§ 56-1804 — COVERED SERVICES — INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM PLAN

(1) Subject to available funding, the program shall provide the following services to participants, as appropriate:
(a) Individual community-based supported employment;
(b) Group community-based supported employment;
(c) Work services; and
(d) Transportation.
(2) The services provided to a participant shall be based on the participant’s individual program plan.
(3) Program services must:
(a) Be individually planned by using person-centered principles and person-first or people-first language;
(b) Provide assistance to participants as unique individuals with varying interests, preferences, and aptitudes;
(c) Be appropriate to the needs of a participant and consistent with the choice of the participant regarding services, providers, and goals;
(d) Provide the participant compensation, where applicable, for work performed pursuant to federal and state wage and hour laws;
(e) Safeguard participants against conflicts of interest; and
(f) Allow a participant to pursue an alternate employment type and assist the participant with referral to the applicable state agency or program provider. Any changes to the employment type must be approved by the department.
(4) Individual community-based supported employment services include:
(a) Focused mentoring and extended or ongoing job coaching to sustain employment;
(b) Off-site job coaching, which may be included in an individual’s program plan when determined by the individual, provider, and program staff to be the most appropriate strategy to meet the participant’s needs;
(c) Provider-directed supervision of a participant, which will be approved when the general community employer requires it as part of the terms of the participant’s employment; and
(d) Opportunity for the participant to increase independence in the participant’s employment with the competitive employer.
(5) Group community-based supported employment allowable activities are limited to:
(a) Promoting and advocating for increasing the participant’s independence, inclusion, integration, and community employment goals;
(b) Supervising, observing, and job coaching of the participant to maintain employment; and
(c) Training for specific job duties and tasks.
(6) Work services area allowable activities are:
(a) Promoting and advocating for increasing the participant’s independence, inclusion, integration, and community employment goals;
(b) Supervising, observing, and job coaching of the participant to maintain employment;
(c) Training for specific job duties and tasks;
(d) Training in other skills that increase the participant’s employability for group community-based supported employment or individual community-based supported employment;
(e) Providing on-site personal assistance;
(f) Providing simulated work training and work activities, including career counseling and information and referral to other support services by the department; and
(g) Increasing the participant’s understanding of various career pathways and expectations of general community employers. These activities will include a component in the greater community, away from the provider-owned facility.
(7) Preapproval is required for needed supports that exceed the individual program plan service level, including:
(a) Short-term additional supports; and
(b) Transportation as approved in the individual plan. One (1) unit of transportation equals one (1) round trip.
(8) Development of individual program plans shall be as follows:
(a) The participant and provider will develop the participant’s individual program plan using the program template. The individual program plan will include a brief summary of the participant’s involvement.
(b) Individual program plans must be signed by the participant, or legal guardian if applicable, and the provider staff who assisted with the plan preparation.
(c) The provider will not receive payment for any services provided without an approved individual program plan.
(d) Providers are not required to provide services after an individual program plan expires.
(e) An individual program plan must use person-centered principles and people-first language and detail vocational goals, corresponding meaningful measurable objectives, and the participant’s desired employment outcomes. A participant’s individual program plan goals will be discussed, modified, revised, and updated yearly based on data from the participant’s progress reports to help the participant achieve employment goals.
(f) The participant and provider will review progress toward vocational goals and next steps necessary to meet vocational goals. The participant will sign the progress report to acknowledge review of the report. The provider will submit progress reports in the timeline established by the department.

Legislative History

[(56-1804) 56-1704, added 2022, ch. 200, sec. 2, p. 653; am. and redesig. 2023, ch. 218, sec. 21, p. 646.]