SECTION 612:10-7-62. Post-Employment services

(a)   Use of Post-Employment services. Post-employment services may be provided to assist rehabilitated clients to retain, regain, or advance in employment, consistent with the individual's strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choice. The need for post-employment services will be assessed at initiation of the IPE. Ongoing assessment continues during case services, is documented as needed, and is reassessed just prior to case closure. Post-employment services may also be provided for needs that were not anticipated in the original IPE or prior to case closure. Post employment services can be provided to individuals who receive Supported Employment Services if such services are needed to maintain the supported employment placement and those services are not available from an extended services provider. Post employment services are not to be used in instances of underemployment when extensive retraining is needed. Cases reopened on a post-employment basis do not require re-establishment of eligibility. New diagnosis is needed only if there has been a change in the client's physical or mental condition. Any vocational rehabilitation service or combination of services necessary to assist the individual retain, regain, or advance in employment may be provided if the service(s) does not involve a complex or comprehensive effort. If comprehensive services are indicated, a new application is taken. Federal regulations forbid the setting of arbitrary time limits on the provision of post-employment services. If the client has been employed for a long period of time, the counselor must carefully review the client's situation before making the decision to provide post-employment services as opposed to opening a new case.

(b)   Other considerations. Other considerations in determining a client's eligibility for post-employment services are:

(1)   Financial Status. A new financial status determination must be made if services requiring consideration of client participation in the cost of services are to be provided.

(2)   Emergency conditions. Treatment of an emergency condition will not be considered as a post-employment service.

(3)   Upgrading. Post-employment services are provided to help the individual advance in employment only when the nature of the individual's impediment to employment makes advancement the most appropriate post-employment outcome consistent with the individual's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

(c)   Transfer of cases. Clients needing post-employment services who have moved to another area of the state will have their cases transferred. When a rehabilitant who has moved out of state requests post-employment services, the counselor will refer the individual to the rehabilitation program in the state where the individual resides. Upon receipt of a release signed by the client, copies of the requested information from the closed case record will be forwarded to the receiving state agency. If an individual who was a rehabilitant in another state requests post-employment services from our state, information must be requested from the state where services were previously provided. All requests must include a specific release of confidential information signed by the applicant. The case will be processed as a new referral, but will be served and documented as a post-employment case.

(d)   Criteria for terminating post-employment services. Decisions to terminate post-employment services must be made on an individual basis in consultation with the client.

(e)   Case recording requirements. The same principles of client involvement are required in the IPE for Post-Employment Services as are required under any other IPE. Case recording will be made at significant times during the process, including assessment of progress, the decision to conclude services and the results achieved at the completion or termination of services.

[Source: Added at 10 Ok Reg 4633, eff 9-1-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 2449, eff 7-1-94; Amended at 15 Ok Reg 2904, eff 7-1-98; Amended at 16 Ok Reg 1711, eff 4-13-99 (emergency); Amended at 16 Ok Reg 2590, eff 7-1-99; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 2186, eff 7-1-05; Amended at 24 Ok Reg 1669, eff 10-1-07; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1687, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 1690, eff 7-1-09; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 1589, eff 7-1-10]