Alaska Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined Plan 2018 Update
Alaska’s “Employment First” legislation calls for “competitive integrated employment” as the preferred outcome for those with disabilities. DOLWD has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Health and Social Services; and is obtaining MOU signature with Education and Early Development to ensure progress towards that goal. The MOU includes commitments for active participation on the Interagency Council on Employment First, under the auspices of the Employment First State Coordinator.
Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency
~~DEED’s Special Education Unit and DVR have an interagency agreement that is designed to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities from receipt of educational services in school to the receipt of vocational rehabilitation services.
The agreement includes:
• DVR’s assurance of the development and implementation of an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) for each student determined to be eligible for vocational rehabilitation services before the student leaves school;
• Designation of a regional DVR contact who is responsible for clarifying questions and concerns relating to the implementation of the agreements with local school districts; and
• DVR’s assurance that the core tenets, principles, and career goals stated in each student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) will be incorporated into the development of their Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). EED’s Special Education Unit also provides funding for members of the State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee to travel to events related to transition students such as the annual Statewide Special Education Conference.
~~Community First Choice Personal Care Service (CFC-PCS) – the number of hours of personal care service per week are determined by an assessment conducted by the Division of Senior and Disabilities Services. Supervision and reminders – Additional CFC-PCS time may be available to recipients shown to have cognitive impairment or behavior issues. Personal Emergency Response system (PERS) – Recipients may be eligible to receive a personal emergency response system or medical alert system that calls for help at the push of a button in the event of an emergency. Skills training – Recipients may be eligible to receive skills training from a personal care assistant (PCA), so that the recipient can learn to do activities more independently. Worker supervision – Recipients can receive training to help manage their PCAs.
Alaska DOH Announcing Community First Choice Program (CFC)
~~This is a “new program that is part of the Medicaid reform initiative also known as 1915(k).Provides Personal Care Services and other supports in the recipient’s home as an alternative to institutional care.
All recipients who currently meet an institutional level of care and receive both Home and Community Based Waiver Services and Personal Care Services have predetermined eligibility; these recipients have received a letter of notification* (see link to letter below).
What Services are Available from the CFC Program?….Skills training – Recipients may be eligible to receive skills training from a personal care assistant (PCA), so that the recipient can learn to do activities more independently.
Worker supervision – Recipients can receive training to help manage their PCAs.
Alaska SB 174: Programs For Persons with Disabilities (2017-2018)
“Alaska Senate Bill 174 reinforced person-centered support services planning and reaffirmed that the policy of the state encourages and enables persons with physical and mental disabilities to participate fully in the social and economic life of the state”
Alaska Division of Senior and Disabilities Services
“Who we are
The Division of Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS) is the state agency within the Department of Health (DOH) involved in making sure that the state meets the health needs of seniors, people with disabilities, and vulnerable adults.
Our mission is to promote health, well-being and safety for those under its care by helping provide access to quality services and supports that foster independence, personal choice, and dignity.”
Alaska Work Incentive Planning and Assistance (WIPA)
“The Alaska WIPA Project provides assistance to beneficiaries who are working at wage employment, self-employment, or who have a job offer pending. Assistance is offered to help understand the various work incentive programs that might be available, and provide advice about how to manage one’s benefits during the transition to paid employment. We provide both initial and follow along assistance to beneficiaries. Benefits Counseling and a written Benefits Summary Analysis (BSA) is provided free of charge.”
“We have paid summer work programs in a variety of communities. Most are 4-6 weeks long and provide students with valuable work experience. Program content varies depending on the community. See list of programs below for details.
Who Can Apply
A student with a disability is: an individual age 14-21 and enrolled in secondary education (high school) who:
• Is on an IEP or 504 plan, or
• Is a student who is potentially eligible for DVR services because of a physical, sensory, intellectual, mental health, and communication disabilities and whose disability could be a barrier to postsecondary education or employment.”
“Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waivers provide states with flexibility to test new approaches within Medicaid to aid in redesigning and improving their health systems without increasing costs.
Alaska’s 1115 Waiver
In January 2018, Alaska applied to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval of an 1115 behavioral health waiver that would create a data-driven, integrated behavioral health system of care for Alaskans experiencing serious mental illness, severe emotional disturbance, substance use disorder (SUD), co-occurring substance use and mental illness, and at-risk families and children.”
