Quarterly Meeting FY21 February 18, 2021 - Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 970 1698 1193 ORC Website orc.okstate.edu - Oklahoma ...
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Quarterly Meeting FY21
February 18, 2021
Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 970 1698 1193
ORC Website
orc.okstate.eduOklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC) Quarterly Meeting
Agenda - Full Council Regular Meeting
Thursday, February 18, 2021, 9:30am -12pm
Conducted by Video Conference
Click here to join the Meeting by PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android Device
Meeting ID: 970 1698 1193
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Meeting ID: 970 1698 1193
Call to Order/Roll Call and Establish Quorum – 7 Voting Members.
Voting Members
Officers Advocacy Groups
• Tim Yeahquo – Chair, 121 Project • Amanda Burnside
• Shelley Gladden - Vice-Chair, Advocacy • Vicky Golightly
Group Statewide Independent Living
• Jeff Newton, Member at Large, OKCPS, Council
Previous VR Consumer Vacant
• Jen Randle, Member at Large, Advocacy
Group Client Assistance Program
• Lori Chesnut, Member at Large, Dept. of William Ginn
Education
Workforce Development Board
Business Industry and Labor
Steve Shepelwich
• Matthew Barnes Parent Training and Information
• Kelli Bates Center
• Sharon Harrison
• Donna Sanders • Amy Synar
Community Rehabilitation Program
• Shelly Rentz
Non-Voting Members
• Melinda Fruendt, DRS Executive Director
• Angela Jaworski, DRS VR Counselor
• Jerod Gleason, DRS SBVI Counselor
Statement of Compliance with the Open Meeting Act Requirements. Notice was given and was posted 48 hours
prior to meeting. If you have any accommodations, please let me know 5 days ahead of time to make those
available to you, contact Carolina Colclasure at 405-951-3579 or carolina.colclasure@okstate.eduAssociate Council Members
• Tina Calloway • Renee Sansom
• Tiffany Davis • Stephanie Roe
• Fatos Floyd • Barret Waltz
• Tonya Garman
Council Support
• Carolina Colclasure • Linda Jaco
Consumer Comments/Announcements
Action Items
1. Approval of August 20, 2020 Minutes.
2. Reports:
a. ORC Committee Reports:
• Executive Committee – Tim Yeahquo. The report includes an update on the
ORC Vacancies and the Oklahoma Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (OKTVR).
• Program and Planning Committee – Shelley Gladden. The report includes an
update on the DRS Customer Satisfaction Survey Pilot.
• Policy and Legislative Committee – Jeff Newton. The report includes an
update on the People with Disabilities Awareness Day and the ORC
Legislative Primer.
• Transition Committee – Lori Chesnut. The report includes an update on
activities of the last Quarter.
• Employment Committee – Jen Randle. The report includes an update on
activities of the last Quarter.
b. Department of Rehabilitation Reports:
• Melinda Fruendt, Executive Director Report. The report includes activities and
meetings attended by the Executive Director and Executive Team.
• Mark Kinnison, DRS Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Division Administrator. The
report includes an update on VR’s office work, VR office relocations; Assistive
Technology office updates; Employment Support Services update; Transition
Unit update; and Business Services Program update.
• Tracy Brigham, DRS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI)
Division Administrator. The report includes an update on Field Services,
Business Services, Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, Business Enterprise Program, and Division Administrator
Activities.
Statement of Compliance with the Open Meeting Act Requirements. Notice was given and was posted 48 hours
prior to meeting. If you have any accommodations, please let me know 5 days ahead of time to make those
available to you, contact Carolina Colclasure at 405-951-3579 or carolina.colclasure@okstate.edu• Terri Williams Murphy, VR Field Coordinator Report. The report includes an
update on the status of Priority Groups I, II and III; Service Activity; Current
Case Status; Transition vs. Adults Participants; and Active Cases by age
group.
• Stephanie Roe, her title The report includes an update on Eastern/Tulsa
Workforce Board Merger; Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) /
AJC Tulsa; Star Rating Accessibility Initiative Progress and Next Steps; COVID-
19 Response & Recovery Plan recommendations; System Oversight
Subcommittee; Cross-Agency Collaborations beyond traditional workforce
programs and DRS participation; Groups; “The Force” Workforce Committee –
Programs & Resources; and Oklahoma Workforce Association Partners
Conference Rescheduled.
• Renee Sansom, Transition Coordinator. The report includes an update on
transition activities from August 2020 to February 2021 and general
Transition updates.
c. ORC Program Manager (PM) Report, Carolina Colclasure The report includes an
update on the meetings and activities the PM has attended since October 2020.
3. Other Business:
• ORC Member Update
• New Member Introductions – Mattew Barnes, Amanda Burnside, Vicky
Golightly, Sharon Harrison, Steve Shepelwich, and Amy Synar
4. New Business
5. Reminders:
• Next ORC Quarterly Meeting: Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 9:30 am, via Zoom
6. Adjourn
Statement of Compliance with the Open Meeting Act Requirements. Notice was given and was posted 48 hours
prior to meeting. If you have any accommodations, please let me know 5 days ahead of time to make those
available to you, contact Carolina Colclasure at 405-951-3579 or carolina.colclasure@okstate.edu.Contents
Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC) Quarterly Meeting Agenda ................... 2
Approval of August 20, 2020 Minutes ................................................................. 2
ORC Committee Reports ....................................................................................... 7
Executive Committee Meeting Report – Tim Yeahquo .................................... 7
Program and Planning Committee Report – Shelley Gladden ......................... 7
Policy and Legislative Committee Report – Jeff Newton ................................. 8
Transition Committee Meeting Report – Lori Chesnut .................................... 9
Employment Committee Report – Jen Randle ............................................... 10
Department of Rehabilitation Reports ............................................................... 11
Director Report – Melinda Fruendt ................................................................ 11
VR Division Administrator Report - Mark Kinnison ......................................... 14
SBVI Division Administrator Report – Tracy Brigham..................................... 16
Field Coordinator Report – Terri Williams Murphy ......................................... 21
DRS Project Coordinator Report – Stephanie Roe ........................................ 23
Transition Report – Renee Sansom ............................................................... 26
ORC Program Manager Report – Carolina Colclasure ....................................... 33
Other Business .................................................................................................... 34
ORC Member Update ...................................................................................... 34
ORC New Introductions ................................................................................... 34
New Business...................................................................................................... 34
Reminder ......................................................................................................... 34
Adjourn ................................................................................................................ 34
1Approval of August 20, 2020 Minutes
Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council (ORC) Quarterly Meeting Minutes
The meeting took place on Thursday, August 20, 2020, via Zoom Virtual
Call to Order/Roll Call
The meeting was called to order by Lori Chesnut, Council Chair, at 9:33 am.
Role was called. A quorum was established.
a) Members Present: Lori Chesnut, Tim Yeahquo, Rick DeRennaux, Audrey
Farnum, Melinda Fruendt, Shelley Gladden, Kevin Randall, Jen Randle,
Jeff Newton, Bill Dunham, William Ginn, and Wade Walters
b) Members Absent: Vikki Walls, Donna Sanders, and Kelli Bates.
c) Others Present: Tina Calloway, Barret Waltz, Chris Kennedy, Renee
Sansom, Stephanie Roe, Mark Kinnison, Brandi Hurley, Fatos Floyd,
Tracy Brigham, Tiffany Davis, Janice Morris, Shelly Rentz, Matthew
Barnes, Angela Jaworski, Sharon Harrison, Amanda Burnside; Jerry Smith
and Tonya Garmin (American Sign Language interpreters).
d) Council Support Present: Linda Jaco, Director of Sponsored Programs
OSU Department of Wellness, and Carolina Colclasure, ORC Program
Manager (PM).
Consumer Comments/Announcements:
• Introductions were made around the table.
• Approval of February 20, 2020 meeting minutes: A motion was made by
Approval of May 21, 2020 meeting minutes: A motion was made by
Audrey Farnum to approve the May 21, 2020 meeting minutes as
presented in the ORC Meeting Packet starting on page 2 - 14. Rick
DeRennaux seconded the motion. The May minutes are available on
ORC's website https://orc.okstate.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2020/07/May-2020-ORC-Quarterly-Meeting-
Minutes.pdf
• Council Member’s Minutes Approval Vote:
Lori Chesnut – Yes
Tim Yeahquo – Yes
Rick DeRennaux – Yes
2 Jen Randle – Yes
Bill Dunham - Yes
Audrey Farnum – Yes
Shelley Gladden – Yes
Jeff Newton – Yes
The motion passed, and the minutes were approved.
ORC Committee Reports
Executive Committee – Lori Chesnut
The Committee meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2020, via Zoom. The report was
presented and reviewed by the Council. The report can be found in its entirety
on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet at
https://orc.okstate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/August-2020-ORC-
Quarterly-Meeting-Packet.pdf 12.
Program and Planning Committee – Shelley Gladden
The Committee met on Thursday, June 25, 2020, via Zoom. The report was
presented and reviewed by the Council. The report can be found in its entirety
on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet beginning on page
12.
Policy and Legislative Committee – Jeff Newton
The Committee met on Thursday, June 18, 2020, via Zoom. The report was
presented and reviewed by the Council. The report can be found in its entirety
on the ORC website under the August Quarterly Meeting Packet beginning on
page 13.
Transition Committee – Lori Chesnut
The Committee met on Monday, June 29, 2020, via Zoom. The report was
presented and reviewed by the Council. The report can be found in its entirety
on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet beginning on page
13.
Employment Committee – Lori Chesnut
The Committee met on Thursday, June 18, 2020, via Zoom. The report was
presented and reviewed by the Council and can be found on the ORC website
under August Quarterly Meeting Packet beginning on page 13.
3Department of Rehabilitation Services Reports Executive Director Report – Stephanie Roe for Melinda Fruendt The Director report was presented and reviewed by the Council and can be found on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet beginning on page 14. In addition, Stephanie shared that Governor Stitt appointed Theresa Flannery as a new Commissioner to the Oklahoma Commission for Rehabilitation. She will serve a three-year term. DRS VR Division Administrator – Mark Kinnison The VR Division Administrator (DA) report was presented and reviewed by the Council and can be found on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet beginning on page 18. The VR DA added to his report that DRS has been asked by the Governor’s Office to reduce its Real Estate footprint, and the VR Division is considering making some changes with staff located at Shepherd Mall. Also, the DRS Career Planning Center in Oklahoma City has some available offices, and some staff may move to that location. In terms of production, the numbers are a little down in comparison with last year. Current report includes 806 employment outcomes, 2572 applications, and 7542 plans. DRS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBVI) Division Administrator Report – Tracy Brigham The SBVI report was presented and reviewed by the Council and can be found in its entirety on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet beginning on page 19. The SBVI DA added to her report that SBVI is looking at moving one of its units to the Library for the Blind in an effort to eliminate some of its Real Estate footprint. VR Field Coordinator (FC) Report – Chris Kennedy The FC report was presented and reviewed by the Council and can be found in its entirety on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet beginning on page 24 Workforce Initiative Report – Stephanie Roe 4
The Workforce Development report was presented and reviewed by the Council
and can be found in its entirety on the ORC website under August Quarterly
Meeting Packet beginning on page 26.
Stephanie added to her report that DRS submitted two nominations to the
Oklahoma Works Annual Alumni Celebration. One for the Business Champion
Award thanks to the Business Services Program and one VR client in the
Northeast area.
Transition Report - Renee Sansom
The Transition report was presented and reviewed by the Council and can be
found in its entirety on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet
beginning on page 28.
ORC Program Manager Report, Carolina Colclasure
The ORC PM report was presented and reviewed by the Council and can be
found in its entirety on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet
beginning on page 34.
Officer Nominations
Lori Chesnut, ORC Chair, made nominations for the upcoming Council
vacancies as follows:
• Tim Yeahquo - ORC Chair
• Shelley Gladden - ORC Vice-Chair
• Jen Randle – Member-at-Large for the Employment Committee
• Jeff Newton – Member-at-Large for the P&L Committee
• Shelley Gladden – Member-at-Large for the P&P Committee
And the ORC PM nominated:
• Lori Chesnut - Member-at-Large for the Transition Committee.
There were no other nominations, and a motion was made by Audrey Farnum
to accept the nominations as presented. Rick DeRennaux seconded the
motion. A vote of the Council membership was taken:
Lori Chesnut – Yes
Tim Yeahquo – Yes
Rick DeRennaux– Yes
Bill Dunham – Yes
Shelley Gladden– Yes
5 Jeff Newton – Yes
Jen Randle – Yes
Audrey Farnum - Yes
Other Business
DRS Business Services Program (BSP) Report – Fatos Floyd
The BSP report was presented and reviewed by the Council and can be found
in its entirety on the ORC website under August Quarterly Meeting Packet
beginning on page 36.
ORC Member Update
Shelley Gladden
As mentioned, the DRS Business Summit is coming up in October. Linda Jaco
has been working on that committee for collaboration, and ABLE Tech is going
to be presenting on web accessibility.
ABLE Tech is going to be sponsoring the cost of the captioning for all the
sessions of the Oklahoma Transition Institute (OTI). Also, the Non-Profit
Organization that we’ve worked with for financial loans, OKAT Foundation, is
going to receive sponsorships for OTI again this year. The email with the
information about it came out a few days ago, so hopefully, you all received it.
If you didn't or need more information, let me know.
Also, ABLE Tech has very exciting news. It has been selected to participate in
the 2020 - 2024 Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) Cohort. There were
only seven states chosen, and Oklahoma was one, from a pretty competitive
field of applications.
We also have finalized the State Department of Education AT trainings for the
fall. The dates have been set for the September, October, and November
trainings and can be found on the website.
Adjourn
Next ORC Quarterly Meeting: November 19, 2020, 9:30 am – 12 pm
6ORC Committee Reports Executive Committee Meeting Report – Tim Yeahquo The Executive Committee Meeting met on Thursday, January 21, 2021, via Zoom. Council Vacancies for FFY2021 The ORC Program Manager (PM) reached out to the Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) and informed them that Vikki Walls had not attended any ORC Quarterly Meetings or committee meetings during 2020. The SILC Executive Director and the new Chair, Dr. Lewis, are aware of the situation and will inform the ORC PM when a replacement is selected. The ORC PM will reach out to Chris Bruehl at the Governor’s office to inform him about the situation. Oklahoma Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation (OKTVR) Update Several Oklahoma Tribes are working on their Section 121 grants this year. All grants were extended for one more year in 2020, so there will be more Tribes competing in 2021 with less funding available. OKTVR held its Conference in September 2020. It was a virtual event; there were over 50 participants, including Tribal Members and state representatives. The OKTVR has not met since; a Zoom Meeting will be announced soon. DRS Executive Team Update Director Fruendt and both Division Administrators reported to the Committee, and we will hear from them later on today. Program and Planning Committee Report – Shelley Gladden The P&P Committee met on Thursday, January 28, 2021, via Zoom. 2017-2019 Needs Assessment partnership The DRS Process Improvement (PI) Unit will use the three pages of the recommendations that came out of the Needs Assessment intake and host a Partner Zoom Meeting to get feedback. The P&P Committee will assist with the coordination of the meeting by inviting its partners and serving as a co-host during the session. The objective is to 7
have at least 30 different people; if more partners or agencies are interested, a second meeting could be considered. The target date will be late Spring or early Summer. Open Case Survey Pilot Update The open case survey pilot was put on hold because of COVID-19. The iPads were provided to the different offices, but no clients were coming to the offices; therefore, there were no responses for months. ORC has purchased four more iPads for the pilot. They will be used in different offices, including one for the Hispanic Unit, one for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Unit, and two for Assistive Technology (AT) Evaluations. DRS Covid Client Survey The DRS PI Unit implemented a survey on the effects of Covid on DRS clients in 2020, and the final report of it is being reviewed. The results will be shared with the Committee during the next committee meeting in March. Policy and Legislative Committee Report – Jeff Newton The P&L Committee met on Thursday, January 21, 2021, via Zoom. People with Disabilities Awareness Day (PWDAD) The Committee reached out to the DRS Communications Team and will support their efforts for PWDAD. The ORC Program Manager (PM) shared the DRS Communications Office's email with the information on how to participate in the Social Media event. All the members will share with their contacts. The Committee will share additional resources like the Success Story flyers and the 2020 Legislative primer with legislators, partner agencies, and all ORC members. 2021 DRS Policy changes The Committee reviewed the 2021 DRS Policy changes during the January meeting and drafted the letter that was read during the DRS Public Hearing on February 8. Transit Plan information/update Tonya Garman, the DRS Policy Liaison, shared an update with the Committee, and there are no pending tasks for the Committee to work on this activity at the 8
time. The Committee will continue to support and follow up on the progress of
the Transit Plan.
Transition Committee Meeting Report – Lori Chesnut
The Committee met on Thursday, January 28, 2021, via Zoom
Transition Resources
The Committee is committed to sharing transition resources with all its
members, partners, and various Agencies. The information is sent to the ORC
PM, and she disseminates it via email.
This year the focus is on Student and Family involvement in transition planning.
One of the objectives the Committee included this year is to invite a Transition
professional to share available resources with the Council. Shelly Rentz and
Renee Sansom will share information on the Career Exploration project with
the Council during the August meeting.
ORC – Sooner Success Partnership
ORC is partnering with Sooner Success to disseminate information about its
programs and events. Sooner Success had its first Share Fair took place on
December 3, 2020. There were four presentations:
• Sooner Success Services presented by Erin Strayhorn
• DRS Services presented by Renee Sansom
• Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services
information presented by Jennifer Upshaw
• Central Technology Center Services presented by Shelly Rentz
The second Share Fair will occur on February 25 at 11:30 am; the topic is
Social Security. The ORC Program Manager (PM) will share the flyer with the
Council for dissemination.
Needs Assessment Update
Unfortunately, there were not many options to work on the Needs Assessment
in 2020. DRS plans to work on the minority section in 2021. Barret Waltz will
be working on the information available to include it in the database; it will be
used in future planning sessions.
The Transition part of the Needs Assessment focuses on data. The Committee
will assist DRS by providing the Child Count information in the next Committee
meeting.
9Employment Committee Report – Jen Randle The Committee met on Thursday, January 21, 2021, via Zoom. Business Services Program (BSP) and ABLE Tech Partnership Sharon Harrison reported that the Rose State Business Department has been meeting with ABLE Tech and will be adding to its curriculum a dedicated course within the Social Media Program on how to design websites and other print and social media platforms that are accessible. Also, a pilot program in one of the Multimedia classes will hopefully start this semester. Business Advisory Council (BAC) Update The Oklahoma City BAC meeting took place on January 26th from 11:30 am to 1 pm. The DRS Business Services Program (BSP) has divided the state into two groups. The first group includes Oklahoma City and Tulsa, representing the Northeast and East Workforce Area; they plan to have a week of job readiness training for DRS clients in February. February 22, day one of this virtual training, will include information on using Zoom during the morning session followed by a motivational training in the afternoon. Tuesday 23, Wednesday 25, and Thursday 25 will be skills training in the morning, followed by mock interviews in the afternoon. There will also be an employment panel where clients will have the opportunity to be advised on how to appropriately disclose information about their disability during an interview. There will be a similar event for the South Central and South Workforce areas in April. Individual Placement and Supports (IPS) Update IPS saw a dip in the employment rates of clientele due to COVID, but it is now back up, having increased to 70% in the last two quarters of 2020. Also, because of COVID, no new teams were launched last year; however, they did start a new research project with the Cleveland County Jail and Rogers County Jail. Cleveland County includes Norman; Rogers County includes Claremore. This project serves clients exiting jail who transition directly into employment services. It is a four-year project that is slated to start in June. The Employment and Housing Summit will be in April; it will be a virtual event this year. The dates have not yet been announced. 10
Dissemination of Employment Resources in an Accessible Format The Committee will review the Workforce On-Demand Occupation list during the March meeting. They will also determine which business ecosystems the committee needs to reach out to and provide resources. Department of Rehabilitation Reports Director Report – Melinda Fruendt Executive September 16 – Director and CFO met with Secretary Mazzei and Secretary Brown regarding the budget request. September 17 – Director and staff met with Able Tech staff regarding accessible resources and how to communicate with other state agencies and partners. September 18 – Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth meeting. September 22 – Workforce Oversight System Committee meeting. September 22 – Director attended a DHS presentation to HEC agencies for a cross-cabinet learning session. September 29 – Oklahoma Works core partner data alignment meeting. September 30 – State Employee Recognition Day. September 30 – Director, Kevin Statham and Stephanie Roe met with Secretary Brown to present the DRS Strategic Plan and Budget before submission. October 6 - VR/SBVI performance team meeting. October 7 – Workforce Oversight System Committee meeting. October 7 – Director attended the Aware Live virtual conference. October 14 - State Workforce Leaders Meeting. October 15 – DRS Business Summit. October 20 – Director attended the Federal Reserve Bank – Economic Forum. October 21 – Able Tech Advisory Council Meeting. October 23 – CSAVR Region VI Meeting; Oklahoma Transit Authority Conference. 11
October 26 – HEC Legislative Meeting; Attended an OJA presentation to HEC agencies for a cross-cabinet learning session. November 3-6 – Director and Staff attended the Summit Conference on Performance Management and Evaluation of VR. November 3 – Quarterly call with RSA on Performance Dashboard for VR/SBVI. November 6 – HEC Meeting. November 9-13 – Director and staff participated in the Fall Conference for CSAVR. November 13 – Director and Pepper Watson were asked by Oklahoma Able Tech to serve on a cohort from 2020-2024 regarding Accessible Educational Materials, this was the kickoff meeting. November 13 – Stephanie Roe (in place of director) participated in the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Economic Development meeting. November 18 – VR/SBVI Performance Team meeting. November 18 – DRS Executive Team had a special meeting on the protocol for high risk gatherings. Protocol was then shared with DRS staff. November 19-20 – Director and Executive Team members attended the Oklahoma Virtual Government Summit. November 19 – Director and OSD team members participated in a State Department of Education deaf education advisory committee meeting. December 2 – Director, Kevin Statham and Randy Weaver joined the DDS Executive Team in a tour at DDS with Secretary Brown. December 1 – Director and Jody Harlan participated in an interview with Gary Shutt regarding DRS Communications. December 2 – Director participated in a Cross-Cabinet meeting between HEC and Workforce. December 3 – Director, Mark Kinnison, and Tracy Brigham participated in the CSAVR Equity and Inclusion meeting. December 4 - HEC Meeting. December 9 – State Workforce Leaders meeting. December 10 – Director presented during the DDS End of Year program. December 11 – OCCY meeting. 12
December 16 – Director participated in the first meeting for Inclusive Post- Secondary Education (PSE) Opportunities for Students with IDD. December 16 – VR/SBVI Performance Team meeting. December 17 – Director participated in Fruendt’s Front in the Studio, moderated by Craig Glasscock and Mark Ferguson, Professional Development Unit. December 18 – January 3 – Director on Holiday and Annual Leave. January 5 – VR/SBVI Performance Team meeting. January 7 – Director participated in the cross-cabinet Workforce Meeting. This group is now known as One Workforce Oklahoma; The “Force”. January 8 - HEC Meeting. January 8 – Director and CFO participated in a meeting with State CFO Rodriquez. January 12 – Director and staff participated in the OSD Budget meeting. January 13 - CSAVR Operations Committee meeting. January 13 – Director participated in the One Workforce Oklahoma chairpersons meeting. January 14 – DRS Executive Team meeting. January 19 – Director, Kevin Statham and Kevin Nelson presented in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on HEC Budget and Performance Review. January 21 – Director and staff participated in the ORC Executive Committee meeting. January 22 – Director and Stephanie Roe hosted the One Workforce Oklahoma, Special Populations Committee meeting. January 25 – Director, Kevin Statham, and Kevin Nelson presented in Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on HEC Budget and Performance Review. January 25 - VR/SBVI Budget meeting. January 26 – OSB Budget meeting. January 26 – Director presented on DRS programs and services in the HEC meeting. January 29 – CSAVR Diversity, Equality, Inclusion discussion. February 2 - VR/SBVI Performance meeting. 13
February 2 – CSAVR Operations and Personnel Committee meeting.
February 4 – Director and staff participated in the Succession Planning training
meeting.
February 4 – CSAVR Region VI Director’s meeting.
February 5 – HEC meeting.
February 8 – DRS Executive Team meeting.
February 10 – State Workforce Leaders meeting.
February 11 – RSA Quarterly call on VR/SBVI Performance.
February 11 – CSAVR Performance Committee meeting.
February 16 – HEC Cross-Cabinet meeting.
Respectfully submitted by
Melinda Fruendt, Executive Director
VR Division Administrator Report - Mark Kinnison
• We continue to keep offices open and are currently in an extended phase
2 of our return to work preparedness plan, which went in effect August 3,
2020.
• We were very fortunate to be able to have some of our frontline staff
receive the first round of COVID-19 vaccination. Approximately 47
individuals with VR and SBVI were given the first dose. The shots were
targeted for individuals who are actively traveling to and working face to
face with clientele. The second shots are scheduled for February 12,
2021.
• VR and SBVI leadership continue to have regular meetings by ZOOM to
discuss work practices, and various updates in regards to COVID-19. A
number of our offices have had to shut down and be treated due to the
spread of COVID-19.
• Our two biggest offices are in the process of relocating. The VR offices in
Shepheard Mall in OKC are looking at relocating to the Frates building
near the capital. Our office in Tulsa, located at 444 S. Houston is
looking to relocate down the road to the Sun Building. We currently have
SBVI staff housed there as well.
• Our Psych. Clinicians are receiving approximately 40 referrals a month.
• Our Vocational Evaluators are receiving approximately 50 referrals a
month.
14• Employment Support Services staff continue to work contracts,
participate in meetings by ZOOM regarding Supported Employment,
assist with 511 part 397 presentations, and provide technical assistance
to providers and staff.
• Assistive Technology Specialists continue to travel and see clients as
requested. We are receiving approximately 25 referrals a month in
addition to existing case work.
• We have received 222 referrals for Benefits Planning through December
and have worked with 169 actual beneficiaries.
• We continue to work diligently in regards to Transition Services. We have
established a Transition Unit for the OKC area that is under the
leadership of Trish Osborn. The Division Administrator has also assumed
the Field Coordinator duties for Tulsa and OKC transition areas.
• We are working with Project SEARCH and Jon Ringlero to begin a Project
SEARCH with some of Oklahoma Tribal VR Programs.
• We are working with Project SEARCH and Tulsa Tech. to begin a Project
SEARCH with Tulsa Public Schools, surrounding areas and Tulsa Tech.
This will start 1/1/2022.
• Sky’s The Limit Communications, a training and communications
company specializing in motivational resiliency, diversity and leadership
presentations nationally, David DeNotaris and Ace Academy are working
with students (Juniors and Seniors) from the School for the Blind to
promote independence. During the ACE Advocacy Academy Self-
Advocacy Nuts and Bolts, participants will grow in confidence,
independence and skill as they practice essential elements of self-
advocacy. They started this in January 2021.
• Pre-ETS is continuing to grow. OU has 5 announcements for job openings
to fill for the Northwest and Northeast parts of the state at this time.
• DRS has hosted share fairs to parents, teachers, administration and
students about DRS and other resources. February 25th will be the
second share fair. We are hoping to do these quarterly and grow.
• School Work Study and Work Adjustment Training have been revised and
will be sent out to schools and vendors the first week of February.
• Summer program planning has begun. We are hoping to improve
attendance this summer for virtual programs.
• Working with SBVI on VIBE this summer virtually as well.
• Business Services continue to be very active with Business Advisory
Councils, and partnership trainings with the Eastern Workforce Board
and Oklahoma Tribal VR Partners. Client trainings were completed with
15SBVI which focused on male grooming and personal appearance.
Training on career connections was completed in Southcentral
Oklahoma. Counselor trainings included Imagine Academy, Galt
Foundation training, and SBVI training regarding the Career One Stop
interview out of Southcentral Oklahoma. Business Partner Connections
included United Health Group, Mercy Hospitals – Independence Through
Meaningful Work Committee, Paycom, and SSM Health.
• For federal production year 2020 the VR and SBVI programs completed
2,980 applications, 1,750 plans of employment, and 1042 successful
outcomes.
• We continue to surpass our Measurable Skill Gain negotiated rate and
are currently at 32%.
As always, I want to express my appreciation to the DRS staff for their diligent
work and dedication during this time. I’m honored to work with them.
Mark Kinnison, M.Ed., CRC, LPC-S
VR Administrator for ORS.
SBVI Division Administrator Report – Tracy Brigham
Field Services
SBVI 64, 65 and 59, under the direction of PM Chris Brannaman have been
participating in a 6 week “Adjustment to Disability” series focusing on
motivational interviewing to illicit change talk and focus on eliminating barriers.
This was a virtual event, made up of both SBVI staff and clients; on average 10
to 13 participants with about half being staff in assistance to the group.
Surveys conducted of participants have given high approval for having another
session in the early spring late winter months.
Mr. Brannaman’s unit also formed committees to focus on achieving PMP
goals for counselors in service development and provision, as well as
marketing our services to the public. The Service Development group is
creating a Zoom training for clients as COVID continues to keep participants
inside. We know that many clients have stated they don’t know how to access
online trainings with Zoom, so this concept is in the development stage and will
be carried out on January 15th.
The Marketing committee is developing ways to reach their communities
through virtual and other means, outside of the standard contacts required by
counselor PMP’s. This will heighten awareness in larger groups to assist
counselors in meeting application goals set on PMP and services rendered by
16our agency. This is also scheduled to begin in January as it is still in development. PM, Stacey Birchfield’s unit resides in the southeastern area of the state. On November 12th, The Southern and Eastern Workforce Boards coordinated to host a virtual job fair for employers and potential employees in those geographic areas. The main point of contact from Workforce was Aubre McMichael. David Kemp, SBVI Counselor IV in Idabel, acted as the proctor for the event and hosted the Zoom sessions. Throughout the day, participants could join the ODRS meeting room to ask questions about eligibility criteria and services offered, as well as inquire about jobs with the DRS. Several participants were directed to the HCM state jobs website and encouraged to complete applications, upload resumes and compete for employment with the state. With the ongoing virus concerns and the public embracing of virtual meetings and conferences, this was a novel approach to hosting a career fair and we are happy that one of our SBVI staff played a vital role in the process. PM’s Tammie Jones and Cheryl Snow: In the past, we have reported that some of the SBVI staff started a monthly Zoom support group for blind and visually impaired clients to connect and interact with each other to discuss relevant topics and to hopefully work on job search techniques. We are pleased to report that one of the clients who attended the support group, Christi Evans, has been able to secure employment with SYNQ3, a Colorado-based restaurant call center. She has recently been the subject of a DRS media release. This case exemplifies the true teamwork that occurs in our agency as she worked with a counselor, rehab teachers, an O&M Specialist and AT Specialists in order to achieve her goal of securing employment. She also had input from Michelle Rudesill, who is a Benefits Planner with DRS to help her determine how going to work would affect her benefits. The next Blindness Support Group, which has now been named Blooming from Blindness into a World of Possibilities, has been organized by Ani Severtsen and Debra Mendez and began December 7th at 2:00 PM. Information for accessing this Zoom support group was shared with clients of our Division. One of the things that has evolved during our time teleworking is monthly or bi- monthly Zoom meetings of the rehabilitation teaching staff. This allows them time to meet to discuss such topics as blindness skills training, remote instruction techniques, new technology and other relevant items. The meetings have featured speakers such as Elyse Heinrich with Hadley Institute. She recently talked about the services that Hadley offers along with changes 17
they have made over the last few months, which is information that all of our staff need in order to help provide these resources to our clients. As the pandemic continues, staff have had to find alternative and innovative ways to market SBVI services. This is particularly difficult for our rehab teachers who work with many elderly blind citizens who reside in nursing and assisted living centers. Most of these facilities are still locked down and cannot have visitors. Marketing and outreach continues by mail. We have recently completed training for 2 SBVI clients who wished to become Licensed Vendors in the BEP program. In an effort to continue promoting the program and grooming new Licensed Vendors, SBVI staff regularly conduct standardized assessments of potential trainees to determine their readiness to enter the training program. Since we cannot do this in groups at this time, the staff who administer the assessments have been working one-on-one with each applicant to assess their skills in computers, use of assistive technology, daily living skills and orientation and mobility. It is a slower process, but our staff recognize that we must continue to provide services while practicing and modeling safety in this unusual time of pandemic. (Both recent trainees have received their license and are currently working in the program.) White Cane Safety Day – October 15, 2020: National White Cane Safety Day on October 15th annually celebrates the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired. This day has been set aside to celebrate all of the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired, and the principal symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the white cane. In a “normal” year, in Oklahoma we celebrate this day by having public events throughout the state that bring awareness to people who use the white cane. This year, due to COVID, the Orientation and Mobility Specialists for SBVI needed to find a way to celebrate this day and bring awareness while also keeping in mind social distancing measures. After collaboration, our group in conjunction with the DRS communications office, came up with the idea of interviewing several current or past SBVI clients regarding what the white cane means to them and how it impacts their lives. Videos of three clients were recorded for this purpose. On White Cane Awareness Day, these videos were released at pre-determined times throughout the day on all of the social media platforms available to DRS including: DRS home page, Facebook accounts of DRS, SBVI and OLBPH, Twitter and in “Breaking Barriers” on October 13th. For future educational purposes, these videos have been made permanently accessible through creation of DRS “Awareness Day Pages” on the DRS home 18
page. The titles of these three educational videos are “White Cane Awareness - It’s called the white cane”, “White Cane Awareness - It's just me and my cane”, and “White Cane Awareness - Freedom to Achieve”. Business Services Six BSP staff completed Windmills Training to enable them to offer to businesses and DRS Staff. Since then, trainings on some Windmills modules have been conducted for MetaFund, Northeast Workforce, Eastern Workforce, Western Workforce and Southern Workforce. Windmills training was also provided to DRS Employment Contract Vendors during the ESS Unit Project Directors meeting. Windmills is training on disability awareness. BSP held their annual unit training with DRS Professional Development on The 4 Cores of Credibility and 13 Behaviors of High Trust. Fatos Floyd completed public relations engagements with the Employment & Training Alliance of Central Oklahoma in preparation for the OKDRS Business Summit 2020. Fatos was also appointed to the advisory committee for Rose State College. OKDRS Virtual Business Summit was held on October 15 and was a success. Evaluation results were sent to DRS administration and the Commission. Consumer trainings held: NewsLine Job Search for SBVI Counselors, SBVI Workshop for Women Assisted Robb Carr (AbleTech) with a presentation on accessibility during OACEP’s virtual conference. BSP Tulsa hosted a Project Search Webinar for Oklahoma businesses. Enid, Tulsa, OKC and Lawton continues work with their Business Advisory Councils. South Central continues to offer Career Connections to its area consumers and counselors. OLBPH The library entrance has a new look! The reception area has been remodeled for safety and accessibility. The counter has been lowered to the appropriate height for wheelchair accessibility and there is now only card access beyond the reception area. The final inspection walk-through was held on December 4. The AIM Center shelving replacement project is in progress. This is a much needed upgrade of the electronics for continued function as the AIM Center 19
has continued to serve students, schools and home schools with technology and non-technology items. Business Enterprise Program The BEP has welcomed another new Licensed Vendor to the program. Currently she is working a vending route and snack bar in Tulsa. BEP Coordinator is in the process of interviewing for the Business Manager. We have begun utilizing a company for vending repair on an emergency basis while a permanent contract is out for bids. There have been some retirements of Licensed Vendors but there are clients interested in beginning training to hopefully fill those routes in the future. We are always learning and because of that making improvements in the new licensee training program/curriculum. Recently a new site has been opened at Grand River Dam Authority. Currently it’s just vending machines but the plan is to expand to a Micromarket. We are considering a pilot project to provide credit card readers on the vending machines at this location to determine the difference in profit and whether we should expand state-wide. The program is growing and moving into the future. Division Administrator Activities Zarrow Mental Health Symposium; Performance Team; NCSAB Exec Board Meetings; NCSAB Conference Planning Meetings; AWARE Live; VR/SBVI PM Meetings; SBVI staff meetings; E-Team Meetings; BEP Meetings; Convergint meetings; Community of Practice for Blind Agencies; White Cane Awareness planning; Virtual Business Summit; Policy Committee; Governors Council; Summit on Performance Management Excellence in VR; CSAVR; supervisory training. Respectfully Submitted: Tracy Brigham, MBS, LPC, SBVI Division Administrator. 20
Field Coordinator Report – Terri Williams Murphy
Service Activity 10/1/2020 to 1/31/2021
Status VR SBVI Total
Total Individuals with an Open Case 8,798 994 9,792
Individuals Determine Eligible 800 94 894
Released from Waiting List 853 84 937
IPE Developed 540 74 614
Closed Employed 281 44 325
Current Case Status as of 2/9/2021
Status VR SBVI Total
Applicants Pending Eligibility Determination 310 29 339
Applicants participating in Trial Work Experiences 33 2 35
to determine Eligibility
Individuals determine Eligible & currently on 1,039 77 1,116
Waiting list
Eligible Participants pending IPE Development 489 33 522
Active Participants with an IPE 5,582 706 6,288
Participants Employed, pending Successful Case 165 13 178
Closure
Total 7,618 860 8,478
Priority Group Assignment – Active Cases as of 2/9/2021
Active Cases VR SBVI Total
Priority Group 1 3,040 538 3,578
Priority Group 2 3,826 253 4,079
Priority Group 3 478 43 521
Total 7,344 834 8,178
Delayed – Waiting List as of 2/9/2021
Waiting List per Priority Group VR SBVI Total
Priority Group 1 20 5 25
Priority Group 2 839 60 899
Priority Group 3 478 12 192
Total 7,344 77 1,116
21Transition vs. Adult Participants as of 2/9/2021
Case Status VR Transition VR Adults VR Total SBVI SBVI SBVI Total Total
Transition Adults
Delayed 317 722 1,039 11 66 77 1,116
Eligible 184 305 489 8 25 33 522
Service 2,795 2,787 5,582 231 475 706 6,288
Employed 49 116 165 1 12 13 178
Total 3,345 3,930 7,275 251 578 829 8,104
Active Cases – Age Group Breakdown
Age 15 to 16 16 to 21 22-24 25-44 45-54 55-59 60+ Total Total %
Cases Division
VR 30 3,613 916 1,648 692 351 391 7,641 90%
SBVI 1 218 85 203 129 82 143 862 10%
Total 31 3,832 1,001 1,851 821 433 534 8,503 100%
22DRS Project Coordinator Report – Stephanie Roe
Eastern/Tulsa Workforce Board Merger
The Eastern Workforce Board was decertified by the State of Oklahoma and a
merger between Workforce Tulsa and the Eastern Workforce Board is
underway. The new organization that has been established is now the Green
Country Workforce Development Board. David White will continue to represent
DRS in Tulsa and Terry Goodson, DRS Eastern board representative has also
been appointed to serve on the Green Country Workforce Development board.
WIOA/AJC Tulsa
The building that houses the Tulsa American Job Center was sold. A
commercial real estate specialist is assisting with identifying potential locations
and have narrowed the options to three buildings. Charlie Watt, DRS ADA
Coordinator will be visiting the potential sites for physical accessibility reviews
in the next few weeks. We have provided input into office requirements for DRS
staff and depending on the accessibility of the new AJC location, this move may
allow an opportunity for DRS staff to co-locate with Tulsa.
Star Rating Accessibility Initiative Progress and Next Steps:
• Policy approved and released from the Governor’s Council- Initial
Assessment Phase I at the local level will be due September 21, 2021.
• OOWD has completed procurement process for the learning
management system that will be used for the course catalog training
content associated with the star rating initiative. The star rating task
force will be building out curriculum in the new program.
• Tentative Roll-out of training content at the Partners conference for front
line staff
COVID-19 Response & Recovery Plan Recommendations
OOWD engaged talent development and change management consulting firm
Maher & Maher to develop a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Plan to
strengthen Oklahoma's public workforce system response to job seekers and
employers now and in the future.
The resulting recommended plan builds upon the stakeholder engagement
input received to provide the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic
Development, and other Oklahoma workforce system partners, with
23recommended strategies for responding to workforce, economic, and related
needs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and positioning the state to
effectively drive talent development in the current environment and
beyond. Maher & Maher notes that while many of the workforce system
challenges and needs identified pre-date the pandemic, they were in most
cases further illuminated and/or exacerbated by COVID-19.
The recommended strategies center on:
1. Workforce System Organizational Structure;
2. Workforce System Infrastructure and Capacity;
3. Data Sharing, Data Infrastructure, and Data Limitations;
4. Joint Communications, Messaging, and Branding; and
5. Customer-Centered Service Design and Delivery.
System Oversight Subcommittee
Building on one recommendation in the infrastructure and capacity section of
the plan. System oversight subcommittee members are focusing on cross
training in the coming months to deploy system wide cross training. OOWD has
received a grant to work with Maher Consultants to develop the Cross Training
modules. The target audience is front line staff who are working directly with
jobseekers and businesses who are offering or delivering services. Other goals
are:
• Understanding partner programs to refer and connect jobseekers to
programs in the workforce system
• Improving base knowledge and understanding of programs
• Will assist with referral process- Hopefully will improve quality referrals to
OKDRS.
The consultants will be collecting information from partner programs to
develop the training modules and DRS administration and staff will have input
in the content for DRS programs.
Cross-Agency Collaborations beyond traditional workforce programs and DRS
participation
Secretary Justin Brown has set a goal to responsibly align the services and
functions of the Human Services and Early Childhood Initiatives Cabinet
24Agencies. Peer group meetings were assembled to provide a consistent
opportunity for focused communication related to topics which impact multiple
Cabinet agencies.
Groups
1. Communications- Jody Harlan
• Align language in messaging, coordinate media campaigns, shared
use of podcast studio for multi-media functions and leveraging
other unique communication resources/knowledge, talent
development
2. Finance- Kevin Statham
• Budget forecasting, review fiscal impacts of proposed legislation,
review budget workbook submissions, purchasing and acquisition
best practices, vendor information sharing, insights on unique
financial reporting data and trends, cross training for staff
3. Human Resources- Tom Patt
• Application of crisis management practices, best practices for new
hire training, professional development, benefits and
compensation practices, hiring practices, interviewing standards,
employee recognition
4. Innovation- Stephanie Roe
• Workforce engagement in a virtual world, alignment of strategic
planning, true north development and metrics, redesigning service
delivery, customer engagement, innovation platform/framework
design, nurturing a culture of innovation in state government
5. Legal- Grant Moak
• Analyzing and communicating implications and interpretation of
Federal and State law on programs/ services, serve as consultant
to the legislative peer group, talent development
6. Legislative- Kevin Nelson
• Review proposed legislation that impacts the work and/or
workforce of the Cabinet, aligning advocacy efforts for agency-
request legislation
“The Force” Workforce Committee - Programs & Resources
This group will work toward the identification, alignment, and efficient
utilization of workforce and education programs and resources, which currently
make up the Oklahoma workforce landscape. Committee is split into focus
groups with my focus on asset mapping that currently already exists at the
State level.
25This committee has representation by WIOA agencies, members of local chambers, Cherokee and Choctaw nation and a local workforce board. Oklahoma Workforce Association Partners Conference Rescheduled Tentatively scheduled as an in-person event on November 2 -5, 2021 (Subject to Change) ORC Workforce Initiatives Report Submitted by OKDRS- Project Coordinator, Stephanie Roe Transition Report – Renee Sansom August 2020 Transition Coordinator (TC) attended many zoom meetings regarding supervisory trainings, Capacity Building Institute (CBI) discussion and preparation, Pre-ETS team meetings with OU Pre-ETS and Judi Goldston, Alliance Conference (AWARE Live panel), Transition Council, Moore School team meetings, State Workforce Youth Programs Committee, SpEd CTE, VR meetings, Career Pathways Community of Practice meetings, IDD seminars, WINTAC Pre-ETS meetings, RTI meetings, Blindness Pre-ETS Community of Practice (CoP) meetings, OSU Tele Edge Echo Meetings, Coalition of Advocates for Behavioral Health, DRS Business Summit Planning Committee, WIOA Youth / DRS Transition Program Participant Discussion with Workforce Youth, Tech Thursday with ABLE Tech, Youth and Family Perspectives, the Transition to Postsecondary Education and Employment, OSB quarterly meeting, EOTC Discussion, policy meeting, Addressing Emotional Health, TSHA / DRS Collaboration meeting, Counselor / Tech Check-in meetings, LGBTQ+ and Disability Part 1: An Introduction to Working with Clients with Intersecting Identities, Discussion of Spanish Sessions for OTI, and Project SERACH team meetings. TC presented to CBI, Pre-ETS, Workforce Youth Committee, Youth Readiness Apprenticeship grant, Project SEARCH Tulsa, Moore Schools, and Community of Practice meetings. TC began an interim study, which got pushed back later with Senator Kirk, Stephanie Roe and Kevin Nielson. TC and Kim Lohr worked on tracking students for Pre-ETS and other services in AWARE for the 911 data report. Kim Lohr continues to keep the list of counselors and schools up to date for every quarter. 26
TC continues to be involved with the Transition Committee through CSAVR and NCSAB. September 2020 Transition Coordinator (TC) attended many zoom meetings regarding supervisory trainings, quarterly Tuesday trainings, Oklahoma Tribal VR Conference, September Webinar Wednesday: Transition Specialists' Roles during Remote/Hybrid Learning, Cultivate discussion, Community of practice for Supporting Families - Innovation Roundtable Call, OSU Tele Edge Echo Meetings, Project SEARCH Muskogee Discussion, Meeting with ESS about OSB / WAT, Transition Council, Ready to Work Information Meeting, OKAPSE Virtual, RTI meetings, ORC Strategic Planning meeting, Discussion with Rod regarding Alliance Conference (AWARE live), Coalition of Advocates for Behavioral Health, Connecting Project SEARCH with Workforce Tulsa – discussion, Discussion about Youth Leadership Council Oklahoma, Statewide Employment and Education Call (SELN), , DRS Business Summit Planning Committee, policy meeting, Central Tech Discussion regarding gap in services / SE and ESS, Ensuring Equitable Access to VR Services: Innovative Strategies for Engaging Underserved Youth, Campfire Chat - Youth Advisory Council, Enhancing Capacity to Serve Youth: Insights from the VR Youth Technical Assistance Center, LGBTQ+ and Disability Part 2: Considerations for Working with Clients with Intersecting Identities, Central Oklahoma Association for Teachers Coalition (COATC) to provide more information regarding pre-ETS, and Project SEARCH team meetings. TC presented to Insight / Oklahoma Charter Virtual Academy, Pre-ETS Presentation: High Support Needs, and Oklahoma Transition Institute (OTI) in Spanish 3 days. TC and Kim Lohr worked on tracking students for Pre-ETS and other services in AWARE for the 911 data report. Kim Lohr continues to keep the list of counselors and schools up to date for every quarter. TC continues to be involved with the Transition Committee through CSAVR and NCSAB. October 2020 Transition Coordinator (TC) attended many zoom meetings regarding supervisory trainings, OK CoP for Supporting Families Re-Group and Re- Launch, CoP for Supporting Families - Innovation Roundtable Call, State 27
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