COMMUNITY-BASED WORK ADJUSTMENT / SKILLS TRAINING
R.S.V.P., Inc.'s Work Adjustment Training program is a community-based program which provides goal oriented, time limited services with measurable objectives aimed at preparing persons to enter competitive employment in integrated settings within the community. The primary goal of the WAT program is to prepare the program participants to obtain and maintain appropriate and satisfying long term employment. The focus of the program involves two phases: the first phase will address areas of personal and social skills development necessary for successful employment; the second phase will assist with the development of work essential skills required to obtain and maintain long term employment.
SITUATIONAL ASSESSMENT 
A person may already know the type of work he/she prefers, but many persons are unsure of their skills and abilities. Without actual experience in any type of work area, it may be difficult for a person to decide which type of job will be the best for them. In this case, we will provide opportunities for an individual to try out jobs for which he/she has an interest for a short period of time. Once given the opportunity to perform a job, a person is able to make an informed decision about the type of job they want to pursue. During the ?situational assessment?, our Employment Specialist will accompany the person on the job site and will evaluate the person?s interest and ability in the actual job, as well as identify specific support needs. Information obtained during situational assessments is then used to help the person to determine a job goal that is most appropriate for them, and then a plan, called the Individual Service Plan (ISP), is completed with the input and participation of the person to help the person reach their job goal.
JOB DEVELOPMENT / PLACEMENT
Job development is the term used to describe the process of finding a suitable job. This process begins as soon as the customer and rehabilitation team decide upon a vocational goal and service plan. Participation is very important, so along with the consumer?s right to a good service, he/she will be expected to demonstrate responsible behavior by keeping appointments with the Employment Specialist, and making every effort to obtain a good job. Together they complete and submit job applications, attend interviews, and participate in training sessions to strengthen job seeking and interviewing skills. These activities usually result in a job offer, which is called a 'placement'.
JOB SITE TRAINING
The Employment Specialist continues to provide support once the customer obtains a job placement and starts the job. He/she will accompany the customer to work and help train him/her on a one-to-one basis to become competent and effective in performing the duties of the job. The Employment Specialist?s goal is to provide the customer with various individualized systems which will help the customer perform his/her duties well (compensatory strategies) and introduce him/her to people at work who care about his/her success (natural supports) and are willing to help the individual to continue to grow in the job and maintain the job for as long as the customer wants the job.
FADING
As these skills are developed, less direct time is needed with the Employment Specialist on the job site, so the Employment Specialist will begin to spend less one-on-one time with the customer at work. This process is called "fading" and will continue until the Employment Specialist is spending less than 20% of the work hours with the customer. Once this occurs, the customer is considered to be stable, and the goal would then be to help the person to maintain their stability on the job.
LONG TERM FOLLOW ALONG
Follow-along comes after the period of stabilization, and the need for this service is determined by the DRS Counselor or other referral source. The Employment Specialist will continue to check with the customer, talk with the employer, and remain involved in the customer?s life at work with at least one on-site visit per month and/or telephonic follow-up as needed. The follow-along period can continue for as long as the customer works the same job to help maintain the skills and behaviors needed to keep the job.
INDEPENDENT LIVING
The goal of R.S.V.P., Inc.?s Independent Living program is to assist individuals to minimize their reliance on others in their decision making and in their performance of everyday activities to the greatest extent possible. R.S.V.P., Inc. understands that to achieve this goal, services must be consumer-directed and conducted in community-based, accessible settings that are meaningful to the consumer. Based on the synthesis of information obtained from the consumer's individual support team and on the consumer's individual style of learning, R.S.V.P., Inc. will employ a variety of methods including education and skills training, assessment and instruction, development of task analyses, and the development and implementation of strategies and techniques that will allow the individual to learn and practice the skills and abilities that are necessary to achieve greater independence in their lives. R.S.V.P., Inc. is has a vendor agreement with DRS to provide Intake and Assessment, Functional Assessment, Independent Living Skills Training, Housing and Transportation Services (i.e., bus training), Technical Assistance, Individual Advocacy.
EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES
R.S.V.P., Inc. works collaboratively with school systems, institutional settings, in-patient treatment centers, etc. to assist individuals who are transitioning from these settings into community-based life. R.S.V.P., Inc. meets with the individual and his/her treatment and/or transition team to develop a transition plan that best suits his/her needs. R.S.V.P., Inc.?s role as a member of the transition team is to focus on employment related issues, to assess the individual?s readiness for community-based employment, to make recommendations regarding service needs, to make referrals for appropriate services or programs that would support the achievement of the overall employment goal, and to facilitate the job development and placement process.
MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES
R.S.V.P., Inc. currently provides two Medicaid Waiver services: Prevocational services and Enclave services.
PREVOCATIONAL SERVICES
These services are aimed at preparing an individual for paid or unpaid employment; however, they are not geared toward learning specific job tasks. As defined by the Mental Retardation Community Services Manual written by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), prevocational services are provided to individuals who are not expected to join the regular work force without supports. Activities included in these services are: training and support in skills needed for preparation for paid employment in a variety of community settings, and receiving training and support to learn concepts like accepting supervision, attendance, task completion, problem solving, and safety.
ENCLAVE SERVICES
An enclave is a group model of Supported Employment. Typically, R.S.V.P., Inc. enclaves have four to five individuals working 100% of the time with an On-Site Enclave Supervisor (an employee of R.S.V.P., Inc.). The individuals working in the enclave are employed by the employer, and the R.S.V.P., Inc. On-Site Supervisor is responsible for training each individual on the job and providing supports necessary to assist the individuals to stay focused, on task, and safe on the job site, and to help them to maintain their jobs for a long term.
WORK INCENTIVE SPECIALIST ADVOCACY (WISA)
R.S.V.P., Inc. is committed to assisting Virginians with disabilities to become or remain employed and to understand the impact of earned income on their SSI and SSDI benefits. A key staff person has completed training and has become certified as a WISA to assist individuals to understand and utilize certain Social Security work incentives such as: 1619(b), Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE), Impairment Related Work Expense (IRWE), Subsidy, and PASS.
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING
These services provide cognitive and solution focused individual therapeutic counseling to the individual in order to assist with a positive outcome of adjustment related issues, self-defeating behaviors, anxiety or depression. Such issues can involve emotional, gender, relationship, family, employment, chronic mental and/or physical illness, disability, self-advocating for services, complicated grief, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The goal is to assist the individual in identifying issues that are preventing the achievement of life goals (i.e., personal satisfaction, completion of an educational or training program, and appropriate employment), recognizing strengths, and developing positive coping strategies to decrease symptoms and achieve successful functioning. The counseling can also involve meeting with family members in order to identify issues and identify desired outcomes.
VOCATIONAL EVALUATION (TESTING) AND CAREER COUNSELING
Vocational testing uses formal test instruments to assess an individual?s functional level of performance in terms of ability, achievement, aptitudes, and interests. The information obtained from the test results is then used to facilitate a choice of career direction. Counseling involves assistance in developing educational and vocational goals, establishing strategies for initiation and completion of goals, and identifying coping styles as the individual adjusts to stages of career development.
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