan to Maximize Employment for People with Disabilities that was completed in January 2006. This strategic plan identified six areas of development that included increasing benefits counseling, better data collection, transition of youth into post-secondary education, VR program involvement, outreach, and education to employers, and Maine’s mandate to employ persons with disabilities in state government jobs. There was also a discussion of the Commission’s role in working with employers to increase access to jobs for persons with disabilities. RSA was asked for feedback on its relationship with the EEOC, affirmative action, and fiscal year 2007 demonstration grant information.

In the afternoon, RSA staff toured the High Hopes Clubhouse, a division of the Kennebec Valley Mental Health Center in Waterville. RSA staff met with Clubhouse Director Christine Dunbar, Program Manager Lisa Soucie, Employment Development Coordinator Stephen Haywood, DVR Casework Supervisor Ed West, and DVR Counselor Donna Mann. The High Hopes Clubhouse is nationally accredited and devoted to working with mental health consumers in a highly supported environment with the goal of integrated employment. This clubhouse serves 95 persons with disabilities annually with an average daily attendance of 55 consumers. Most of these consumers are in a transitional employment setting, a supported employment setting, or an integrated employment setting in the community. High Hopes assisted DVR to reduce their waiting list by working closely with vocational rehabilitation counselors in the Augusta and Waterville offices. RSA staff met with consumers of this program and learned that this clubhouse serves as a vital link between persons with mental illness and integrated employment outcomes.

Wednesday, August 16

The first meeting of the day commenced with the Maine Client Assistance Program (CAP) Program Director Stephen Beam. Mr. Beam stated that the CAP is an independent agency administered by C.A.R.E.S., Inc. C.A.R.E.S., Inc. has been awarded the CAP contract since 1992. Mr. Beam indicated that the program employs two full time advocates, one part time administrative assistant, and one attorney on a retainer. Outreach is provided to persons with disabilities via the Internet, brochures, and education and training seminars. Mr. Beam indicated that the CAP’s relationship with BRS is a positive one, and that CAP staff are members of the SRC and SILC. The CAP engages in alternative dispute resolution techniques in many of the cases it undertakes. Mr. Beam further indicated that in the past two years, only two fair hearings were scheduled and these were resolved before the hearings occurred. Mr. Beam suggested that BRS work on a systemic orientation process for applicants, upgrading of the assistive technology information available to VR counselors, and a more proactive approach to case supervision. RSA shared information regarding the Maine state team including contacts for the CAP.

RSA then met with DBVI staff. Mr. Bud Lewis discussed DBVI’s state plan submission, the process for submitting state plans in the future, DBVI’s goals and priorities, challenges to delivering services, and improving the quality of those services. Mr. Lewis and his staff explained the development of this year’s state plan submission. RSA recommended that DBVI begin planning for next year’s submission earlier in order to allow ample time to produce the plan. Staff described their utilization of quantitative and qualitative data and spoke about the size of the state, and the lack of transportation, and the lack of financial resources as challenges to the delivery of services to visually impaired persons in Maine.

RSA met with Bruce Archer, Chair of the SRC for the DBVI. He described the positive relationship between DBVI and the SRC, and noted that the SRC would like to have more input to the development of the state plan. RSA explained the deadlines for state plan submission and the recommendation to DBVI to begin planning earlier for next year. Mr. Archer indicated that DBVI needed to develop training specific to the needs of employers in Maine and that he would like to see more interactions with employers in the designing of training programs. Following this meeting, RSA met with several other members of the DBVI SRC. They reinforced Mr. Archer’s comments and asked RSA to provide them with technical assistance in the area of cultivating leadership roles for persons with disabilities on the SRC.

In the afternoon RSA visited a Business Enterprise Program (BEP) site located at the State Capitol building in Augusta. This site is the largest site by volume, revenue, and employees in the state. Since its inception in 1999, the same manager operated the commissary. Manager Rich Dejardins described his positive experience with the BEP and the professional services he received from DBVI staff.

RSA then met with five vocational rehabilitation counselors who provided case examples of successful outcomes in BRS programs. It was evident that VR counselors took time to work with their consumers in developing career-oriented goals and supported the consumers in attaining their goals.

RSA met with Penny Plourde and her staff and reviewed the DVR state plan submission. They described their work on the comprehensive needs assessment (CNA) and the subsequent development of the goals and priorities. DVR indicated that staff worked with the SRC, community partners, and consumers of services to review the results of the CNA and develop the resulting goals and priorities. DVR regards their state plan as their strategic plan for the next 18-24 months. Staff described the length of time required to produce documents for the SRC to review and their challenges in soliciting responses from potential consumers during the CNA process. RSA recommend that DVR begin their work on the next CNA as soon as possible.

RSA spoke about the future of the state planning process, its focus on the quality of future submissions, and described how these would be used in the monitoring and program improvement processes. Penny Plourde explained DVR’s role in providing input and support of the Governor’s mandate to establish a living wage, and how this impacts positively on persons with disabilities in Maine. Finally, Penny described the mPower loan program that has been a resource for persons with disabilities since 1988. She described this as a state loan program that allows persons with disabilities to purchase adaptive equipment and related services on a low payback revolving loan basis. Maine residents with disabilities can access up to $100,000 to fund purchases of adaptive equipment, renovations, or technologies to assist them to become more independent and productive.

Thursday, August 17

At the BRS central office, RSA staff conducted a joint meeting with all BRS management staff led by Ms. Plourde and Mr. Lewis in order to review the CSPD standards. Both agencies received technical assistance and staffs indicated that they would revise their CSPD attachments and resubmit to RSA in the next two to three weeks. Following, RSA reviewed the standards and indicators for both DVR and DBVI and led a discussion of the relationship between standards and indicators and other “report card” measures. Staffs were not aware of the RSA report card measures and were given information on how to access this information from the RSA MIS website.

In the afternoon, RSA met with Kevin Baack Chair of the DVR SRC. Mr. Baack described the SRC relationship with DVR as positive, but indicated that the SRC needed more support from the Governor’s office. Mr. Baack explained that terms of office expired on December 31, 2005 and the Governor has not appointed new SRC members. RSA staff then participated in the SRC scheduled meeting and presented an overview of the organizational changes that has recently taken effect. The SRC members were pleased that RSA is redesigning the monitoring protocols with the focus being on program improvement and performance measures. RSA listened to the various SRC Committee reports, observed that the SRC is involved and knowledgeable about the DVR processes, and wishes to assist the agency in its delivery of services to persons with disabilities. RSA then met with five transition counselors from various regions of Maine. The purpose of this meeting was to learn how DVR delivers services to youth in transition from school to work. These VR counselors appear to be involved in many collaborative efforts throughout Maine to enhance youth transition services. They described a process that involves a number of providers and state agencies as partners in the transition system including DVR, DBVI, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Transportation, institutions of higher education, various high school teachers, guidance counselors, providers of services, and legislators. Capacity building is stressed with these various partners and reinforced through DVR’s Transitional Counselor Committee.

RSA met with MaineCITE Assistive Technology Consultant Kathy Adams, Site Coordinator Barbara Keefe, Maine Department of Education Policy Director and Team Leader David Stockford, and DVR/DBVI Rehabilitation Consultant Jon Steuerwalt. MaineCITE is funded with a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of Education and authorized under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998. It began in 1989 and is offered through the Maine Department of Education, Special Services Division in partnership with the University of Maine at Farmington’s Assistive Technology Resource Center, AlphaOne Independent Living Centers, C.A.R.E.S., Inc., the IRIS Network, and the Pine Tree Society. Participants described the extensive services delivered by the Assistive Technology Consortia and overseen by the State Assistive Technology Advisory Council.

Friday, August 18

The final day of the state visit started with a tour of the main Center for Independent Living operated by AlphaOne. Director Dennis Fitzgibbons and BRS Statewide ADA Coordinator Eric Dibner led the tour that introduced RSA to the various services that AlphaOne delivers in two locations in Maine. It was evident that AlphaOne is a long-term partner in the VR service delivery system. AlphaOne has provided IL services since 1978 including information and referral, outreach, advocacy, one-to-one and group peer support, consumer-driven personal assistance services, assistive technology financing, access design, resume workshops, independent living skills instruction, adapted driver assessment, benefits counseling, and durable medical equipment sales and services.

RSA toured and met with a Community Rehabilitation Program representative and DBVI and DVR VR counselors co-located at the Portland Career Center. There appeared to be a high level of commitment to a seamless service delivery system as evidenced by this group’s discussion. RSA discussed the regulations pertaining to staff allocations in the One-Stop system and encouraged staffs to continue their partnerships.

RSA then met with Maine Department of Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman and the management team of the BRS. Commissioner Fortman expressed her concern about the unemployment rate of persons with disabilities and offered the assistance of the workforce system to assist BRS in obtaining employment options.

The state visit ended with a wrap-up session with Jill Duson, Penny Plourde, Art Jacobson, Bud Lewis, and other key staff members. RSA staff expressed appreciation for their hospitality, shared impressions, and outlined the next steps regarding the state monitoring and improvement process.

Part 2: Impressions and Observations

RSA staff observed BRS’ commitment to providing quality services and to improving its programs. The agency appears eager to receive technical assistance and to be responsive to the needs of its VR and IL stakeholders. BRS has a good working relationships with various stakeholders and these groups indicated a willingness to support both DVR and DBVI to enhance the lives of persons with disabilities in Maine.

Specifically, RSA made the following observations:

• BRS has positive relationships with key stakeholders including the DSA, SRCs, SILC, CAP, PAIR, as well as key service providers and institutes of higher education.
• BRS has a defined role in the One-Stop Career Center System in ME that serves persons with disabilities entering the system in a way that is consistent with the Rehabilitation Act.
• DVR has enhanced transition services to youth across Maine through its ongoing relationship with the Maine Department of Education and capacity building efforts with various stakeholders.
• DBVI has long-established partners to deliver services, namely the IRIS Network and Alpha-One.
• The Polycom Teleconferencing System enhances communication with all stakeholders in Maine.

Part 3: Areas to Learn More About In The Future

RSA is looking forward to learning more about the following areas:

1. Services to minority populations in Maine as well as services to transient and immigrant populations.
2. BRS’ system for providing mental health services to VR consumers.
3. Identifying innovative ways to increase membership and involvement in leadership roles on the SILC and SRC.
4. Use of performance-based contracting for vendors of VR services to persons with disabilities.
5. Reducing the waiting list for VR services to eligible applicants.
6. Implementation of strategic planning processes that involves key stakeholders and all staff.