More outreach regarding our services (booths at city events or regional festivals) including events that are not specific to individuals with disabilities. OKDRS should investigate alternative transportation options. Provide information to employers to help reduce their fear of employing individuals with disabilities. Provide information regarding the Federal bonding program for business protection from employee fraud. Permit staff to use technology more to allow more personal contact with clients. For example, counselors could use their state assigned mobile phones and tablets to spend less time in the office and more time in the field. It was noted that very few clients come in without appointments and walk-ins are very rare in most field offices in rural areas. Counselor/client meetings could be modeled after the current VA system and incorporate having a counselor in a local Workforce office at least part-time. Offices with locked doors need awnings or if awnings cannot be installed, counselors/techs need to operate by appointment on rainy days. Offenders with Disabilities, Veterans, and Transition Age Youth Based on further analyses, three additional categories of possibly underserved groups were identified. These included with disabilities, veterans, and transition age youth. The research staff sought additional information on these three populations. According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections 2014 annual report, there were 28,161 incarcerated offenders, of which 16,092 (57%) have a history of or were experiencing current symptoms of a mental illness. There were 9,432 (33%) offenders with current symptoms of a mental illness, and 6,343 offenders who were receiving psychotropic medications. While exact numbers are unavailable, a large majority of these offenders with mental illnesses may be eligible for OKDRS services once they are approved for release from confinement.
More outreach regarding our services (booths at city events or regional festivals) including events that are not specific to individuals with disabilities. OKDRS should investigate alternative transportation options. Provide information to employers to help reduce their fear of employing individuals with disabilities. Provide information regarding the Federal bonding program for business protection from employee fraud. Permit staff to use technology more to allow more personal contact with clients. For example, counselors could use their state assigned mobile phones and tablets to spend less time in the office and more time in the field. It was noted that very few clients come in without appointments and walk-ins are very rare in most field offices in rural areas. Counselor/client meetings could be modeled after the current VA system and incorporate having a counselor in a local Workforce office at least part-time. Offices with locked doors need awnings or if awnings cannot be installed, counselors/techs need to operate by appointment on rainy days. Offenders with Disabilities, Veterans, and Transition Age Youth Based on further analyses, three additional categories of possibly underserved groups were identified. These included with disabilities, veterans, and transition age youth. The research staff sought additional information on these three populations. According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections 2014 annual report, there were 28,161 incarcerated offenders, of which 16,092 (57%) have a history of or were experiencing current symptoms of a mental illness. There were 9,432 (33%) offenders with current symptoms of a mental illness, and 6,343 offenders who were receiving psychotropic medications. While exact numbers are unavailable, a large majority of these offenders with mental illnesses may be eligible for OKDRS services once they are approved for release from confinement.