Rehabilitation Services-Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States (84.126)

Program

84.126 Rehabilitation Services-Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Special Education And Rehabilitative Services

Authorization

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Executive Order Parts A and B, Sections 100-111, Title I.

Program Number

84.126

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To assist States in operating comprehensive, coordinated, effective, efficient and accountable programs of vocational rehabilitation; to assess, plan, develop, and provide vocational rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities, consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities so they may prepare for and engage in competitive employment.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Federal and State funds are used to cover the costs of providing vocational rehabilitation services which include: assessment, counseling, vocational and other training, job placement, reader services for the blind, interpreter services for the deaf, medical and related services and prosthetic and orthotic devices, rehabilitation technology, transportation to secure vocational rehabilitation services, maintenance during rehabilitation, and other goods and services necessary for an individual with a disability to achieve an employment outcome. Services are provided to families of disabled individuals when such services will contribute substantially to the rehabilitation of such individuals who are being provided vocational rehabilitation services. Funds can also be used to provide Vocational Rehabilitation services for the benefit of groups of individuals with disabilities including the construction and establishment of community programs.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State agencies in all States (including territories/possessions) designated as the sole State agency to administer the vocational rehabilitation program may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services is based on the presence of a physical and/or mental impairment, which for such an individual constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment, and the need for vocational rehabilitation services that may be expected to benefit the individual in terms of an employment outcome.

Credentials/Documentation

The State agency must certify the availability of State funds for matching purposes. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. State Vocational Rehabilitation agencies are required to submit a State Plan describing the manner in which they will administer the VR and Supported Employment programs in their States. The State is not required to submit any policies, procedures or descriptions related to its State Plan that have been previously approved and demonstrate that the State currently meets the requirements of the Act. However, State agencies are required to annually update and submit State Plan attachments related to: (1)the comprehensive system of personnel development; State assessments, estimates, goals and priorities, and reports of progress; (2)innovation and expansion activities, and (3)a description of the State's plans with respect to the distribution of State Supported Employment Title VI, Part B funds.

Award Procedure

Grant awards are made to State VR agencies with an approved State plan. States are notified of their annual allotment under the funding formula. Grant funds are withdrawn under the Electronic Transfer System.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The State plan must be approved before the State agency can receive its allotment of funds. If a State plan is disapproved, and after reasonable effort has been made to resolve a dispute, the State agency may request a hearing. If dissatified with the hearing officer's initial decision, the State agency may seek the Secretary's review of the decision.

Appeals

A State may appeal the Secretary's decision to disapprove the State plan by filing a petition for review with the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the State is located.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title I, Section 110. Federal funds are distributed based on population weighted by per capita income. The statistical factors for fund allocation are: per capita income 3-year average by State, Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates and; U.S. total and State population Annual Population Estimates, Bureau of the Census. The program's matching requirment is 78.7 percent Federal and 21.3 percent Non-Federal (State) funds. This program has a maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement. The MOE level is based on the amount of State expenditures for the Federal fiscal year two years earlier.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds become available for obligations for the fiscal year for which they are appropriated and may remain available for an additional year if the matching requirement is met in the year of the appropriation. Grant awards are issued biannually (1st and 4th quarter). See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic Transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program report: Annual and quarterly reports. No cash reports are required. Progress report: Annual and quarterly reports. Expenditure reports: quarterly financial reports (Federal Financial Report (SF-425). Performance monitoring: The Rehabilitation Act requires the conduct of annual reviews and periodic on-site monitoring of whether a State VR agency is complying substantially with the provisions of its State plan and with the program's performance indicators established under section 106 of the Act.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Conducted by ED Office of Inspector General and by site visits of regional staff. Both are periodic but no set schedule. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program- specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Conducted by ED Office of Inspector General and by site visits of regional staff. Both are periodic but no set schedule.

Records

Case service records for individual consumers. Financial and programmatic records must be kept for a prescribed period of three years (34 CFR 80.42).

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: As a group, persons who achieve employment as a result of vocational rehabilitation services each year show notable gains in their ability to function in economic terms, regardless of their employment status when they apply for services. In fiscal year 2008, approximately 985,475 persons received services. Approximately 58 percent of those individuals who exited the program after receiving services achieved an employment outcome. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0301-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $2,839,151,000; FY 09 est $2,938,522,000; FY 10 est $3,047,247,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In FY 2009 regular annual allotments to States, including D.C. and Puerto Rico ranged from $9.8 million to $285 million, with a median award of $42 million. Grants to outlying areas ranged from $1 million to $3 million.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Vocational Rehabilitation Regulations (34 CFR 361). Vocational Rehabilitation Manual. Rehabilitation Services Policy Directives and Technical Assistance Circulars.

Related Programs

64.007 Blind Rehabilitation Centers; 64.013 Veterans Prosthetic Appliances; 64.116 Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Veterans; 84.160 Training Interpreters for Individuals who are Deaf and Individuals who are Deaf-Blind; 84.161 Rehabilitation Services_Client Assistance Program; 84.169 Independent Living_State Grants; 84.187 Supported Employment Services for Individuals with Significant Disabilities; 84.234 Projects with Industry; 84.235 Rehabilitation Services Demonstration and Training Programs; 84.250 Rehabilitation Services_American Indians with Disabilities

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Carol Dobak Department of Education, OSERS Rehabilitation Services Administration 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington , District of Columbia 20202 Email: Carol.Dobak@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-7325

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/programs/rsabvrs/index.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.