Prevocational Services

Prevocational Services A. Prevocational Services provide meaningful day activities of learning and work experiences, including volunteer work, where the person can develop general, non-job task specific strengths and skills that contribute to paid employment in integrated community settings. B. Prevocational Services are expected to be provided over a defined time period with specific outcomes to be achieved as determined by the person and team. There must be a written plan that includes job exploration, work assessment, and work training. The plan must also include a statement of needed services and the duration of work activities. C. People receiving Prevocational Services must have employment-related outcomes in their Plan of Services and Supports; the general habilitation activities must be designed to support such employment outcomes. D. Prevocational Services must enable each person to attain the highest level of work in an integrated setting with the job matched to the person’s interests, strengths, priorities, abilities, and capabilities, while following applicable federal wage guidelines. E. Services are intended to develop and teach general skills that are associated with building skills necessary to perform work in competitive, integrated employment. Teaching job specific skills is not the intent of Prevocational Services. Examples include, but are not limited to: 1. Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and customers; 2. Generally accepted community workplace conduct and dress; 3. Ability to follow directions; 4. Ability to attend to tasks; 5. Workplace problem solving skills and strategies; 6. General workplace safety and mobility training; 7. Attention span; 8. Motor skills; and 9. Interpersonal relations. F. The service location must be in operation at least five (5) days per week, six (6) hours per day. The number of hours of service is based on the person’s approved Plan of Services and Supports. G. Participation in Prevocational Services is not a prerequisite for Supported Employment. A person receiving Prevocational Services may pursue employment opportunities at any time to enter the general work force. H. Prevocational Services may be furnished in a variety of locations in the community and are not limited to fixed service locations. I. Community job exploration activities must be offered at least one (1) time per week and based on choices/requests of the people served and may be provided individually or in groups of up to four (4) people. Documentation of the choice to participate must be documented in each person’s record. J. Transportation must be provided to and from the service location and for community integration/job exploration. K. Any person receiving Prevocational Services who is performing productive work as a trial work experience that benefits the organization or that would have to be performed by someone else if not performed by the person must be paid commensurate with members of the general work force doing similar work per wage and hour regulations of the United States Department of Labor. L. At least annually, agency providers will conduct an orientation informing people about Supported Employment and other competitive employment opportunities in the community. This documentation must be maintained on-site. Representative(s) from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services must be invited to participate in the orientation. M. The agency provider must provide lunch and/or snacks for people who do not bring their own. N. People receiving Prevocational Services may also receive Day Services-Adult, Job Discovery, and/or Supported Employment, but not at the same time of day. O. Prevocational Services activities must be separate from other service activities. Additionally, community participation activities cannot be comprised of people receiving Prevocational Services and people receiving another service. P. People must be at least 18 years of age and have documentation in their Plan of Services and Supports to indicate they have received either a diploma, GED equivalent, certificate of completion, or are no longer receiving educational services if they are under the age of 22. Q. People who have completed educational services and are under the age of 22 must be referred to the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services and exhaust those Supported Employment benefits before being able to enroll in Prevocational Services. People under the age of 24 must be referred to the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services before they enroll in Prevocational Services in a 14C work setting. R. The amount of employee supervision someone receives is based on tiered levels of support determined by a person’s score on the Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP) and risk reflected in the Plan of Services and Supports and the Activity Support Plan. The DMH-approved staffing spreadsheet should be used.