The Benchmark: VR's Provider Pulserehabworks.org/docs/contracts/BenchmarkFeb2018.pdf · Written by:...

Provider Newsletter 1

February 2018

The Benchmark: VR's Provider Pulse

Chief's CornerWelcome to the inaugural issue of The Benchmark: VR’s Provider Pulse. VR’s Bureau of Vendor & Contracted Services (BVCS) plans to bring you this newsletter every quarter to keep you plugged in to all things VR Provider and Vendor related. BVCS’s role in VR is to recruit, register, and monitor providers doing business with VR. We recognize that our performance is intricately tied to the performance of our partner vendors and contracted providers. Our bureau exists to be a resource to both our field staff and our provider partners so that we may better serve our customers. There are three units within the bureau, comprised of staff throughout the state. The units are: the Vendor Registration Unit (VREG); the Monitoring and Employment Contracting Unit (MECU); and the Field and Provider Relations Unit (FLPR). Although each unit focuses on a specific area, they work hand-in-hand to better serve our partners. BVCS has a “no wrong door” philosophy, which means no matter which unit you reach out to, the team member answering the phone or email will personally ensure you’re put in touch with the right person to take care of you.

This newsletter is one of many initiatives the bureau is working on to expand communication and training efforts throughout the state. If you have ideas or suggestions for topics in future newsletters, we’d love to hear them. You can provide feedback, on the newsletter or any other topic, anytime via email at [email protected] or by contacting any member of the BVCS team. Thank you for all you do for our customers! I hope you enjoy our first ever VR Provider newsletter.

• Chief's Corner

• Business Reps

• Unit Introduction

• VR Pre-EmploymentTransition Services

• Dre's Pathway

• Hot Topic

• Staff Profiles

• Staff Directory

In this Issue

Business RepsWritten by: Kathy Davis, Supervisor of the Business Relations Team

Hello from VR’s Business Relations (BR) Team! Perhaps you are already collaborating with your local Business Relationship Representative (BRR) but if not, I hope you will want to after I share more about the BR program with you. First, I will share a little history and purpose of the BR program. With the passage of WIOA, FL VR formalized its existing BR program in 2014 and hired BRRs for each administrative area to fulfill WIOA requirements to provide effective services to employers by assisting them with recruiting, hiring, retaining, and promoting individuals with disabilities. Here are a few services Business Relations provides:

• Recruitment Assistance• Referral of Qualified Applicants• Worksite Accessibility Evaluation• Accommodations TA• Awareness/Sensitivity Training• Job Analysis• OJT Assistance• Referral to the Abilities Work Help Desk

Business Relations can be a great partner for you in achieving placements that fulfill WIOA’s emphasis on earnings and careers. We have business customers across all industries who are recruiting entry level through experienced positions with a full range of knowledge, skills, and abilities requirements. If you refer consumers to BR employer positions, they count for placement as long as your MPRs have documented the other employment services you have provided.

Finally, Business Relations recognizes and appreciates your work with employers as it contributes substantially to the indicators of effectiveness in serving employers, These indicators are:

1. Retention with the same employer in the 2nd and 4thquarters after exit

2. Employer Penetration Rate

3. Repeat Business Customer Rate

If you would like to connect with your local Business Rep or have ideas for how we can work together to better serve our business customers, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you!

2Provider Newsletter

Unit IntroductionThe Field and Provider Relations Unit (FLPR) was established in April 2017 and brings together a unique group of staff from all around the state. FLPR is composed of 7 Area Provider Liaisons and a Supervisor, who is housed at VR Headquarters in Tallahassee.

FLPR staff work closely with VR field staff to assist with training needs, provide technical assistance, and be a resource concerning all provider services. Additionally, FLPR liaisons serve as front line support for our provider partners. We are working to engage the provider community through bi-annual face-to-face meetings, provider engagement conference calls, and group informational sessions. FLPR works closely in collaboration with the Monitoring and Employment Contracting Unit to serve our providers through on-boardings, technical assistance, and training development.

Our unit is excited to be here and to work with you! We look forward to a fruitful partnership and a year of successes!

Provider Liaison Name Contact Information

Area 1Evelyn Langmaid

[email protected] Number: 850-316-9042

Area 2Lauretta Jackson



Area 3Jose Rivera

Area 4Marilyn Figueroa

Area 5Tim Goodman



Area 6Judith Toussaint


Area 7Linda Lacy


Supervisor-HQHeather Servais


(Pictured: Back: Tim Goodman, Marilyn Figueroa, Judith Toussaint, Evelyn Langmaid. Front: Jose Rivera, Heather Servais.Not pictured: Lauretta Jackson and Linda Lacy.)

(Pictured: BVCS Bureau )


VR Pre-Employment Transition ServicesVR was named as the primary agency responsible for delivering Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) to students with disabilities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Students must be 14 to 21 years old, but may be in either secondary or postsecondary education to qualify for Pre-ETS. Under the Act, VR is required to set aside 15% of our federal allotment for the delivery of Pre-ETS. These funds can not be used for other VR services.

Pre-ETS are those specific services identified in the Act to help students prepare for postsecondary employment, education, and training needed to compete and succeed in the global labor market of the 21st Century. Students are expected to benefit from:

• Career Exploration: Includes any instruction on the benefits of competitive, integrated employment and employment options at every level of education available in the local labor market. May include information on accessing other services and programs that assist in career exploration and/or identifying a career path.

• Work Readiness Training: Instruction that prepares youth to actively engage in a targeted job search and inquire or apply for positions. Includes preparing effective resumes and completing applications online and by hand. May cover the use of social media to find and obtain employment in the 21st Century.

• Work Experience: Community based experiences for youth with disabilities focus first on acquiring the soft skills and work behaviors needed to maintain employment. Emphasis is placed on learning transferable skills useful in any job, rather than learning the work skills needed to do a specific job.

• Self-Advocacy Training: Includes instruction in Self-Advocacy and Self Determination Skills. Practical hands-on training may include quickly developing rapport, working to a desired outcome, active listening, and conflict resolution. May include discussion or instruction on making choices, setting goals, and advocacy needed to remove or minimize barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment (e.g. transportation, need for accommodation, etc.). You can access the below link to see the self-advocacy training. The information for the post-training test is included at the end of the training video. http://www.rehabworks.org/vendor_resources.shtml

VR field staff offer Pre-ETS to students through a STAR referral or a VR application. The path depends on what is most appropriate for the individual student. Those that need

additional VR services or supports should be encouraged to apply for VR services. Students that only need Pre-ETS should consider a referral to STAR. STAR participants only need to meet the definition for being a “student with a disability” to receive Pre-ETS. Neither an eligibility determination or an IPE are required for a student to participate in STAR.

VR staff will find resources to share with educators, students and their families on www.rehabworks.org under the Transition Youth tab. Brochures are available in English, Spanish and Creole to help individuals make an informed decision regarding their options for Pre-ETS and other VR services. The site provides informative videos and tools for VR Transition Youth services and other youth resources, including links to state and federal transition sites. VR staff may also access the Transition Youth Home page on SharePoint for the latest on Transition Youth programs and services. Have a Transition Youth question or can’t find what you need? Email us at [email protected] or call us at (800) 451-4327 and ask for anyone from the Transition Team.

If you are interested in becoming a Pre-ETS provider please e-mail [email protected] or contact Susan Coleman at 850-245-3324.


Dre's PathwayWritten by: Monitoring and Employment Contracts Staff

Mrs. Tonja Blount is the President and CEO of Dre’s Pathway to Possibilities. Dre’s Pathway is a non-profit, community based, life skills and transition program for adults (ages 18 and older) with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other intellectual, developmental, and emotional disabilities. Dre’s Pathway provides training, support, coaching, meaningful work and activities for participants. Mrs. Blount involves herself in the lives of her students as if they are her own. She is very professional, personable, and approachable. Eighteen years ago, Mrs. Blount started Dre’s Pathway to Possibilities due to her son being diagnosed with Autism. The program originally opened in Taylor County, but has since relocated to Leon County. Despite the relocation many of the students loved being involved in the program and decided to follow Mrs. Blount to Tallahassee to continue. Since opening, the program has provided services to over 250 children, teens, and adults with autism and other intellectual, learning, and developmental disabilities.

After observing Mrs. Blount’s interaction with her students, it is understandable why her students followed her to her new location. Mrs. Blount does not tell her students what to do, but simply asks the students respectfully what they would like to do (goals). The students are treated within respect, but also treated as adults, which many of the students do not have the same luxury at home.

When speaking with the students, they are overjoyed to talk about “Ms. Taj” (the name students refer to her) and their experiences while attending Dre’s Pathway. Students shared their progress with their goals including learning to introduce themselves, share their thoughts, dreams, and setting goals during their group sessions. Students also learn how to be independent by learning how to plan and prepare meals, shop with debit cards, financial literacy, and to self-advocate for fair pay.

Dre’s Pathway to Possibilities focuses on the acquisition and development of key skills necessary to navigate adulthood and actively participate in family and community life and believe that everyone is capable of reaching new heights and living fulfilling lives.

Hot Topic: Quarterly Staff ReportsWritten by: MECU Staff

Each quarter the Monitoring and Employment Contracting Unit (MECU) will showcase a topic that will be beneficial to our provider partners.

Our first Hot Topic will be Quarterly Staff Reports. The Staff Report is an important tool for our unit. This report allows us to verify we have the correct staff information in our internal database, RIMS. We also check the VR Background Screening Clearinghouse for accuracy, and to ensure everyone is entered into the Employee Roster. This protects not only you, the Provider, as well as our Customers; it’s the law. Below are some tips to make sure you complete the form correctly and maintain compliance with your Provider record:

• The Staff report is due no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter.

• Make sure to let us know if there have been changes in administrative personnel since the last reporting period.

• Do not check Supported Employment (SE) if the Employment Specialist (ES) is not qualified to provide SE

services. The Manager uses this information to verify the ES is qualified to provide the services reflected on this Report. VR reserves the right to reject an invoice for any services provided by non-qualified individuals.

• Check whether the Employment Specialist will be transporting Customers.

• Use the most current version of the Report. The Report can be found on our website at http://www.rehabworks.org/contracts.shtml. Reports submitted on old forms will be returned to the Provider, and will be considered as a late submission. This will be reflected in monitoring.

As a general rule, please check your spam box. Many times we get Providers asking where their requested information is only to find out it is in the spam box. Before calling the Manager about something you requested, check your spam box first.

We are excited to be providing you with more Hot Topics in the future. We welcome your suggestions and comments.


Staff Profile: Nicolette MoodyNicolette (Nikki) Moody is a Provider Manager in the Monitoring and Employment Contracting Unit based at VR Headquarters. Nikki has been with Vocational Rehabilitation for seven years.

• I was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida

• I was a student at Florida State University while working part time atVR. I received this Provider Manager position when I graduated withmy degree in Sociology and Psychology.

• My favorite team is inevitably FSU- my grandparents, mother andfather, and I all graduated from Florida State!

• I enjoy hiking and kayaking in my spare time. I go to my mountainhouse in North Carolina as often as I can to be in the mountains. It’sone of my favorite places! I kayak rivers and springs all over Florida aswell.

• My favorite holiday is Halloween. I would dress up in costumeeveryday if I could!

• My favorite TV show is The Office. Michael Scott is my hero!!!

• My favorite color is green.

• My favorite food is sushi.

• One thing I want the Providers to know- I appreciate everything you guys do for our customers and I’m here to help in anyway I can!

• Favorite quote- “Life’s too short- eat the cake.”

Name and Title Contact Information

Cathy McEachronChief, BVCS

Email: [email protected] Number: 850-245-3274

BVCS Headquarters Staff Directory

Margaret (Maggie) Munsey Unit Manager, MECU


Nicolette (Nikki) MoodyProvider Manager


Jason GallubProvider Manager


Margaret LockeAdministrative Assistant


Genna Harrison Staff Assistant



Jennifer PowellMonitor


Carolyn NazworthMonitor


Amanda UlmerContract Manager


Wayarne TolliverContract Manager


Renae WilliamsContract Manager


Jennifer EllingsenContract Manager


Francisco Hernandez-MendezUnit Manager, Vendor Registration


Sara RossmanVendor Registration Specialist


Susan ColemanVendor Registration Specialist


Chris LawBackground Screening Specialist


Heather ServaisUnit Manager, Field and Provider Relations Unit


Steven NedeauProvider Manager


Cacetha SimsProvider Manager


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