[nfbmi-talk] 4th quarter cap report

[joe harcz Comcast]

Michigan Protection &Advocacy Service, Inc.

Employment Team Report 

 

Fourth Quarter

(July 1, 2014 – September 30, 2014)

 

 

The Employment Team at Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service, Inc. (MPAS) provides information, referral and advocacy services to applicants, clients and others eligible for vocational rehabilitation programs funded under the Rehabilitation Act.  We also provide training on our services and information to clients on their rights under the Rehabilitation Act and Title I of the ADA.  Our funding streams to provide these services include the following grants:  Client Assistance Program (CAP), Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT), and Protection & Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI).

 

Employment Team Staff:  Brian Sabourin, Director of Employment Services, Elham Jahshan, Advocate; Charlie Rose, Advocate; and Leslie Mundt, Program Assistant. 

 

Case Statistics:

       

      Information & Referral Only

       
      

      Closed Service Requests = 40
     

 

 

       

      Case Level Services

       
      

      Closed Service Requests = 17
     
      Related to Michigan Rehabilitation Service (MRS)                              13                          

        
     
      Related to Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)                       4           

       
     
      Related to Centers for Independent Living (CIL)                                  0                                   

       
     

 

Problems Identified (MRS/BSBP/CIL):

      Communication problems between counselor and individual
     8
     
      Related to IPE development and/or implementation.
     4
     
      Conflicts about services to be provided.
     4
     
      Related to application and/or eligibility process
     1
     
      Other issues related to Rehab. Act
     0
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michigan Protection &Advocacy Service, Inc.

Employment Team Report 

Fourth Quarter FY 2013/14 

Page 2

 

 

Primary Disability Reported by Individual (MRS/BSBP/CIL):

      Hard of Hearing
      
     Neurological Disorders/Impairments
     3
     
      Deafness
      
     Ortho/Physical Impairments
     4
     
      Heart/Circulatory
     1
     Specific Learning Disabilities
     1
     
      Mental Illness
     3
     Substance Abuse
      
     
      Mental Retardation
      
     Brain Injury
      
     
      Blindness 
     4
     Auto Immune/HIV
      
     
      Visual Impairment
      
     Emotional Impairments
      
     
      Autism
      
     Respiratory
      
     
      Speech Impairment
      
     Genitourinary
     1
     

 

 

Below is a breakdown, by office, of the case level calls we received during this quarter.  Case level services would mean that someone from the Employment Team called MRS/BSBP/CIL to try to resolve a complaint.  The numbers reported are only those that were closed during that quarter.  

 

 

Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS)

      Adrian
      
     Detroit Porter
      
     Mt. Pleasant
      
     
      Alpena
      
     Flint
     1
     Muskegon
      
     
      Ann Arbor
     1
     Gaylord
      
     Oak Park
     1
     
      Battle Creek
      
     Grand Rapids
      
     Pontiac
      
     
      Bay City
      
     Hamtramck
      
     Port Huron
      
     
      Benton Harbor
     1
     Holland
      
     Roseville
      
     
      Big Rapids
      
     Jackson
      
     Saginaw
      
     
      Caro
      
     Kalamazoo
     2
     Taylor
      
     
      Clinton Township
      
     Lansing
      
     Traverse City
     1
     
      Detroit Fort
     2
     Livonia
     1
     Wayne
      
     
      Detroit Grand River
     1
     Marquette
     1
     MCTI
      
     
      Detroit Mack
      
     Midland
      
     Port Huron
      
     
      Detroit Milwaukee
     1
     Monroe
      
      
      
     

 

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP):  4

(1-Flint,  1-Detroit,  1-Gaylord,  1-Muskegon)

 

Centers for Independent Living (CILs):             0

 

 

 

Michigan Protection &Advocacy Service, Inc.

Employment Team Report 

Fourth Quarter FY 2013/14

Page 3

 

Activites:

 

Michigan Rehabilitation Service

 

CAP has provided MRS with an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for review.  The purpose of this agreement is to document the cooperation between the participating parties.  The MOU also clarifies the roles and responsibilities of each while working together to assist individuals in fairly obtaining appropriate vocational rehabilitation services from Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS).  This MOU would supersede the current MOU signed on October 15, 2004. 

 

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons 

 

Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services (MPAS) and the Client Assistance Program (CAP) are working with BSBP to resolve concerns regarding the MPAS release of information.  BSBP is requiring that along with being signed by the client, all releases of information must be witnessed to prove that the client did request advocacy services.  BSBP is also limiting access for advocates to speak directly with BSBP staff including counselors.   It has always been CAP's intention to resolve problems at the lowest possible level.  In order to do so, CAP must have full access to case information, including being able to speak with BSBP staff, to determine how best to serve resolve issues in the best interest of individuals served by both BSBP and the CAP program.