[nfbmi-talk] Fw: MRS Research Project

[Larry Posont]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jo Ann Pilarski" <pilarskij at charter.net>
To: "Larry Posont" <president.nfb.mi. at gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2011 11:20 AM
Subject: MRS Research Project


MRC MEMBERSHIP RESEARCH REQUEST



Date of Request:    April 20th, 2011

Members:                             Jackie Thomas
& Luke Zelley

Staff Support:         Marlene Malloy

Due Date:                 June 3, 2011 (next
Business Meeting)



Purpose:    The MRC considered taking a position
on the possibility of combining/sharing Michigan
Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and Michigan
Commission for the Blind (MCB). Four options
follow:



1.      MRS and MCB remain separate i.e. no
change.

2.      MRS and MCB remain separate but share
office space.

3.      MRS and MCB remain separate but share
staff and other resources.

4.      MRS and MCB totally combine into one
agency.



Recommendation:  MRC cannot support # 2:and #3 :
sharing office space, as it believes RSA
regulations prohibit doing so and staff and other
resources sharing as doing so is not possible when
space cannot be shared.



Initial research found reports and data with
positives and negatives to combining.   Because it
ultimately requires legislative action, Idaho's
legislators requested a task force look into the
issue before taking action. MRC recommends a task
force  to include representation from MRS and MRC,
be created to look into this issue in-depth before
taking action.



Information Requested:

1.      Current research on the topic of combined
agencies.

2.      Status of other State's VR programs
(separate or combined).

3.      Overview information about the Michigan
Commission for the Blind.



RESPONSE:

1. Current Research:



a.      About MCB:

·         Michigan Public Act 260 of 1978 Creating
MCB

http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313-18135--,00.html



·         Overview of MCB:

http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-28077_28313-14762--,00.html



b.      Idaho:  The Idaho legislators passed a
resolution to convene a "Task Force" regarding
combining VR & Commission for Blind

http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/HCR027.pdf



c.      Connecticut:  Legislative Report with
recommendation & plan to combine

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2003/pridata/Studies/Consolidation_Final_Report.htm



d.      A Review of Research Studies: Separate vs.
Combined Agencies

http://www.familyconnect.org/parentsite.asp?SectionID=85&DocumentID=4488



e.      2010 Mississippi State Study:  An Update
on Services and Outcomes of Blind and Visually
Impaired Consumers Served in Separate and
General/Combined VR Agencies

www.ncsab.org/alert/2010/final_report_replication_study.doc



f.        2005 Ohio State University Study:
Combined agencies had higher means on all
variables studied.

http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi?acc_num=osu1126741654



g.      South Carolina:  A Review Restructuring
and the Business Enterprise Program at Commission
for the Blind

http://lac.sc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E1451232-56D6-4665-AE0F-6D7E81B164C4/0/SCCB_Summary.pdf





2. Status of Other States:  Gained from
Rehabilitation Services (RSA)

VR SERVICE CATEGORIES BY TOTAL NUMBER OF PUBLIC VR
AGENCIES FUNDED BY RSA:

General Services:  24

Blind Services:  24

Combined:  32



3.Current national activity level regarding
combining VR agencies:



Most recently combined states:  Connecticut
Legislature combined the Blind and General
Agencies in May 2011, Pennsylvania Blind and
General were combined in 1999.



State currently considering combining: New Mexico
(saving administrative costs); two months ago
Idaho considered it, but did not make the change.



Within the past few years the following states
considered combining:  Vermont, Oregon, and
Arkansas.