1. (a)

   1. (1) Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services have created a joint partnership specifically to provide supported employment services to individuals receiving waiver services.
   2. (2) The service of discovery and/or employment path is funded by the Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) prior to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services service provision.
2. (b) The counselor will utilize Status 06, trial work experience, for the initial service of discovery to be funded through the PASSE.

3. (c) Procedures — Arkansas Rehabilitation Services/Division of Developmental Disabilities Services waiver supported employment partnership.

   1. (1) Complete referral.
   2. (2) Complete intake process.

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Follow procedures for trial work experience (20 CAR § 835-203).
      2. (B) Division of Developmental Disabilities Services Supported Employment Services is the vendor with zero (0) cost for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.
   4. (4) Provide the vendor with letter #1 – Division of Developmental Disabilities Services letter SE Employment Path and Discovery.

   5. (5)

      1. (A) Vendor submits a completed Discovery Staging Record (1-5).
      2. (B) See Appendix C.
   6. (6) Review the Discovery Staging Record for eligibility determination.
   7. (7) End the TWP.
   8. (8) Follow procedures for individualized plan for employment (20 CAR § 835-401 et seq.) including supported employment milestones (Appendix C).

   9. (9) In case of potential ineligibility:

      1. (A) Reviews of the Discovery Staging Record and with clear and convincing evidence determines the individual would not benefit from VR services for employment;
      2. (B) End the TWP;
      3. (C) Refer the client back to the vendor utilizing the letter #2 – Division of Developmental Disabilities Services Trial Work Experience Ineligible letter; and
      4. (D) Complete the certificate of ineligibility.

   10. (10) Milestone specifics:

       1. (A)

4. (i) Milestone 1 – Referral/Job Development (Status 18).

   1. (ii) Completed when the provider referral acceptance letter/email is obtained by counselor;

      1. (B)

         1. (i) Milestone 2 – Job Match/Placement (Status 20).
         2. (ii) Completed at the time job placement occurs and the individual receives the first paycheck.
         3. (iii) A copy of the first paycheck is required for payment;

      2. (C)

         1. (i) Milestone 3 – Stabilization (Status 22) is completed when the:
5. (a) (a) Individual remains on the job thirty (30) days or more at fifteen (15) hours+/ a week; and

6. (b) (b) Job coach/employment specialist support fades to less than twenty percent (20%).

   1. (ii) Once stabilization is completed and after payment, the individual transfers to extended services while pursuing Milestone 4, Closure/Extended Services.

      1. (iii) The vendor provides documentation indicating the estimated closure date and the need for continued extended services, upon closure.

         1. (iv) The vendor will complete an SE-3 form indicating extended services is available, the funding entity identified, and if it is a youth needing extended services; and

      2. (D)

         1. (i) Milestone 4 – Closure/Extended Services (Status 22) is completed when the individual has been employed for an additional ninety (90) days after the thirty-day stabilization period.
         2. (ii) The vendor must ensure the individual and their employer are satisfied with the employment outcome before billing that the individual is eligible for a successful Status 26 closure.

Codification Notes: “ECF” means electronic case file. "TWP" means trial work plan.