The Career Pathways Advancement Project (CPAP 2.0) is designed for  Nebraska VR clients with cases closed successfully in the FY 2017- FY 2020. CPAP 2.0 allows clients to explore and access opportunities to advance in employment with training and/or an increase in wages, benefits or hours. CPAP 2.0 follows Nebraska VR policies and procedures. 

The project builds off a previous Nebraska Career Pathway Advancement Project grant which promoted upskilling/backfilling and advancing incumbent workers with disabilities which ended June 2021. A proven Upskill/Backfill business model will be used to create opportunities for former VR eligible individuals to advance in their careers and provide new opportunities for other VR eligible individuals to backfill the vacant positions. This allows new VR eligible individuals to enter a career pathway of their interest with opportunities for advancement. CPAP 2.0 does not fund self employment.

CPAP 2.0 can co-enroll clients with other community agencies, as well as, Nebraska VR. When CPAP 2.0 co-funds post-secondary training,combined funding cannot exceed the unmet need. 

The CPAP 2.0 grant provides the full range of services to assist clients interested in advancement with training and/or an increase in wages, benefits or hours to advance within a career pathway.  CPAP 2.0 funds will be used for all services requiring funding. If additional funding is required, VR 110 can also be used  except those services that are paid at Medicaid rates or services that have a Nebraska VR Service Agreement.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for CPAP 2.0:

• Need to have an impairment (diagnosis) and an impediment to employment (significantly restricted in the condition, manner, or duration the individual can work).
• Interested in advancement through training and/or increase in wages, benefits or hours.

Individuals who qualify must meet ONE of the following criteria:

• Case closed successful  in FY 2017- FY 2020 with Nebraska VR in one of the following career pathways: Administrative Support; Architecture/Construction; Health Science; Lodging; Manufacturing; Professional Sales; Restaurant & Food Service; or Transportation/Distribution/Logistics (TDL) AND wants to seek opportunities to advance through training and/or increase in wages, benefits or hours.
• Case closed successful in FY 2017- FY 2020 with Nebraska VR receiving Social Security benefits and closed successful in any career pathway AND wants to seek opportunities to advance through training and/or increase in wages, benefits or hours.
• Referred by a business in one of the four designated career pathways/clusters of Architecture/Construction; Health Science; Manufacturing; or Transportation/Distribution/Logistics (TDL) AND wants to advance through training and/or increase in wages, benefits or hours. 

 

 

Client Outreach:

CPAP 2.0 staff will contact over 2185 Nebraska VR clients via US mail, telephone, email and text who had cases closed with successful employment in the FY 2017 through FY 2020 in the career pathways of Administrative Support, Construction, Healthcare, Lodging, Manufacturing, Professional Sales, Restaurant & Food Beverage/Service, and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) to discuss advancement opportunities. CPAP 2.0 staff  provides interested clients with the opportunity to access needed VR services and supports to advance with training and/or increase in wages, benefits or hours to become economically self-sufficient. 

Also, CPAP 2.0 staff will contact 782 Nebraska VR clients via US mail, telephone, email and text who had cases closed with successful employment in the FY 2017 through FY 2020 and were receiving Social Security Benefits (SSI/SSDI) to discuss advancement opportunities.  CPAP 2.0 staff provides interested clients with the opportunity to access needed services and supports to advance with training and/or increase in wages, benefits or hours to become economically self-sufficient.  

CPAP 2.0 funds will be used for all services. Additional funding from VR 110 can also be used for the following services if combined funding does not exceed the unmet need or the actual cost of service:

Post Secondary:

Services		CPAP Funding	VR (110) Funding	Maximum Amount from each funding source
Post Secondary Training - College	4 Year - VR Allowance	YES	YES	168/hr OR 86/hr
	Graduate - VR Allowance	YES	YES	168/hr OR 86/hr
Post Secondary - Technical	Jr/Community College - VR Allowance	YES	YES	68/hr OR 46/hr

QE2 Process:

• Authorize for CPAP 2.0 funds
• Click the “Request 110 Funds” button on the quick pay screen
  • If the balance of the Unmet Need (After the CPAP 2.0 authorization) is greater than the VR Allowance, the  VR 110 authorization amount will be the VR Allowance
  • If the balance of the Unmet Need (after the CPAP 2.0 authorization) is less than the VR Allowance, the VR 110 authorization amount will be the balance of the Unmet Need
  • Authorize for the additional  VR 110 funds 

Rule 72 Limits:

Services		CPAP 2.0 Funding	VR (110) Funding	Maximum Amount from each grant	Combined Maximum Amount
Academic Literacy Training-Basic		YES	YES	2000.00	4000.00
Assistive Devices – Non-Prescriptive.		YES	YES	6000.00	12000.00
Computer/Laptop		YES	YES	1250.00	2500.00
Employment & Training Medical Supports		YES	YES	300.00	600.00
Home Modifications		YES	YES	6000.00 OR 10,000.00	12000.00 OR 20000.00
Increased Living Costs	Relocation	YES	YES	2000.00	4000.00
	Lodging & Per Diem	YES	YES
	Security Deposit	YES	YES
	Rent	YES	YES
Miscellaneous Training – Skill Building		YES	YES	4752.00	9504.00
Miscellaneous Training – Assistive Technology Use		YES	YES	6000.00	12000.00
Mobile Technology		YES	YES	700.00	1400.00
On-the-Job- Training		YES	YES	4000.00	8000.00
Rehabilitation Technology Repair		YES	YES	6000.00	12000.00
Report of Disability Verification		YES	YES	25.00	50.00
Report of Physical Capacities		YES	YES	25.00	50.00
Tools – Employment		YES	YES	1800.00	3600.00
Tools – Post Secondary		YES	YES	50%
Uniforms & Clothing	Interview Clothing	YES	YES	175.00	350.00
	Work/Training Clothing & Uniforms	YES	YES	225.00	450.00
	Steel Toed Boot or Shoe	YES	YES	150.00	300.00
	Work Boot Not steel toed	YES	YES	100.00	200.00
Vehicle Modifications – New		YES	YES	20000.00	40000.00
Vehicle Repair		YES	YES	1000.00	2000.00
Worksite Modification		YES	YES	6000.00	12000.00

QE2 Process:

• Authorize for CPAP 2.0 funds
  • (A) If the total amount needing to authorize (between CPAP 2.0 and  VR 110 funding) exceeds the Double Max Amount column, CPAP 2.0 authorization amount equals Rule 72 max + the remaining balance
  • (B) If the total amount needing to authorize exceeds Rule 72 max, but does not exceed the double max column, CPAP 2.0 authorization equals Rule 72 max
  • (C) If the total amount needing to authorize does not exceed Rule 72 max, CPAP 2.0 authorization equals total amount needed to authorize.
• Click the “Request 110 Funds” button on the quick pay screen if the authorization meets (A) or (B) above
  • Authorize for the additional  VR 110 funds 
  • VR 110 authorization may NEVER exceed the Rule 72 Maximum Limit

Business Outreach:

CPAP 2.0 staff will reach out to over 400 businesses who provide employment opportunities in the career pathways of Architecture/Construction, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TDL).  An Individual Business Plan (IBP) will be created with 100 or more businesses after working with them to determine needs and to provide the appropriate and requested services. Partner benefits may include:

• Elevated company morale

• Increased employee loyalty and retention

• Financial assistance with training opportunities and professional development

• On-the-job training opportunities (paid OJT)

• Decreased training and onboarding costs

• Diverse and inclusive workforce

The business agrees to promote and support the efforts of Nebraska VR’s CPAP 2.0 in the advancement of qualified incumbent employees. Promotional materials will be provided to the company for marketing this opportunity as agreed upon by both parties. Materials will be approved by the business prior to distribution.

CPAP 2.0 team members will work with each business to identify training and resources needed for the advancement of the incumbent worker. Regular communication will ensure the success of both the business and the incumbent worker.

Planned Activities:

_____ Provide information about CPAP 2.0 and available supports for employees with disabilities.

_____ Discover opportunities for employees to advance.

_____ Support employees in pursuing training to gain credentials.

_____ Help employees obtain skills needed for advancement.

_____ Refer qualified candidates to your business for open positions.

_____ Informational Interviews

_____ Job Shadow

_____ On-the-Job Evaluation

_____ On-the-Job Training

CPAP 2.0 staff will assist the businesses with upskilling incumbent workers with disabilities. After the employee advances with the company, CPAP 2.0 staff helps the business to fill the position vacated due to the advancement. This allows for additional individuals with a disability to be hired, trained and reduces onboarding and training costs for the business. CPAP 2.0 staff will inform each Business Account Manager (BAM) of the vacated position via email. The Business Account manager (BAM) will inform field offices of the newly vacated position.This allows VR to refer qualified candidates to backfill the open positions.

QE2 Process:

• Once the client has gained competitive, permanent employment, and staff and client agree this is the job VR/CPAP 2.0 is supporting, the client enters Employment Follow Up.
  • If the CPAP 2.0 client upgraded their skills and came into this new position, CPAP 2.0 staff will choose UPSKILL when entering the CPAP 2.0 supported job on the Employment History screen
  • If the job was vacated by a CPAP 2.0 client who upskilled, and this new position has been backfilled by another VR client, VR staff will choose BACKFILL when entering the VR supported job on the Employment History screen. If the new position is not a Backfill, VR staff will choose NEITHER when entering the VR supported job on the Employment History screen

CPAP 2.0 staff will work with businesses, Community Colleges, Adult Education and Department Of Labor Workforce boards to develop demand driven short-term credentials to meet the immediate needs of businesses. This will include working with the VR Business Account Managers (BAM) on the VR Certificate programs. Staff will also work to increase pre-apprentice and registered apprenticeships. 

 

CPAP 2.0

Nebraska VR was awarded a Career Pathway Advancement Project (CPAP 2.0) grant through the Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA). The grant began October 2021 and will continue through June 2026. CPAP 2.0 represents the next evolution of Vocational Rehabilitation by proactively improving the likelihood of economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities through an aggressive campaign of outreach, recruitment, and services to support advancement in the high demand jobs/career pathways of:

• Administrative Support
• Construction
• Healthcare
• Lodging
• Manufacturing
• Professional Sales
• Restaurant & Food/Beverage Service
• Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TDL)

The project builds off a previous Nebraska Career Pathway Advancement Project grant which promoted upskilling/backfilling and advancing incumbent workers with disabilities which ended June 2021. A proven Upskill/Backfill business model will be used to create opportunities for former VR eligible individuals to advance in their careers and provide new opportunities for other VR eligible individuals to backfill the vacant positions. Allowing new VR eligible individuals to enter a career pathway of their interest with opportunities for advancement.

CPAP 2.0 Goals:

• Assist businesses to develop a well-trained workforce.
• Support VR eligible individuals with disabilities to advance in high-demand, high quality careers by developing career pathways focused on career advancement.
• Build internal/state system capacity providing career advancement services.
• Increase access to postsecondary education and training opportunities that provide the skills and credentials necessary to secure and advance in employment providing for economic self-sufficiency.