‘We are given more money than we need’: Guam relinquished $1.5M in DVR funds in 2024
- Admin
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
While Guam persistently asks for federal funds, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation has relinquished $1.5 million of the $3.3 million allotment it received for fiscal year 2024.
“We don’t request these funds. The U.S. Congress appropriates these funds,” said Joseph Cameron, the director of DVR, a line agency under the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities.
“We are given more money than we need.”
The Rehabilitation Service Administration’s 2024 report shows that Guam was among the 15 U.S. jurisdictions that surrendered their allotments, totaling $138.5 million. Other jurisdictions have requested reallocation, but Guam did not, Cameron said.
“Once a year, the agency reviews VR allotments and identifies the remainders based on the services being provided. It’s a matter of priorities,” Cameron said. “The federal government has a mechanism that allows every state and territory to return the unused funds."
Excess allotments are surrendered to RSA “to make them available for other states and territories that need the funds more,” he added. “Hawaii, for example, is underfunded, so they get additional allotments. They are not able to service everyone who needs to be serviced. That’s their situation.”
The State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program, authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, provides grants to assist states and territories operating statewide VR programs for individuals with disabilities. The grants fund local programs that help individuals with disabilities secure employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
In addition to serving individuals determined eligible for the VR program, state VR agencies may also provide pre-employment transition services to students with disabilities who are potentially eligible, engaging private employers.
“Funds are distributed to states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories based on the statutory formula that takes into account population and per capita income in determining the amount of federal funds made available to each grantee for VR program purposes,” RSA said.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to the 2022 Guam report, the total number of DVR applicants declined from 68 in 2018 to 11 in 2020, a decrease of over 60 percent. During the same period, the number of eligible individuals decreased from 39 in 2018 to just two in 2020.
The number of clients with an Individualized and Personalized Education plan decreased from 154 in 2018 to 143 in 2019, but increased to 234 in 2020, an increase of 91 participants. During that time, DVR stated that it was working on clearing out caseloads, but this did not sufficiently explain the increase in participants.
Read related story
DVR attributed the decline in applicants and individuals determined eligible to a lack of community outreach, the absence of a director to lead the agency and its staff, and the pandemic, which negatively affected all activities on the island of Guam starting in the fourth quarter of 2019 and continuing throughout 2020.
“DVR reported all offices were closed during this time, and inadequate technology, such as the lack of internet connectivity and limited remote work, led to the halting of services for a prolonged period of time,” the report said.
DVR indicated that the increased number of participants reported in 2020 could be attributed to individuals who had already been determined eligible for VR services—some as far back as several years—yet had not had an Individualized and Personalized Education plan developed in a timely manner, but who were now moved into a plan. RSA noted discrepancies and incomplete data reporting in the years leading up to 2020.
Cameron said the relinquishment of DVR allotments did not affect the agency’s service. “We never turn away consumers,” he said.
However, he said, some approach the agency to seek money for items that are not covered by the grants. “They want us to give them hearing aids or wheelchairs. These requests may be granted to those participating in the work program. But if somebody says ‘I don’t work,”’ then they are automatically disqualified.”
Subscribe to
our digital
monthly edition
Comments