Employment Services
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All people have the right to work at jobs that pay minimum wage or more, provide opportunities for raises and advancement, and have people with and without disabilities working together. This is called Competitive Integrated Employment or CIE. FDLRC and our community workforce partners can support people to obtain CIE through full or part time employment, self employment, micro-enterprise, or contract jobs and skilled work. Community and FDLRC funded employment services can be authorized through the planning team process for individuals who choose to work.
Employment First
On October 9, 2013, Governor Brown signed AB 1041 (Chesbro) into law, establishing an “Employment First Policy” in the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act in order to create and increase employment opportunities for individuals supported by the regional centers. Lanterman Regional Center (LRC) believes that integrated, competitive employment should be the first consideration for all individuals with developmental disabilities, therefore this will be the first option considered by planning teams for every LRC working age adult.
In 2016 two significant programs enacted through California’s Legislature were created to increase competitive, integrated employment for individuals served by the regional center.
- Competitive Integrated Employment Information regarding implementation and funding available to regional center service providers for placement and retention of individuals served by the regional center in competitive, integrated employment may be found here:
- Paid Internship Program Information regarding paid internships to increase the vocational skills of individuals served by the regional center and create a pathway to a competitive integrated job may be found here:
Employment Specialist
Lanterman Regional Center’s Employment Specialist develops and facilitates services and supports that meet the employment needs and the vocational interests of persons served by the Center and participates in activities within Center’s catchment area to support the development of integrated, competitive employment opportunities for the people we serve.
Some of the more specific job functions include:
- Increasing Employment Opportunities for individuals served in Competitive Integrative Employment (CIE) and the Paid Internship Program (PIP).
- Serving as the contact person for service providers for matters concerning adult employment services.
- Meeting with Employment service providers regularly and communicating employment issues and information between meetings.
- Reviewing program designs for employment services prior to vendorization or program designs being revised for currently vendored programs seeking to modify their services.
- Evaluating and ensuring quality and effectiveness of employment-related services, including those that provide paid or unpaid work for individuals, as well as compliance with applicable regulations and reporting requirements.
- Providing up to date information and consultation to staff, individuals and families and service providers.
- Developing and providing training to service coordination staff, individuals and families regarding Employment First Policy, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other regulatory requirements impacting client employment.
Use the contact form to reach our Employment Specialist for general questions, resources, and if you or someone you know expresses an interest in employment opportunities.
Quality Incentive Program (QIP)
Lanterman Regional Center encourages service provider participation in this program. The QIP is designed to improve outcomes of individuals served, service provider performance, and the quality of services. Participating service providers that meet or exceed quality measures developed by DDS with input from stakeholders, will be eligible for incentive payments.
The amount of statewide funding available for the QIP will be updated annually through the budget process each year. The QIP quality measures will be implemented in several phases.
Through the collective work of the Quality Incentive Program Workgroup, the QIP has six areas of focus:
- Prevention and Wellness
- Employment
- Early Intervention
- Workforce Capacity
- Service Access
- Informed Choice and Satisfaction
Each focus area has one or more quality measure(s) tied to specific desired outcomes, with corresponding performance targets and incentives.
Learn more at the following page: DDS: Quality Incentive Program (QIP)
View the most recent July 27, 2022 information:
- Agenda
- PowerPoint Slides (English)
- Presentación (Spanish)
- Handouts (English)
- Folleto (Spanish)
- Recording
Questions regarding the QIP or the incentive payments may be directed to QIPquestions@dds.ca.gov.
Quality Incentive Program- Employment Capacity
The DDS September 23, 2022 letter established the Quality Incentive Program (QIP) for service providers. The desired outcome of this measure is to increase the number of service provider employees who are certified as trained employment specialists through the Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) Basic Employment Services, ACRE Basic Customized Employment Services, or as Certified Employment Support Professionals (CESP).
Incentive Amounts
Effective July 1, 2022, this quality measure has three incentives:
- An incentive payment of $1,900 for the service provider for each employee who becomes certified or re-certified in ACRE Basic Employment Services or ACRE Basic Customized Employment Services.
- An incentive payment of $550 for the service provider for each employee who becomes certified in CESP training.
- An incentive payment of $300 for the service provider for each employee who becomes re-certified in CESP.
These incentives are for service providers who assist their employees to achieve these certifications and re-certifications which includes but is not limited to assuming the associated expenses for trainings, exams, and employee wages. Any service provider who assists an employee to become certified as a trained employment specialist will be eligible for an incentive payment as described above.
Service providers may claim QIP Employment Access incentive payments for individuals who attainted competitive integrated employment (CIE) job on or after July 1, 2022. To participate in the Employment Access incentives, services providers must complete and submit the Incentive Certification and Payment Form to DDS at QIPEmpAccess@dds.ca.gov. Please refer to DDS letter dated July 14, 2023 for more information related to Employment Access Incentive Payments. Questions regarding the QIP or incentive payments should be emailed to QIPquestions@dds.ca.gov.
FAQ
Get Answers
How do I become a Lanterman service provider?
Service providers must be vendored by a regional center before they can provide and be reimbursed for services. Please see our “How to Become a Service Provider” page, which provides detailed instructions.
How can I make a change to the services I provide?
Any change to your existing vendorization needs to be reviewed and processed by Lanterman’s Community Services Unit.
- Organizational changes require submission of a letter in advance of the change consistent with the parameters and process found here.
- If you are interested in providing additional services, use the contact form to connect with one of Lanterman’s Resource Developers.
How can I renegotiate my rate?
Rate setting rules are established both by the statute (Lanterman Act) and regulation (Title 17) and dictate the type of rate needed for a particular service type. Providers with negotiated/median rates or DDS set rates can adjust rates based on minimum wage ordinances, Health and Safety Waiver needs or statutory/regulatory changes. Providers with Medi-Cal set rates, can see rate changes consistent with Medi-Cal rate changes. Usual and Customary Services providers can request rate adjustments consistent with changes to their general fee schedule. Please click here for a full description of different rate types and a description of rate changes.
What is FDLRC’s service provider insurance requirement?
All service providers, whether vendored by Lanterman or another regional center that serve Lanterman individuals, must carry liability insurance and name Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center as additional insured consistent with the following insurance memo. Additionally, updated insurance certificates must be submitted to Irma Padilla at ipadilla@lanterman.org.
What is a DS1891 and why do I need to resubmit?
The DS1891 Disclosure Statement is a Department of Developmental Services (DDS) form which must be completed at the time of vendorization and subsequently every 2 years moving forward unless requested by the regional center sooner. In short, this statutory requirement (WIC Code § 4748.12) does not allow individuals or organizations convicted of fraud, abuse or neglect to be vendored. Regional centers are required to monitor vendorization requirements biennially per California Code of Regulations Title 17 § 54332(b).
How can I get help with e-billing?
Every regional center service provider has an assignment Accounting Associate who can help with all payment and billing issues. You can find your assigned Accounting Associate here and by logging into your e-billing portal.
How can I let service coordinators know about my services?
At the time of vendorization, Community Services notifies all of service coordination staff of the newly vendored service provider. Capacity and availability can be communicated to Quality Assurance Manager Sonia Garibay at sgaribay@lanterman.org or Director of Community Services Pablo Ibañez at pibanez@lanterman.org. In turn, Community Services will notify service coordination of your services.
How do I find out who is the service coordinator assigned to the individual we are serving?
For school aged individuals and younger, please contact Associate Director of Client and Family Services Rose Chacana at rchacana@lanterman.org. For adults served by the regional center, please contact Associate Director of Client and Family Services, Megan Mendes, at mmendes@lanterman.org.