Arkansas WIOA State Plan

Transition services, including pre-employment transition services, for students and youth with disabilities

“ARS will continue to pursue opportunities currently under development with CRPs around the state to provide pre-employment transition services and other transition services for students living with a disability. ARS will collaborate with employers by fostering integrated systems, coordinating services, and providing career pathways for adults and youth/students with disabilities. ARS will collaborate with secondary education institutions to coordinate partnerships with employers to provide summer and non-seasonal employment, apprenticeship programs, and internships for students with significant disabilities.
ARS will collaborate with secondary education institutions to coordinate partnerships with employers to provide summer and non-seasonal employment, apprenticeship programs, and internships for students with significant disabilities. ACTI works directly with potential employers to provide internship sites for students nearing the completion of their training programs; all of whom have significant disabilities.”
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Links:

Arkansas WIOA State Plans and Reports
Arkansas WIOA

Arkansas Managed Care – PASSE

PASSE: Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity
What is managed care?

An integrated care system or setting in which individuals receive health care from more than one care provider. It is an arrangement of covered providers that includes integrated care delivery and payment options.
What is a PASSE?

PASSE is a Medicaid program designed to connect Arkansans with behavioral health needs and developmental disabilities to services from their doctors and services in the community.
Under Arkansas’ model of managed care, provider-led and owned organizations are responsible for integrating physical health care services, behavioral health services, and specialized home and community based services (HCBS).
What are the responsibilities of a PASSE?

The PASSE is a risk bearing entity that is responsible for the administration of payment to providers. The PASSE is responsible for building a network of providers to ensure access to care. A PASSE must ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations governing risk-based organizations and Medicaid managed care.”

Links:

Arkansas Managed Care - PASSE

Arkansas: AR ABLE

“ABLE Accounts, which are tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities and their families, were created as a result of the passage of the Stephen Beck Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014, better known as the ABLE Act. The beneficiary of the account is the account owner, and income earned by the accounts will not be taxed. Contributions to the account made by any person (the account beneficiary, family and friends) will be made using post-tax dollars and will not be tax-deductible on the federal level.

However, Arkansas law allows for state income tax deductions of up to $5,000 per individual for contributions made to an Arkansas ABLE account.”

Links:

Arkansas: AR ABLE

Arkansas Special Education Process Guide (2023)

“The Notice of Conference is used by the LEA to take steps to ensure that parent(s) are afforded the opportunity to participate in the special education process. It is the district’s responsibility to provide parents with appropriate notice of a meeting, and use other methods to ensure parent participation in IEP meetings and other special education conferences. Communication with the parent should be in the parent’s preferred language or mode of communication.”

Links:

Arkansas Special Education Process Guide (2023, PDF)

Arkansas SSA Ticket to Work Program

“Ticket to Work is a Social Security Administration (SSA) program designed to encourage individuals receiving SSI/SSDI to find ways to return to work. Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS) Ticket to Work information is facilitated through ARS local field offices. A vocational rehabilitation counselor may assign the ticket to the agency if the individual wants ARS services. The vocational rehabilitation counselor will provide support and guidance with the client’s desire to explore return-to-work strategies and may also refer individuals to other agencies for specialized assistance. For more information, contact the ARS field office nearest you.”

Links:

Arkansas Ticket to Work

Arkansas Employment First

“Arkansas Employment First embraces the philosophy that all working age adults and transition-age youth with significant disabilities can and should have opportunities to work in their communities in a competitive integrated setting where they can enjoy greater earnings, better benefits, improved health, and an enhanced quality of life.

The Arkansas Employment First Leadership State Mentoring Program (EFSLMP) Team was formed to begin long-range planning to support a culture change where people with disabilities are recognized for the contributions and capabilities they have to offer. It includes the Department of Human Services’ Divisions of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS), Behavioral Health Services (DBHS), Services for the Blind (DBS), Medical Services (DMS), and Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS), the lead agency for the EFSLMP Team. Our partnering agencies include the Department of Workforce Services (DWS), Department of Education Arkansas Transition Unit (DOE), University of Arkansas Promise Grant, and Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS).”

Links:

Arkansas Employment First

Arkansas Money Follows the Person

“What is the Money Follows the Person program?

Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a federal program that helps Medicaid-eligible people ─ the elderly, adults with physical and developmental disabilities, and adults with mental illnesses ─ currently living in long-term care facilities; such as nursing homes, and other qualified institutions, transition back into to the community and receive home and community-based services.

Am I eligible?

To participate in the program, you must be eligible for Medicaid for at least one day and living in a long-term care setting for at least 90 consective days.

How does the money follow me?

We will assign an Intense Transition Manager (ITM) to work with you to decide where you will live and develop a plan to transition to the setting of your choice. If you do not have an existing home, or family arrangements are unavailable, the ITM will have a list of available housing options from which you may choose.

What does MFP pay for?

MFP pays for your care in the community as well as various expenses that come when a person moves into a more independent situation. Based on your circumstances and needs, you may be eligible to receive help with home modifications, rental deposit, and utility deposits along with one-time setup costs for a new apartment.”

Links:

Arkansas Money Follows the Person

Arkansas HCBS Transition Plan

“The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule for home and community-based services that requires states to review and evaluate current Home and Community -Based Services (HCBS) settings, including residential and nonresidential settings. States are required to analyze all HCBS settings where HCBS participants receive services, determine if the current settings comply with the final rule, and demonstrate how compliance will be achieved for those settings that do not meet the HCBS settings requirements. Settings that are HCBS compliant must be integrated in and support full access of individuals receiving Medicaid

HCBS to the greater community, including opportunities to seek employment and work in competitive integrated settings, engage in community life, control personal resources and receive services in the community to the same degree of access as individuals not receiving Medicaid HCBS.”

Links:

Arkansas HCBS Transition Plan (PDF)

Arkansas Promise (2016)

Arkansas PROMISE is part of a new program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to help youth who are receiving disability benefits and their families improve their educational and employment outcomes. This project is being implemented in 11 states. In Arkansas, the program is being administered by the Department of Education and the University of Arkansas, in partnership with several other state agencies and private organizations. (program concluded)

Links:

Arkansas: PROMISE Helps Teens with Disabilities See Potential for College, Careers

Arkansas Community and Employment Support Waiver (0188.R06.00)

Provides case management, respite, supported employment, supportive living, specialized medical supplies, adaptive equipment, community transition, consultation, crisis intervention, environmental mods, supplemental support for individuals with autism, IIDR, DD ages 0 – no max age

Links:

Arkansas Community and Employment Support Waiver (0188.R06.00)

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