The Career Pathways Advancement Project (CPAP) is designed for Nebraska VR clients to explore and access opportunities to advance in their employment. CPAP aims to upskill/backfill positions within the high demand industries of Architecture/Construction, Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Transportation/Distribution/Logistics.

Eligibility:

Eligibility for CPAP follows the Nebraska VR policies for Eligibility and Order of Selection AND meets one of the following criteria:

• The individual has a previous successfully closed case with Nebraska VR in one of the following career pathways: Architecture/Construction; Healthcare; Information Technology; Manufacturing or Transportation/Distribution/Logistics AND wants to seek opportunities to advance within the career pathways through education and/or training. These individuals do have the opportunity to choose advancement with a career pathway that differs from their original career pathway.
• The individual is currently employed in one of the following career clusters/pathways: Architecture/Construction; Healthcare; Information Technology; Manufacturing or Transportation/Distribution/Logistics AND wants to advance within the SAME career pathway through education and/or training.
• The individual is referred from an employer within one of the following career clusters/pathways: Architecture/Construction; Healthcare: Information Technology, Manufacturing or Transportation/Distribution/Logistics with the intention of advancing the incumbent worker.
• The individual may or may not have worked with VR, however has an interest in one of the five career clusters/pathways with the intent to advance through multiple trainings. Individuals must be able to successfully complete training programs through demonstrating successful work experiences and/or past completion of training.
• The individual has worked in one of the career pathways in the past and wants to return to employment in the career pathway by obtaining training with the intent to advance. Individuals must be able to successfully complete a training program by demonstrating successful work experiences and/or past completion of training.

VR Certificate Program

Individuals in the VR program in all priority groups may be referred to CPAP for VR Certificate programs. The VR Certificate program must be in the CPAP career clusters/pathways of Architecture/Construction; Healthcare; Information Technology; Manufacturing or Transportation/Distribution/Logistics. The following process is used when making a referral to CPAP for a client wanting to complete a certificate program.

1. Individual applies for VR services and eligibility and Order of Selection is completed by VR staff as outlined in the VRIS Program Manual.
2. At the conclusion of the required meeting by VR staff to discuss the eligibility and priority group assignment, information is provided to clients regarding community resources and partners. The CPAP grant is considered a community resource for clients. Clients should be referred to CPAP if interested in a VR Certificate program. VR staff will complete the required assessments for clients in Priority Group 1. Required assessments for individuals in Priority Group 2 and 3 will be completed by CPAP staff.
3. A letter is generated from state office informing clients of eligibility, priority group and they will be placed on the waiting list for VR services. While the client is working with CPAP the client’s order is preserved on the waiting list.
4. Clients will continue working with CPAP until their case is closed from CPAP. If the client remained on the VR waiting list until CPAP case closure the client can choose to continue to preserve their order on the waiting list or can choose to be removed from the waiting list. If they choose to have their order preserved on the waiting list the closed CPAP case will be transferred to the VR team where the case initiated from.

NOTE: The CPAP grant is not restricted by Order of Selection, therefore individuals within all three priority groups can be served by CPAP as long as they meet CPAP eligibility requirements. VR staff are encouraged to make referrals to the CPAP team. VR staff will complete eligibility and OOS prior to making a referral to CPAP.

How to Make A Referral:

Refer to the “CPAP Decision Tree” document to assist in determining appropriateness of referral. Individuals can be referred to a Career Pathways Recruiter (CPR) after eligibility and OOS has been determined. There is no “referral form”, rather reach out to the Career Pathway Recruiter in your area to discuss referrals.

Mary Kunes-Neary – Columbus/Lincoln/Southeast NE – 402.314.1495

Aimee Navas – Omaha/Northeast NE – 402-660-0199

Crystal Norvell – Central/Western NE – 308.380.2849

Zach Arter – Business Referrals – 402.214.2847

Janet Drudik – CPAP Project Director – 402.484.1908

 

CPAP provides the full range of vocational rehabilitation services, mirroring the regular VR program policies and processes. Differences in CPAP program are: funding post-secondary tuition, fees and books/supplies and CPAP pays stipends and mileage.

Post-Secondary/Training Cost

• Industrial Certification – Tuition/fees and books/supplies will be paid at a cost identified by the training institution.
• Training Programs for Diploma, AAS, BS, MS, Ph.D.
  • The amount of tuition and fees will be based on the rate of the Nebraska public college or university the client will be attending. The costs of books/supplies can also be paid. The total expenditures cannot exceed unmet need on the SFAR-E.
  • If a client chooses to attend a NE private college or out-of-state college, tuition and fees are paid at that college rate or at the following NE public college rate, whichever is less. The tuition, fees and books expenditures cannot exceed the unmet need.
    • For four year programs costing above the UNL tuition/fee rates use the following link for UNL rates: https://www1.unl.edu/search/?q=2017%2F2018+student+tuition+and+fees&u=https%3A%2F%2Fstudentaccounts.unl.edu%2F
    • For diploma or two-year programs – Use Northeast Community College tuition/fee rates at the following link: https://www.northeast.edu/Costs/

• If a client chooses to attend an out-of-state college and the academic program is not offered in Nebraska the tuition, fees and books can be paid at the rate for that out-of-state institution, however cannot exceed unmet need.
• A client can make a choice to attend an on-line program due to significant travel distance and/or work schedule creates a hardship for attending in-person training. If the training is not offered through on-line coursework at a Nebraska public institution the tuition, fees and books can be paid at the rate of the institution for which the client plans to complete the on-line program or at the lowest Nebraska private college rate which offers the on-line program, whichever is less. The tuition, fees and books expenditures cannot exceed the client’s unmet need.

Stipends or Mileage Reimbursement – Clients are eligible for either a stipend or mileage reimbursement to assist in defraying additional costs they may incur while attending a training program.

• Mileage – Reimbursement rate is determined by the policy outlined in the VRIS Program Chapter: Team and Community Supports Chapter.
• Stipends
  • Clients receive $250 after the client attends the first day of training.
  • Industrial Certifications – Client receives $250 once the client completes their training and submits a copy of their certificate to the CPR.
  • Diploma, AAS, BS, MS. Ph.D. – Grade transcripts are submitted to the CPR at the completion of each semester. For every 12 credit hours clients completes as identified by the grade transcripts and an overall grade point average of “C” or better the CPR will authorize a $375 stipend to the client. 

The Career Pathways Advancement Project (CPAP) is designed for Nebraska VR clients to explore and access opportunities to advance in their employment.

The Career Pathways Advancement Project aims to upskill/backfill positions within the high demand industries of Architecture/Construction, Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing and Transportation/Distribution/Logistics (TDL). Nebraska VR’s vision is to promote autonomy, stability, and economic self-sufficiency, achieved by assistance to obtain a single, stable, well-paying job with benefits to replace the one (or more) entry-level jobs currently held to make ends meet.

Through a combination of classroom and on-the-job training, clients earn the recognized postsecondary credentials required for advancement within a specific industry. Employers are provided access to a group of potential employees with the required and relevant skills. This project is funded by a five-year grant awarded to Nebraska VR in 2015.

Upskill/Backfill Model: CPAP’s goal is to upskill Nebraska VR clients through training and education and backfill the vacant positions they formerly held with candidates new to the VR program.

Educational Advancement: The project assists individuals established in their careers to realize long-term employment goals, opens up new opportunities for entry-level workers, and meets the needs of local employers in growing industries by incentivizing advancement with paid training and stipends.

Examples of Educational Advancement:

• Work based learning, I.e. on the job training, cross training or job coaching
• Industrial Certifications
• Certifications or Diploma Programs
• Associate, BA, MS, Ph.D.