Crossing the Bridge to Effective Case Management: An Innovative Training Model
Linda Keller, Ph.D., CRC, LPC
Moira Przybylowski, M.S., CRC
Julia Smith, Ph.D., CRC, LPC
Dona Fuerst, M.A.
Sheila Hoover, M.A., CRC
Dona Fuerst
WA DVR
Sheila Hoover
Oregon OVRS
Linda Keller
WOU
Moira Przybylowski
WOU
Julia Smith
WOU
About WOU’s RCE Program
• Small university in rural setting
• RCE program in Dept of Special Ed
• 3 Tenured faculty, 1 full time Adjunct
• RC Cohort
• RCD Cohort
About WOU’s RCE Program
• 30 years in existence• Recipient of RSA grant support for 29
years• Began as an RCD program• 1990 added RC general option• 1999-2004 offered a distance learning
cohort under CSPD long-term training• CORE accreditation since 1985
WOU’s RCE’s Graduates
2000-2006 STATS• Average number of students: 28• 11 % students represent minority populations• 22 % students have disabilities• 98 % placement rate (2 % unable to work due
to medical reasons)• 20-30 % students hired BEFORE graduation• 50 % of graduates hired by State VR
History of Partnership
• VR involvement:– RCE Admissions– RCE Advisory
Council• CORE/Program Eval• Field training
materials
– Guest Speakers– Job Shadow Sites– Internship Placement
• WOU involvement:– State Rehab Council
Membership– OVRS Quarterly
RCD/HH meetings– RIPD– Joint training
ventures• Ethics• Medical Aspects
Building the Partnership
Why have rehabilitation educators and state agencies chosen to partner in training
graduate students?
Formal partnership meeting 11/2003
Identify ways to strengthen existing opportunities in preparing qualified
rehabilitation counselors to best serve people with disabilities from a variety of backgrounds to achieve independence
and suitable employment.
Building the Partnership
• Commitment to share resources
• Commitment to continue with what’s working
• Commitment to BUILD on partnership opportunities
Benefits of Partnership
• Strategic planning
• Promotes networking
• Helps us look outside our own organization
• Increased resources
• Shared vision of counselor preparation
Linda 10
Designing a Solid Plan
Refining the Blueprint
Agreed to CO-DESIGN
two new courses:
• Advanced practicum course
• Case management course
Why Case Management?
RCE Advisory Council recommended:• Design a course with real world application• Include practicing professionals
– In design– In actual provision of training
• Include application of – Case management theory– Practice – Techniques (CORE standard)
Modeling the New CORE StandardSECTION C(e): General Curriculum
Requirements, Knowledge Domains, and Educational Outcomes states:
“the program shall provide ongoing opportunities throughout the course of study for interactive and collaborative experiences with individuals with disabilities in a variety
of roles and settings”
Partnership Works For All!
Dona/Sheila 15
Reinforcing the Connections
The Case Management Course
• Developing course outline– Based on existing training from
Washington DVR and Oregon OVRS– Taught by former VR counselors now
working at administrative level in state VR– Emphasis on field-based scenarios from
real cases (names changed for confidentiality)
The Case Management Course
• Spans the entire VR process
• Scenarios based on actual clients
• Special focus on eligibility and IPE development
• Emphasis on effective case documentation and decision making
The Case Management Course
Sample exercise: Daria • Group process builds negotiation skills• Incorporates theory taught in previous
coursework• Mimics peer-support case
staffing/review common in the field• Requires students to view consumer’s
needs holistically
Active Learning!
Moira 15
Voices From the Bridge
Michelle Smith, WA DVR Counselor“The case management
class opened my eyes to what VRCs really do
on the job.” “I was able to walk into
my internship with a competent knowledge…
I required very little additional instruction to prepare me for my daily
case management tasks.”
Michelle Smith, WA DVR Counselor“I was surprised by the eligibility process. I had
assumed [it] would be pretty black and white but soon realized it is
not…discussing this in a group setting helped me
grasp the ethical challenges that come
with determining eligibility while in OOS.”
Mahala Sloan, Alaska VR Counselor“The case management
class provided a basic foundation of tools that I was able to
understand and use during my internship
at the Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation Office.”
Mahala Sloan, Alaska VR Counselor“I enjoyed the hands-on
work and the projects that were provided.”
“I was able to apply my knowledge from this
course to my internship.”
Amberly Ruck, Vocational Consultant“The class provided some
of the most meaningful exposure to the VR
process in the rehabilitation counselor
program.”“[It] was a most essential
class in preparation for vocational rehabilitation
services delivery.”
Amberly Ruck, Vocational Consultant“The familiarization of ORCA ‘best practices’…
played a large role in bridging the gap
between the graduate program and work as an
intern…and made [agency-based training
during internship] easier to grasp or master.”
Jaime Silva, OVRS Counselor
Steve Cooper, Intern
Julia 10
Beyond the Bridge
Advantages for Students
• Capstone course– Last course before formal internship – Utilizes collective knowledge/skills from major RCE
coursework– Jump start for internship – ready for cases
• Hands-on opportunity with a “real life” automated case load
• Ability to compare/contrast two different state agencies: one in order of selection (OOS) and one not in OOS
Advantages for VR State Agencies
• Students arrive in the field with basic skills• Collaboration strengthens both the DSU and
the training program• Easier to assess students’ potential as
employees• “Hot topics” in the field are included in
students’ professional development
Advantages for WOU RCE Program
• Application of "best practices" from the field
• New CORE standards support direct application to persons with disabilities
• Evidence of partnering for RSA grants• Shared resources and expertise • Just plain "fun"
Lessons Learned
• Expect the unexpected
• Plan for the unexpected
• Continuous quality improvement
• Refine and update (surveys)
Remember to have fun!
Changes for Future Course Offering
• Move class for “lab day” to the state agency site (on-site computer usage)
• Run through individual student ORCA case load the week before and the day before “lab day”
• Continue to develop the course content based on feedback from former students
• Adapt content to keep current with best practices, Federal Regulations, CORE Standards and other influences
How Will YOU Build Bridges?
• What can you take to your home state?
• Any ideas on what you might try to implement?
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