ACCES-VR

Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation

Memorandum of Understanding between the New York State Education Department and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services

The New York State Education Department (SED) and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) are committed to promoting treatment and recovery for individuals with substance use disorders and agree that employment is an integral part of that treatment and recovery. SED and OASAS will build strong, positive working relationships at all levels of our respective organizations, with our State agency partners and our network of community providers to transform this commitment into practice.

SED and OASAS agree that employment services to individuals with substance use disorders will:

  • Be coordinated on both the state and local level through establishing liaison relationships between SED’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) district offices, OASAS staff and local treatment and community rehabilitation providers;
  • Establish that employment is the expected outcome for individuals with substance use disorders participating in treatment services, in recovery and in the vocational rehabilitation program; and,
  • Be guided by a mutually agreed upon set of procedures and protocols related to referral and service delivery based on the most current evidence-based practices in treatment, recovery and vocational rehabilitation. These procedures will be described in detail in both SED’s VR Program and OASAS guidance documents to staff and providers.

To achieve these objectives, SED and OASAS will:

  • Develop joint training curricula and implement knowledge and skill development programs for SED VR Program and OASAS staff and the local treatment and community rehabilitation providers; and,
  • Sustain efforts to continuously improve our mutual effectiveness in supporting individuals with substance use disorders to achieve employment, including analysis of our capacity and resources to meet our mutual commitment.

It is recognized by SED and OASAS that coordination of services is vital when individuals are receiving vocational rehabilitation and treatment services at the same time. Ongoing communication must be maintained by both SED and treatment provider staffs to ensure that services provided by each system are supportive of services provided by the other. Regionally, OASAS and SED will establish an ongoing working relationship and meet periodically to ensure close collaboration and cooperation.

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is effective upon signature through June 30, 2013 and will be reviewed annually by the agencies in order to assess progress in implementing the terms of the agreement. Either agency may initiate action to terminate this MOU on ninety (90) days written notice to the other party. This MOU may be amended upon the written agreement of both parties.

SIGNED BY:

____________________________________ Date: _____________________
Karen Carpenter-Palumbo
Commissioner
Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

____________________________________ Date: ______________________
David M. Steiner
Commissioner
New York State Education Department

Last Updated: January 7, 2011