Department of Human Rights
Division of Persons with Disabilities
Annual Performance Plan Report
September 2007
Introduction…………………………………………Page 3
Agency Overview…………………………………..Pages 4 - 7
Resource Allocations……………………………..Page 8
Key Results…………………………………………Pages 9 - 16
Agency Performance Plan Results……………..Pages 17 - 18
Commission of Persons with Disabilities……..Page 19
Local Committees…………………………………Page 20
Because We Acted……………………………….Page 21
Photos………………………………………………Page 22
Agency Contact Information… ………………..Page 23
I am pleased to
present the Division of Persons with Disabilities, Iowa Department of Human
Rights, Performance Report for fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007).
This report is published in accordance with the Accountable Government Act to
improve decision-making and increase accountability to stakeholders and
citizens.
This report
contains performance information regarding our primary programs including, the
Youth Leadership Forum, the College Leadership Forum, the State Access Grant
and the Client Assistance Program.
Major
accomplishment this year included the following: continuation of our core
programs, collaborating with the Iowa Department of Public Health to conduct
on-site access reviews in substance abuse/mental health treatment facilities
across Iowa, serving as a key player in establishing new areas of refuge,
signage and other issues related to preparedness and emergency evacuation for
persons with disabilities in the State Capitol, co-planning/facilitating the
Homeland Security Conference to include persons with disabilities and other
marginalized groups, and last but not least, continuing to hear from our constituents
that we are the only service provider who has called them back with the
information they have needed and has also “really cared”.
Vision:
All
Iowans with disabilities are able to access employment matching their
abilities, interests and economic needs.
Mission:
The Division and or
Commission of Persons with Disabilities will promote the employment of Iowans
with Disabilities and reduce barriers to employment by providing information,
referral, assessment and guidance, training, and negotiation services to
employers and citizens with disabilities.
Core
Functions:
§
Advocacy
§
Community Coordination and
Development
Key
Services, Products and/or Activities:
Employment
- Training, Information and Referral for Persons with Disabilities
Our
main charge, mandated by the Iowa Code, is to promote the employment of persons
with disabilities. We offer individualized consultation as well as training
regarding employment issues for employers and persons with disabilities.
Increasingly important is providing accurate referrals for persons with
disabilities for resources outside of the scope of employment. Some of these
referrals include transportation, housing, education, recreation and
healthcare.
Youth Leadership
Forum
In partnership with the Iowa Department for the Blind and Iowa
Vocational Rehabilitation Services, we sponsor a leadership training program
for students with disabilities.
Approximately 30 juniors and seniors with disabilities are selected each
year, diverse in their type of disability, gender, ethnicity and geographical
location. This forum prepares high school students with disabilities for
post-secondary education and employment.
College
Leadership Forum
In partnership with the Iowa Department for the
Blind and the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, sponsor a leadership
training program for college students with disabilities. This forum prepares college students with
disabilities for employment.
Client
Assistance Program
This federal
program is mandated by the Rehabilitation Act and must operate independently of
other agencies providing rehabilitation and independent living service.
Services include information and referral, advice, interpretation of laws,
regulations and policies, administrative review of decisions, assistance at
fair hearings or legal procedures, and negotiation between clients and service
providers such as the following:
- Iowa Department for the Blind
- Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- Independent Living Centers
- Community Rehabilitation Facilities
where the above agencies purchase services
- Other vendors that sell services to the
agencies listed above
Iowa Access Grant
In
partnership with Deaf Services Commission and the Iowa Department for the
Blind, this program serves to increase access to goods and services in State
government for persons with disabilities.
Iowa
Department of Public Health Collaboration/Access Surveys
We enhanced
our online building access survey making it easier for agencies to submit them
for our review. During this past fiscal year, we reviewed 26 state leased
spaces, and conducted one on-site review.
Homeland Security/Emergency Preparedness
The
Administrator continued to serve as the Department of Human Rights Point of
Contact for Homeland Security. This year we worked collaboratively with
members of Homeland Security/Emergency Management, the Department of Human
Services, and the American Red Cross to develop the Special Needs Annex in the
State of Iowa Emergency Response Plan.
Evacuation Chair Training
Division staff continued to provide training regarding the use of the
Emergency Evacuation Chairs for persons with disabilities throughout the State Capitol
Complex. Participants included
legislators, security guards, and complex staff.
Agency
Customers and Stakeholders:
We not
only have customers or stakeholders that reside in Iowa, but those who request our assistance
from other states as well. Categorically, our primary customers or stakeholders
are as follows:
§
Persons with Disabilities
§
Friends and Family Members of Persons
with Disabilities
§
Small and Large Employers
§
State agencies including other
divisions within Human Rights
§
City, County and Local
Governments
§
The Governor,
Lt. Governor and Iowa Legislators
§
Architects and Contractors
§
Concerned Citizens
Collaborations:
§
Animal Rescue
League of Iowa
§
Polk County Conservation
§
Drake University
§
Wells Fargo
§
Iowa Diversity Conference
§
Des Moines Area Community College Human Services Advisory Committee
§
Parent
Educator Connection
§
Social
Security Administration
§
ASK Resource Center
§
Food Bank of Iowa
§
Toys for Tots
§
State Rehabilitation
Council
§
Self Advocacy
and Leadership for Youth
§
My Transitions
Iowa
§
Medicaid for
Employed People with Disabilities
§
Iowa Rehabilitation Association
§
Iowa
Department of Cultural Affairs
§
Iowa Workforce Development
§
Iowa
Department of Public Health
§
Iowa Secretary
of State
§
Iowa Finance Authority
§
Iowa
Department of Transportation
§
Iowa
Department of Human Services
§
Iowa
Department of Civil Rights
§
Iowa
Department of Corrections
§
Iowa
Department of Inspections and Appeals
§
Iowa Communications Network
§
Iowa
Department of Economic Development
§
Homeland
Security/Emergency Management
§
Iowa Department
of Administrative Services - General Services
§
Iowa
Department for the Blind
§
Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services
§
The Governance
Group, the Support Team and the Employers Disability Resource Network (EDRN)
Delivery
Mechanism to Provide Services and Products to Customers:
We
deliver our services and products via our website, electronic mail, traditional
mail, telephone, fax, or in person. We provide individualized consultation,
training and referral services pertaining to many disability issues.
Organizational
Structure including Commission:
The
Division of Persons with Disabilities is one of eight divisions within the Department
of Human Rights. The Administrator reports to the Governor and the Commission
provides policy direction. The governor also appoints
24 Commissioners who serve a two-year term and are required by statute to meet
quarterly. Commissioners may be reappointed to serve additional terms. The
Administrator supervises the staff. The Department Director coordinates and
supervises the Human Rights Administrative Council, comprised of the Division
Administrators.
Number
of Staff:
Our
staff consists of a full time Division Administrator and three disability consultants. The Administrator is
appointed by the Governor, is confirmed by the Senate and serves at will.
Location:
The
Division of Persons with Disabilities, in the Iowa Department of Human Rights, is
located on the Second Floor of the Lucas
State Office
Building in Des Moines, Iowa.
Budget:
Our budget for fiscal year
2006-2007 consisted of $212,714 state appropriated dollars as well as an
additional $ 89,253 of federal match revenues. The Client Assistance
Program received $114,583 of federal funds requiring no state match; the
division also received
$2,059 and $ 1,338 from the
Department of Public Health and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Services, respectively. These, too, were federal funds requiring no state
match. Total state and federal funds of $419,947 were received by the
Division of Persons with Disabilities.
KEY
RESULTS
CORE FUNCTION
Name: Youth with disabilities are trained to be successful employees.
Description: Percentage of Youth Leadership Forum graduates
with disabilities employed or preparing for employment.
Why we are doing
this: Governor Vilsack has
set a goal of doubling the number of Iowans with post secondary education. The goal is important to Iowa’s economic development with regard to
the availability of trained people for high-skilled, high-wage jobs, and also
to improve the earning power of Iowans with disabilities. Studies show that the more education that a
person has acquired, the higher their earnings.
What we're doing to achieve results: As a result of participation in the
YLF and CLF forums, Iowa youth with disabilities are prepared
for employment.
|
Results
|
Performance
Measure:
Percentage of Youth Leadership Forum graduates with disabilities that are
employed or preparing for employment
Outcome
Target
85%:
|
|
|
|
What was achieved: 85% of
the students graduating from YLF are employed or are preparing for
employment.
|
|
Data Sources: Survey results from Youth
Leadership Forum graduates of 2006
|
|
Resources: .43 FTE -
43% YLF 07 funds
|
|
|
|
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KEY
RESULTS
CORE FUNCTION
Name: Iowans are offered information and referral on employment, quality
healthcare (including access to mental health care and substance abuse
treatment), independent living, education, housing, transportation, service
animals and recreation opportunities.
Description: Percentage of customers satisfied with information
received
Why we are doing
this: Governor Vilsack has set a goal of increasing by
50,000 the number of employed workers with college experience. Iowans with disabilities receive appropriate
training for employment through rehabilitation agencies and other services. Therefore it is important that appropriate
services are identified to assist Iowans with disabilities to become employed.
What we’re doing to achieve results: Resources are identified and provided through training programs,
individualized consultation, and website information to assist employers and
employees to obtain and retain employment and needed support services.
|
Results
|
Performance
Measure:
Percentage of customers satisfied with information received
Outcome
Target
90%
|
|
|
|
What was achieved: 98% of customers are
satisfied with services they receive staff.
|
|
Data Sources: Division of Persons with
Disabilities Database
|
|
Resources: Percentage of state appropriated 07 funds for
two staff and Administrator
along with Client Assistance Program federal 07 funding.
|
|
|
|
|
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KEY
RESULTS
CORE FUNCTION
Name: Iowans with disabilities receive quality vocational rehabilitation
services
Description: Percentage of Client Assistance Program (CAP)
recipients finding resolution without legal action.
Why we are doing
this: Governor Vilsack has set a goal of increasing by 50,000 the number
of employed workers with college experience.
Iowans with disabilities receive appropriate training for employment
through rehabilitation agencies.
Therefore it is important that appropriate services are provided and
identified concerns are negotiated to assist Iowans with disabilities to become
successfully employed.
What we're doing to achieve
results:
All individuals have the rig