OVR successfully closes 48 cases, representing 118-pct increase

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation closed a total of 48 cases in Fiscal Year 2016 as successfully rehabilitated. This number represents an amazing 118-percent increase from the previous year’s case closure information.

OVR said they were able to successfully close the cases in partnership with consumers and their families, employers, service and training providers, and other partners or stakeholders.

In addition, OVR would like to share with the public, the following statistical highlights for FY 2016 in comparison to FY 2015:

Total VR caseload was 341 individuals, which represents a 10.4-percent increase,

Total number of employers/businesses who partnered with OVR to provide Work Experience Training and/or On-the-Job Training to clients was 12, which represents a 9.1-percent increase,

Total number of employers/businesses who hired OVR consumers was 13, which represents a 225-percent increase,

Total federal and state funding was $1,134,336, which represents an 8.4-percent increase,

Basic Support/Supported Employment (BS/SE) total case services expenditure was $302,559, which represents a 16.45-percent increase,

Pre-Employment Transition Services total expenditure was $58,143, which represents an 85.2-percent increase, and

Independent Living/Older Blind (ILOB) total case services expenditure was $39,785, which represents a 52.68-percent increase.

OVR said the path to achieving successful employment outcomes is not always straight and smooth, but each stakeholder’s spirit and tenacity to moving passed obstacles is what culminates in success, at least that is the case with the 48 cases that were closed last fiscal year. When the going gets tough, this group of individuals does not give up because they believe in their clients and in the pursuit of each client’s dream.

OVR’s hard working professional and paraprofessional counseling staff members are Rose Ichiuo, Jane Tudela, Jiana Camacho, Colleen Diaz, John Cabrera, and Matilde Selepeo. These are the faces of our frontline field staff that dedicate their time and energy to providing quality and timely services to increase competitive integrated employment opportunities and outcomes for our clientele. They work with an amazing team of various stakeholders who are equally invested in seeing through each case through the lenses of a winning attitude. And most importantly, the consumers play a critical part in achieving their success through a development of their goals, continued hard work, and partnerships with their family, OVR team, employers, service and training providers, and partners/stakeholders.

OVR’s primary strategy for achieving its program goals and objectives is through ongoing collaboration and coordination with the teams of each particular case. Appropriately, and in the words of Henry Ford, which are worth echoing, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” With the new year here, the OVR would like to extend its thanks to the many community members who work in collaboration with us, and invite you all to another year of hard work and continued success. (OVR)