HAR §17-401.1-3. Information and referral services

(a) The division shall implement an information and referral system, adequate to ensure that individuals with disabilities, including eligible individuals who do not meet the division’s order of selection criteria for receiving VR services when the division is operating under an order of selection, are: (1) Provided accurate VR information and guidance (which may include counseling and referral for job placement) using appropriate modes of communication to assist them in preparing for, securing, retaining, or regaining employment. (2) Referred to other appropriate Federal and State programs, including programs carried out by other components of the statewide workforce investment system, best suited to address the specific employment needs of the individual. (b) The division must refer to local extended employment providers an individual with a disability who makes an informed choice to pursue extended employment as the individual’s employment outcome. Before making the referral the division must: (1) Consistent with section 17-401.1-7(b)(4)(A), explain to the individual that the purpose of the VR program is to assist individuals to achieve an employment outcome as defined in section 17-401.1-2 (i.e., employment in an integrated setting); (2) Consistent with section 17-401.1-12, provide the individual with information concerning 17 §17-401.1-3 the availability of employment options, and of VR services, in integrated settings; (3) Inform the individual that services under the VR program can be provided to eligible individuals in an extended employment setting if necessary for purposes of training or otherwise preparing for employment in an integrated setting; (4) Inform the individual that, if the individual initially chooses not to pursue employment in an integrated setting, the individual can seek services from the division at a later date if, at that time, the individual chooses to pursue employment in an integrated setting; and (5) Refer the individual, as appropriate, to the Social Security Administration in order to obtain information concerning the ability of individuals with disabilities to work while receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration. (c) In making the referrals identified in paragraph (a)(2), the division must: (1) Provide the individual who is being referred: (A) A notice of the referral by the division to the agency carrying out the program; (B) Information identifying a specific point of contact within the agency to which the individual is being referred; and (C) Information and advice regarding the most suitable services to assist the individual to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment. (2) Document the nature and scope of services provided by the division to the individual and on the referral itself in the division’s record of services for the individual. 18 §17-401.1-4 (d) In providing the information and referral services under this section to eligible individuals who are not in the priority category or categories to receive VR services under the State’s order of selection, the division must identify, as part of its reporting under section 101(a)(10) of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended and 34 C.F.R. section 361.40, the number of eligible individuals who did not meet the division’s order of selection criteria for receiving VR services and did receive information and referral services under this section. (e) In the event an individual is referred to another program through the division’s information and referral system under this section, including other components of the statewide workforce investment system, documentation of the nature and scope of services provided by the division to the individual and of the referral itself, consistent with the requirements of this section, shall be included in the division’s record of services for the individual. [Eff AUG 13 2007 ] (Auth: HRS §§347-4, 348-3, 348-6; 29 U.S.C. §§709, 721; 34 C.F.R. §§361.37, 361.47) (Imp: HRS §§347-4, 348-3, 348-6; 29 U.S.C. §§709, 721; 34 C.F.R. §§361.37, 361.47)