Independent Living Services for VR Consumers -- Shreveport, LA

Overview

This collaboration involves mutual referrals and a fee-for-service arrangement between the regional office of Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) and the New Horizons Independent Living Center. ILC staff members refer consumers with employment goals to LRS, and LRS refers its consumers with independent living goals to the ILC. A small grant from LRS supports New Horizon's work in providing independent living services to a limited number of LRS consumers with severe disabilities, and service fees help cover the ILC's administrative and service costs of operating its personal assistance services program.. New Horizons supplements these LRS-funded services with peer counseling, self-advocacy training, and direct advocacy when needed.

An estimated 75% of ILC consumers have severe disabilities and most reside in rural areas or do not receive services from any other agencies, and most do not have work experience.

Between 10-30 consumers per year are served through this mutual referral system, which is based on state statutory provisions. About 75% of the ILC budget of $657,000 is used to serve consumers. An estimated 5% of local LRS consumers and 5% of New Horizon ILC consumers are served through mutual referrals.

This collaborative arrangement has been in operation since 1993.

Program Approach

The collaborative approach involves a system of mutual referrals between the regional office of the state VR agency and the ILC and fee-for-service support for personal assistance services. As in other basic collaborations, this mutual referral system involves:

• Documentation of services and outcomes internally, with external reporting to the VR agency;
• A focus on the consumer's vocational and independent living goals;
• An effort to avoid duplication of services; and
• A willingness on the part of both agencies to work together despite differing program philosophies and organizational goals.

Problem or Need Addressed

The collaborative program addresses the need to provide comprehensive service delivery in which consumers‘ needs are met through more than one entity. Thus the collaboration offers a more resourceful system of service than one agency could offer alone. Most consumers of the program are identified as underserved since they reside in rural populations are do not receive services from any other agency. A majority of consumers are also identified as having severe disabilities.

Program Processes

The written agreement between collaborating agencies provides for service referrals between LRS and Hew Horizons ILC, pursuant to state policies mandating referrals for independent living services for LRS consumers.

Outreach methods include news releases, personal referrals, peer support groups, health and information fairs, and brochures. Approximately 5% of the LRS's consumers and 5% of New Horizon ILC's consumers who are members of the target population are served by the collaboration.

Consumers including those referred by LRS, participate at multiple levels within the ILC. All service plans at the ILC are consumer-centered and no plans are made without consumer input. Voting members of the Board of Directors include consumers.

Several methods of assessing and documenting consumer satisfaction are in place including face-to-face interviews at initial intake, on-going informal assessment, and a yearly telephone survey is conducted from a random population of consumers by an outside agency.

Collaboration history and funding

This collaborative arrangement of mutual referrals has been in operation since 1993, and the fee-for-service program to cover the costs of recruiting and training personal assistants and paying a portion of their wages has been in effect since 1996. The PAS program started in response to the problems working LRS consumers encountered when their personal assistants failed to show up for work, leaving consumers unable to get to their jobs.

For 1999, total ILC funding is estimated at $657, 277, of which approximately 75% covers direct service costs and purchases of goods and services for consumers. Funding sources for the ILC include Title VII Parts B and C, Program Income, Independent Living, and LRS. Estimated annual in-kind support is about $5,000,

Staffing

New Horizons ILC contributes several staff who spend up to 5% of their time in the collaboration. These staff members include an executive director, a director of core services, and a director of extended services, as well as volunteer peer counselors and independent living services trainers.

Outcomes

Outcomes are based on achievement of specific goals of consumers, as defined by consumers, staff and others the consumer may wish to participate. These goals may be in the area of employment as well as home modification, peer support, skills training, and employment. Often, independent living rather than employment is the goal for consumers who are referred by LRS. Statistics concerning outcome assessment are not available.

Quality of Collaboration

The collaboration displays stability built on each agency's commitment to its roles and responsibilities and an understanding of those of its partner. New Horizons ILC reports a high level of trust in LRS's contribution and in particular attributes the success of the collaboration to LRS's willingness to support its work. The VR agency, in turn, is pleased with New Horizon's performance in running its PAS program and its long-standing record of providing other independent living services. LRS reports that the VR agency trusts New Horizons because of the ILC's demonstrated high quality of independent living services, and that both agencies have historically managed to avoid "turf battles."

Communication between agencies takes places at least monthly, in the form of a written report. In addition conferences, telephone conversations or other correspondence are conducted as is necessary.

The level of funding is expected to increase slightly within the next one to three years due to additional grants. The collaboration also hopes to involve a part-time independent living specialist to provide additional rural support groups in the service area.

For more information, contact:

Helen Moses
Executive Director
New Horizons Independent Living Center
6670 St. Vincent Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71106

Voice: (318) 865-1000
Fax: (318) 86501094
nhilc@nhilc.org

Web Site: www.nhilc.org

Don Hoenke
Regional Manager
Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
1525 Fairfield Ave., Room 708
Shreveport, LA 71101-4388

Voice: (318) 676-7155
Fax: (318) 676-7176
Dhoenke@dss.state.la.us

Web Site: www.dss.state.la.us/offlrs/index.htm

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