DARS DRS Standards for Providers Chapter 2 Revisions - September 2011

DRS Standards for Providers Chapter 2: Standards for Work-Oriented CRPs Revised 09/11 2.2 Staff Qualifications …

Job Placement Specialist

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As of September December 1, 2011, DARS purchases job placement services only when they are provided by staff members who have from CRPs whose Job Placement Specialists providing direct service to DARS consumers possess Job Placement Specialist credentials from UNTthe University of North Texas (UNT). DARS may pay for the services of a noncredentialed Job Placement Specialist after December 1, 2011, only when

 that individual was providing job placement services to a particular consumer before that date, and  the DARS counselor determines that it is in the best interest of the consumer to do so.

DARS will pay for services provided by a noncredentialed provider, under the above circumstances, for not more than 90 days after December 1, 2011.

Job Placement Specialists who provided services to DARS consumers before December 1, 2011, cannot be "grandfathered," although UNT does offer a “test-out” option.

For additional information about the UNT credentialing process, see UNT’s Texas CRP Provider Training page. http://pacs.unt.edu/wise/content/texas-crp-provider-training.

Job Placement Specialists who provide services to DARS consumers cannot be "grandfathered."

Required Qualifications

The required qualifications for a Job Placement Specialist are

 a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation, business, marketing, or related human services; and one year of documented experience providing employment services to individuals; or  an associate's degree in rehabilitation, business, marketing, or related human services; and two years of documented experience in a professional or personal setting routinely working with people with disabilities; or  a high school diploma or GED, and at least three years of documented experience providing employment services to individuals; and  (if providing service to consumers who are deaf) proficiency in expressive and receptive sign language communication with the deaf.

Note: Completion of an approved training program may substitute for one year of required experience providing employment services. Contact the CRP specialist for a list of approved training programs.

Job Coach

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As of September 1, 2011, DARS purchases job coaching only from CRPs whose Job Coaches providing direct services to DARS consumers possess when the coaching is provided by staff members who have Job Coach and /Job Skills Trainer credentials from the University of North Texas (UNT). DARS may pay for the services of a noncredentialed Job Coach after September 1, 2011 only when

 that individual was providing job coaching services to a particular consumer before that date, and  the DARS counselor determines that it is in the best interest of the consumer to do so.

DARS will pay for services provided by a noncredentialed provider, under the above circumstances, for not more than 90 days after September 1, 2011.

Job Coaches who provided services to DARS consumers before September 1, 2011, cannot be "grandfathered," although UNT does offer a “test-out” option.

For additional information about the UNT credentialing process, see UNT’s Texas CRP Provider Training page.http://pacs.unt.edu/wise/content/texas-crp-provider-training.

Job Coaches who provide services to DARS consumers cannot be "grandfathered."

The Job Coach must have

 a high school diploma or GED;  a varied and successful work history;  considerable knowledge of employer expectations;  the ability to work successfully with a variety of consumers and employers;  the ability to analyze a job and reduce it to manageable components; and  (if providing services to consumers who are deaf) proficiency in expressive and receptive sign language communication with deaf individuals.

… 2.11 Standards for Supported Employment Services …

Staff Qualifications

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Before being approved to provide services to DARS consumers, the staff member who oversees the provider's Supported Employment services (director, program manager, supervisor, etc.) must complete DARS-approved Provider Orientation and Training, which is provided by the DRS regional CRP specialist (or designee) or the DBS regional program support specialist. The Provider Orientation and Training focuses on the supported employment outcome-based standards, forms, and quality criteria. Once the overseeing staff member is trained, he or she must provide similar training to each staff member who will provide direct services to DARS consumers and document the training in the personnel files.

In order to ensure that CRP providers in Texas are fully equipped to provide the highest quality services to Texans with disabilities, DARS has partnered with the University of North Texas (UNT) to develop a training and credentialing process for staff members of CRPs who provide employment-related services to DARS consumers.

CRP Directors

As of September 1, 2011April 1, 2012, all CRP directors who supervise staff members who provide direct services to consumers in DARS Supported Employment Services must possess CRP Director Credentials from UNT. Directors supervising staff members providing services before September 1, 2011that date, cannot be "grandfathered,." although UNT does offer a “test-out” option.

Supported Employment Specialist

As of September 1, 2011April 1, 2012, Supported Employment Specialists (formally referred to as Employment Specialists) providing the direct service to a DARS consumer must possess Supported Employment Specialist credentials from UNT, and DARS must purchase Supported Employment services only from a CRP whosewhen such services are provided by staff members who havehas met this requirement. DARS may pay for the services of a noncredentialed Supported Employment Specialist after April 1, 2012, only when

 that individual was providing supported employment services to a particular consumer before that date, and  the DARS counselor determines that it is in the best interest of the consumer to do so.

DARS will pay for services provided by a noncredentialed provider, under the above circumstances, for not more than 90 days after April 1, 2012.

Supported Employment Specialists who provided services to DARS consumers before April 1, 2012, cannot be "grandfathered,." although UNT does offer a “test-out” option.

A Supported Employment Specialist must meet the education and experience qualifications in one of the following three options.

Job Skills Trainer

As of September 1, 2011April 1, 2012, DARS purchases Supported Employment Services only from CRPs whose Job Skills Trainers providing the direct service to the DARS consumer possess Job Coach/ and Job Skills Trainer credentials from UNT. DARS may pay for the services of a noncredentialed Job Skills Trainer after April 1, 2012, only when

 that individual was providing job skills training to a particular consumer before that date, and  the DARS counselor determines that it is in the best interest of the consumer to do so.

DARS will pay for services provided by a noncredentialed provider, under the above circumstances, for not more than 90 days after April 1, 2012.

There is no "grandfathering" of Job Skills Trainers who provided services to DARS consumers before April 1, 2012, cannot be "grandfathered," although UNT does offer a “test-out” option.

… 2.12 Supported Self-Employment Services …

Staff Qualifications

Supported Self-Employment Specialist

A Supported Self-Employment Specialist (SSES) must meet the qualifications of a sSupported Eemployment Sspecialist and, in addition, be certified by The Center for Social Capital as a Certified Business Technical Assistance Consultant (CBTAC).

Job Skills Trainer

A Job Skills Trainer must have a high school diploma or GED and one year of experience working with people who have disabilities. Job Skills Trainers must also complete the DARS Job Coaching and Job Skill Trainers Web-based training and pass the certification test administered by the University of North Texas. A completed DARS3455, Community Rehabilitation Program Staff Information and proof of Job Coaching or Job Skill Trainer Certification must be included in the employee's personnel file.meet the qualifications outlined for a Job Skills Trainer under 2.11 Standards for Supported Employment Services/Staff Qualifications. It is a best practice for the Job Skills Trainer to work under the direction of the Supported Self-Employment Specialist.