HomeMy WebLinkAbout900089.tiff tt mEmoRAnDum
Gene R. Brantner, Chairman
To Board of County Commissioners Date January 24, 1990
COLORADO From Walter J. Speckman, Executive Director, Human Resources 2,62,27,0
Interagency Agreement Between Human Resources ' Employment
son;aor
Services and Colorado Rehabilitation Services
Enclosed for Board approval is an Interagency Agreement between the Weld
County Division of Human Resources ' Employment Services and Colorado
Rehabilitation Services.
The Agreement will be on-going until rendered void through written
notification by either party.
This Agreement will establish the means for an efficient and effective
relationship between the two agencies to provide maximum client services
while avoiding duplication of services and programs.
If you have any questions, please telephone Tedi Guerrero at 353-3815.
900089
INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
AND COLORADO REHABILITATION SERVICES
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 24th day of January, 1990,
by and between the Weld County Division of Human Resources '
Employment Services of Weld County, and Colorado Rehabilitation
Services.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Employment Services offers employment and training
services to unemployed, underemployed, and economically disadvantaged
youth and adults of Weld County, and
WHEREAS, Employment Services wishes to expand its program efforts
and placement activities on behalf of youth and adults with disabilities
who are in need of alternative methods to succeed in obtaining and
retaining employment, and
WHEREAS, Employment Services receives authority from the
Wagner-Peyser Act and the Job Training Partnership Act to provide
employer relations services and to coordinate such activities with
appropriate agencies through a comprehensive employer relations program,
and
WHEREAS, Colorado Rehabilitation Services has agreed to cooperate
with Employment Services in expanding its employer relations program
so the youth and adults with disabilities may obtain and retain employment,
and
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties
hereto convent and agree as follow:
I . Purpose
This cooperative agreement is entered into by Colorado
Rehabilitation Services and Employment Services of Weld County
maximizing the two agency sources in a coordinated fashion to:
1. Provide services to those individuals with disabilities who
are seeking employment and training;
2. Establish the means for a practical and effective relationship
between the two agencies for the stated purposes of:
o Maximizing client vocational potential
o Ensuring client movement
o Establishing cooperation to avoid duplication of services
° Maximizing coordination in the delivery and expansion of
services and programs
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II. Scope of Services
A. Colorado Rehabilitation Services (CRS)
Rehabilitation is a service provided by the taxpayers through
State Government. It is designed to develop and restore
working usefulness of physically and mentally disabled
eligible individuals so they may become self-supporting.
Rehabilitation is an investment in human welfare.
Rehabilitation serves any eligible disabled person residing in
Colorado, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex,
age, handicapping condition who, with the provision of certain
services, might be made employable.
Services are provided to meet the individual needs of eligible
disabled persons so that they may engage in safe and suitable
occupations.
Rehabilitation services available to employers without cost
include: counseling to conserve skills that are available,
evaluation of capacities of disabled applicants, aid in
restoring and retraining injured workers, advice in determining
suitable jobs for disabled personnel , referral of trained,
skilled, reliable workers who have the advantage of
rehabilitation services, and tax credits.
B. Employment Services of Weld County (Employment Services)
Employment Services of Weld County is a department of the
Weld County Division of Human Resources, which is under the
Board of Weld County Commissioners. Employment Services is
guided by an advisory committee, the Weld County Private
Industry Council , which provides oversight responsibilities
to the Board of Weld County Commissioners.
1. Employment Services encompasses a single delivery system
to deliver employment and training services at no cost in
Northern Colorado, including Weld County, as well as to
non-Weld County applicants and employers. Job Service
services shall be provided to residents and non-residents
of Weld County. However, due to legal constraints, the
Job Training Partnership Act Program of Employment Services
shall service only Weld County residents unless they are
eligible for the Economic Dislocated Worker Adjustment
Act program.
2. Employment Services provides training and employment
opportunities to the unemployed, underemployed, economically
disadvantaged adults and youth, and other individuals
facing serious barriers to employment, those seeking
work, and to increase the earned income of the economically
disadvantaged under a single delivery system.
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III. Target Population
The target population for this cooperative effort are those
disabled persons ages 16 or older who are, or may be expected to
become, needful of and eligible for vocationally related services
through the agencies. Eligibility determination is made by each
agency as follows:
A. Colorado Rehabilitation Services
Responsibility for determining eligibility of individuals for
the following services rests solely with Colorado Rehabilitation
Services. The criteria of eligibility for rehabilitation are:
1. Presence of a physical or mental disability which
constitutes or results in substantial handicap to
employment
2. A reasonable expectation that vocational rehabilitation
services may benefit the individual in terms of employ-
ability. Rehabilitation services are provided as long as
there is indication the client is progressing in a
positive manner toward the planned vocational goal which
is consistent with his/her capabilities and abilities.
The nature and scope of services to be provided an eligible
recipient must be contained in the IWRP (Individualized
Written Rehabilitation Program) .
B. Employment Services of Weld County
Applicants must be registered with Employment Services for
Job Service Center services. For additional services under
the Job Training Partnership Act, applicants must be found
eligible through an application process.
1. For purposes of Job Service, an individual with
disabilities is defined as any person who has a physical
or mental impairment that substantially limits one or
more major life activities, has a record of such impair-
ment, or is regarded as having such impairment.
2. For purposes of the Job Training Partnership Act, an
adult individual with disabilities must be 22 years of
age or older who has a documented physical or mental
disability which for such individual constitutes or
results in a substantial handicap to employment.
3. For purposes of the Job Training Partnership Act, a youth
individual with disabilities must be 14 through 21 years
of age who is in a state/federally funded special
education program, vocational rehabilitation, and/or
mental health program, or be under the care of a professional
who can document the handicapping condition.
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IV. Services Provided by Each Agency
A. Colorado Rehabilitation Services
1. Accepting referrals from your agency on individuals who
alleged to have, or appear to have, a physical or mental
disability, which would present a barrier to employment.
Any accompanying medical data or work history at referral
will expedite the evaluation process.
2. Provide a diagnostic evaluation to every applicant to the
extent necessary to determine eligibility. This may
include medical , psychological , social , education, and
vocational evaluations.
3. Develop an individualized written rehabilitation program
for every eligible client with the client and other signif-
icant parties.
4. Monitor client activity and performance during the time
of the IWRP.
5. Job development and placement.
6. Development of On-the-Job training sites.
7. Referal to Employment Services
8. Provide follow-up and job retention counseling.
9. Consult with employers on job modifications and
accessibility issues.
10. Coordinate payment for client services with other
agencies.
B. Employment Services of Weld County
1. Referring individuals with disabilities to Colorado
Rehabilitation Services.
2. Developing employability plan with the individual .
3. Providing job development and placement.
4. Developing On-the-Job training sites for Job Training
Partnership Act enrollees.
5. Accepting referrals from Colorado Rehabilitation Services
with an outline of the goals that are planned in employ-
ment, training; an outline of major barriers to employment
and possible solutions.
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V. Guiding Principles
Both agencies affirm that the principles listed below shall guide
all mutual and respective efforts to serve the target population
of this agreement.
A. Every disabled adult (16 years of age or older) is entitled
to vocational opportunities comparable to those of other
citizens.
B. Every disabled adult is entitled to a thorough, consistent
and fair process of assessment, interdisciplinary/interagency
review, and decision making with regard to vocational needs,
abilities, goals and services.
C. Vocational needs of all disabled individuals must be
understood and addressed within the context of their full
constellation of needs and abilities.
D. Joint participation of rehabilitation counselors and
employment counselors in the interdisciplinary process is
vital to development of effective client-centered vocational
planning. Both the rehabilitation counselor and the
employment counselor possess expertise and knowledge in
areas which, if effectively shared and coordinated, enhance
the agencies ' abilities to better serve the client.
E. Active participation in decision making by the client shall
at all times be expected, and procedures shall be designed to
ensure such participation.
F. Cooperation and coordination between our agencies constitutes
the foundation on which this agreement is built, and the
degree to which this agreement promotes the improvement and
maintenance of such coordination will be the measure of its
success.
G. The crucial difference between overlapping services and
duplicative services must be understood, and this understanding
must be clearly reflected in all cooperative efforts to serve
the disabled client. OVERLAP occurs when the multiple service
needs of a disabled individual require that the service capabi-
lities of both agencies be applied in a coordinated manner to
meet those needs. DUPLICATION consists of delivery of the
same or similar service to the client simultaneously by both
agencies as a result of failure of communication or
disagreement about agency responsibilities. Duplication is
not appropriate nor is it in the best interest of the client,
and it is to be identified and eliminated if at all possible.
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VI. Scope of Agreement
Each applicant is entitled to a local process which ensures that
his/her needs and wishes will be fairly addressed, and therefore,
our agreement must encompass the following issues:
A. Referrals and time lines
1 . Colorado Rehabilitation Services will accept referrals
(defined in III A. I) from Employment Services of Weld
County and schedule an intake appointment with a rehabili-
tation counselor within 20 working days. Referrals will
be made in writing per a form developed and provided by
Employment Services of Weld County.
2. Employment Services of Weld County will report to Colorado
Rehabilitation the status of the individual referred
initially, and monthly thereafter by submitting the
following information:
o Eligibility status or registration status with Employment
Services
o Termination information
o Activities provided in the areas of referral to jobs,
training, job development
B. Evaluation and assessment responsibilities
1. Colorado Rehabilitation Services will provide an evaluation
to the extent needed to every applicant for services from
our agency.
Existing data will be secured prior to arranging for and
paying for duplicate information. Information secured
may include medical , psychological , vocational , education
and social evaluations.
2. Employment Services will provide assessment information
which will outline goals or barriers to employment.
C. Exchange and/or sharing of evaluation and assessment reports.
1. Colorado Rehabilitation Services will share results of
evaluation and assessment to the extent that it is
vocationally relevant and with a written consent to
release confidential information signed by the client or
the client and parent/guardian if client is under 18
years of age. There are a few sources of information
which are prohibited to be shared under any circumstances.
These would include but not limited to Social Security
Records, Veteran's Administration records and some medical
records.
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2. Employment Services of Weld County will share results of
activities that the Agency has undertaken with the
individual to the extent that it is vocationally relevant
and with a written consent to release confidential
information signed by the client or the client and parent/
guardian if client is under 18 years of age. These
results will include referrals to jobs, referral to
services, and outcome information assessment results.
D. Establishing and covening an interdisciplinary/interagency
staffing team with the client present.
1. Colorado Rehabilitation Services will assign a
rehabilitation counselor to every referral . This name
will be provided to Employment Services of Weld County.
2. Employment Services of Weld County will assign an
Employment Technician to every referral . This name will
be provided to Colorado Rehabilitation Services.
3. It will be the responsibility of the employment
technician and/or the rehabilitation counselor to convene
a staffing, with the client present, between
representatives
of both agencies to coordinate and expedite the services
to the client.
E. Development of a Plan
1. Colorado Rehabilitation is solely responsible for the
development of an Individualized Written Rehabilitation
Program in cooperation with the client and other involved
agencies, if appropriate. The IWRP may include services
provided by another agency if prior negotiation with that
agency has occurred. All services provided are subject
to a search for similar benefits prior to expending
Rehabilitation funds. No services not previously planned
on the IWRP will be provided. All programs developed
will be reviewed at least annually or more frequently per
the Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program.
2. Employment Services of Weld County will obtain information
from the Colorado Rehabilitation Services regarding employ-
ment and training needs or planned activities for the
development of an Employability Development Plan.
F. For those clients who are determined in need of only one
service (Employment or Rehabilitation) , a clear statement
will be developed stating when, and by what criteria,
involvement from the other agency begins.
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VII. Interagency Liaisons
A staff person from Colorado Rehabilitation Services and a staff
person from Employment Services of Weld County shall be the
designated liaisons to further define and interpret the
parameters of this agreement.
VIII. Termination
This agreement shall be rendered void upon written notification
by either party.
IX. Resolution
If issues or concerns arise concerning the activities covered
under this interagency agreement, the parties will outline such
concerns in writing and provide these concerns to the local
Colorado Rehabilitation Services Supervisor and the Employment
Services Director for prompt resolution.
X. Evaluation
The agencies affirm that the interagency agreement will be a
success based on the following criteria:
A. The development of a coordinated approach to serving
individuals with disabilities beyond the activities stated in
this agreement for purposes of building a quality relationship
between the agencies.
B. The implementation of at least two interagency meetings with
all staff for purposes of orientation and information sharing
by the end of a year's period of time.
C. Five disabled consumers will be placed into competitive
employment, of at least 60 days duration, each calendar
quarter as a result of cooperative efforts between Colorado
Rehabilitation Services and Employment Services. These
consumers will be identified as active clients of Colorado
Rehabilitation Services and registered job seekers with
Employment Services of Weld County.
XI. Modifications
All modifications of this Interagency Agreement shall be in
writing and signed by both parties.
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XII. Entire Agreement
This Interagency agreement constitutes the entire understanding between
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may
not be changed or modified except as stated in Paragraph XI herein.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Interagency Agreement as of the day, month, and year first above written.
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COLORADO REHABILITATION SERVICES
OF WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ee
G� Brantn hairman lfetty L. e, tr ogupervisor
Approved:
O 7,,
Myra onfort, airman
Weld County Privat ndustry Council
a to . pec man, xecutive irector
Weld C unty Department of Human Resources
u• ,� OATTEST:
Ju . G�iego, irec r 0
Empl yme Servi es o Weld County Weld County Clerk and Recorder
y and Clerk to the Board
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(9) 900089
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