MRC Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission "Creating Opportunites for Indpedent Living and Work" 2015 Annual Report Addendum Contents Message from the Commissioner page 1 Meet the MRC Senior Leaders page 2 MRC Financial Statements page 4 * Vocational Rehabilitation page 3 * Community Living page 7 * Disability Determination page 8 Consumer Liasion Information page 12 -- page 1 -- Message from the Commissioner Dear Colleagues: I am very honored to have been appointed Commissioner of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) by Governor Charles D. Baker and EHS Secretary Marylou Sudders in March of 2015. Leading an agency that provides comprehensive services to people with disabilities, MRC is maximizing the quality of life and economic self-sufficiency of people throughout the Commonwealth. It is with great pleasure I present our addendum annual report for federal fiscal year 2015. This report includes a year in which we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the passage and accomplishments of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the start of our #WithMRC Transition Aged Youth marketing campaign. The MRC is proud of the strong collaborations we have established over the past fifty-nine years with employers, providers, and other state agencies. These partnerships are critical in the work we do to achieve MRC’s mission. One of our highlights was receiving the Gould Award from Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) for the Pharmacy Technician program we developed in partnership with CVS Health. There were 20 consumers successfully hired into CVS stores across the Commonwealth. In FY15, our second year of running this on-the-job training program, we were fortunate to expand our public-private collaboration to include new business partners, Advanced Auto Parts, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and the Home Depot, and have over 60 consumers successfully complete training programs and are now job-ready. I am committed to ensuring MRC promotes equality, empowerment and independence of individuals with disabilities. This goal can only be accomplished through enhancing and encouraging personal choice and the right to succeed or fail in the pursuit of independence and employment in the community. Sincerely, Adelaide “Nicky” Osborne Commissioner -- page 2 -- Meet the MRC Senior Managers Adelaide “Nicky” Osborne, Commissioner Kasper M. Goshgarian, Deputy Commissioner Richard Arcangeli, General Counsel Tak Tang, Chief Financial Officer Joan Phillips, Assistant Commissioner,Vocational Rehabilitation Services Patricia Roda, Assistant Commissioner, Disability Determination Services Kerri Zanchi was the Assistant Commissioner of the Community Living Services division until the fall of 2015. This position is currently vacant. -- page 3 -- MRC Financial Statements VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION: JULY 1, 2014 – JUNE 30, 2015 VR: Competitive Employment in Massachusetts The MRC successfully placed 3,737 individuals with disabilities into employment based on their choices, interests, needs and skills in FY15. These rehabilitated employees earned $67.5 million in their first year of employment. Estimated public benefits savings from individuals assisted by the MRC in MA were $28 million. The returns to society based on increases in lifetime earnings range from $14 to $18 for each $1 invested in the MRC Vocational Rehabilitation program. $5 is returned to the government through income taxes and reduced public assistance payments for every $1 invested in the MRC Vocational Rehabilitation program. Average Hourly Wage: $12.98 Average Weekly Hours Worked:26.8 VR: Facts at a Glance Consumers Actively Receiving Services: 22,100 Consumers Enrolled in Training/Education Programs: 15,086 Consumers with Significant Disabilities Employed:3,509 Consumers Employed with Medical Insurance: 94.7% Consumers Satisfied with Services: 81.5% -- page 4 -- VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION: JULY 1, 2014 – JUNE 30, 2015 Who are our VR consumers Psychiatric Disabilities: 39.8% Learning Disabilities: 22.2% Orthopedic Disabilities: 10.6% Substance Abuse: 8.8% Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 6.7% Neurological Disabilities: 2.7% Developmental Disabilities: 2.3% Traumatic Brain Injury: 1.7% Other Disabilities: 8.5% Average Age:34 Female: 47% Male: 53% White: 79.9% Black: 17.1% Hispanic: 10.9% Asian/Pacific Islander: 3.6% Native American: 0.0% “In 2000, I went to MRC, with their magic and professionalism they helped me identify my skills and personality and how we could market that. When I was ready, I was able to find a job at The Home Depot. It was perfect I knew the materials (former carpenter) and I could use my personality for customer service. It helped my ego to feel like part of a team. I knew they recognized and valued my talents. They didn’t see all the things wrong with me, but all the things I can do.” – Anita Pleasant, sales associate, The Home Depot. -- page 5 -- VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION YOUTH SERVICES: JULY 1, 2014 – JUNE 30, 2015 Historically, the agency has only looked at the financial information for the three divisions within the MRC; however, with an agency committed to serving transition aged youth and their families we are including the number of youth served, not simply referred. VR Youth Served (Ages 16-22)* The Vocational Rehabilitation Program served 7,129 youth ages 16 to 22 during SFY15. 1,201 young consumers were placed in employment, with an average hourly wage of $11.13. Employed young consumers worked an average of 26.9 hours per week. 100 young consumers participated in the Youth Leadership Network (YLN) and 46 participated in the Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) in SFY2015. These programs promote self-advocacy and self-awareness, and employment and independent living skills for teens and young adults with disabilities ages 14 to 26. During SFY2015, MRC provided paid summer internship experiences for 207 young consumers across the Commonwealth through Transitional Internship Programs (TIP) and our Worcester Area Office internship program. These internships provide employment related skills and guidance, and references to facilitate permanent future employment opportunities. Based on these successes, MRC significantly expanded summer internship opportunities to start out SFY2016. VR Youth: Facts at a Glance Youth Actively Receiving Services: 9,143 Youth Enrolled in Training/Education Programs: 6,894 Average Hourly Wage for Employed Youth: $11.13 * Age at application for MRC services. -- page 6 -- VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION YOUTH SERVICES: JULY 1, 2014 – JUNE 30, 2015 Who are our young VR consumers Males: 58.1% Females: 41.9% Referral Source 688 Referral: 33.1% Lead Education Agency: 17.8% Transitional Advisory Council Assigned: 0.5% Other Referral Source: 48.6% Disability Profile Sensory/Communicative: 8.2% Physical/Mobility: 10.1% Cognitive/Psychological: 81.7%9 [Graphic: Chart of # of youths served] 16 years = 1.9% 17 years = 12.5% 18 Years = 28.9% 19 Years = 22.7% 20 Years = 10.1% 21 years = 7% 22 Years = 5.8% 23 years = 5.8% 24 years =5.4% -- page 7 -- COMMUNITY LIVING: JULY 1, 2014 – JUNE 30, 2015 CL: Consumers Served Independent Living Centers:* 6,679 Assistive Technology: 2,062 Brain Injury Services: 1,409 Home Care Services: 1,285 Turning 22 Services: 643 Housing Registry: 397 Protective Services: 448 Waiver Unit Services: 244 Supported Living Services: 189 CL: Services Purchased Brain Injury Services: $32,049,884 Independent Living Centers: $ 7,136,540 Home Care Services: $ 3,414,031 Supported Living Services: $ 1,687,720 IL Turning 22 Services: $ 1,607,386 Assistive Technology: $ 1,210,761 Protective Services: $ 741,375 Housing Registry: $ 80,000 CL: Facts at a Glance Total Consumers Actively Receiving Services: 13,356 Total Funds Expended: $47,928,057 Cost per Consumer Served: $3,588.50 * State funded services only. -- page 8 -- DISABILITY DETERMINATION: OCTOBER 1, 2014 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 DDS: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) DDS: SSI/ SSDI Claims Processed Total Receipt of Cases: 86,232 Total Disposition of Cases: 85,508 Initial Claims Filed: 52,503 Initial Claims Disposed: 56,343 % Allowed: 40.6% Continuing Disability Review Receipts: 16,301 Continuing Disability Review Dispositions: 18,616 DDS: Purchased Services Consultative Examinations Purchased: 21,719 Consultative Examination Rate: 24.5% Medical Evidence of Record Purchased: 80,373 Medical Evidence of Record Rate: 90.8% DDS: MA Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Total MA Population: 6.75M MA SSI Recipients, 2014: 188,606 MA SSDI Recipients, 2014: 236,008 Annual SSDI Benefits Paid: $3.26B Annual SSI Benefits Paid: $1.18B CL: Facts at a Glance Total Medical Costs: $8,255,139 Total Budget: $48,689,090 Cost Per Case: $550.10 Total Disposition of SSI/SSDI Cases: 88,508 Accuracy of Initial Decisions: 97% Federal Accuracy of Decision Standard: 90% -- page 9 -- Federal Expenditures SUM FOR FEDERAL FY: OCTOBER 1, 2014 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 Federal Funds Expended FY2015 % Vocational Rehabilitation/Federal $46,376,360 46% Disability Determination Services $47,389,547 46% Independent Living Services $1,525,327 2% Vocational Rehabilitation/SSA $5,230,411 5% Other Federal Spending $1,131,528 1% Supported Employment $328,712 <1% Total $101,981,885 -- page 10 -- State Expenditures SUM FOR STATE FY: JULY 1, 2014 – JUNE 30, 2015 State Funds Expended FY2015 % Community Services - All Other $33,574,791 46% Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) $12,422,773 17% Dept. of Developmental Services (DDS) Allocation - Rolland Case $5,990,536 8% Head Injury Trust Fund $6,296,155 9% Home Modification Loan Program $6,500,000 9% Waiver (Other Allocations) $7,610,417 11% Total $72,394,672 -- page 11 -- Consumer Liaison The goal of our services is to promote dignity through employment and community living, one person at a time. We hope all citizens with disabilities in Massachusetts will have the opportunity to contribute as a productive member of their community and family as a result of services provided by the MRC. -- page Back Cover -- ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES 600 Washington Street Boston, MA 02111 617-204-3600 (voice) 800-245-6543 (toll free MA) www.mass.gov/mrc Find us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, and Connect with us on LinkedIn! CHARLES D. BAKER Governor KARYN E. POLITO Lieutenant Governor MARYLOU SUDDERS Secretary, Executive Office of Health & Human Services ADELAIDE OSBORNE Commissioner, MRC