Rapid Engagement: The Essential Role of Partners and Providers is the third installment of a four-part series on Rapid Engagement. The first two presentations focus internally on rapid engagement applied to processes such as eligibility determination and plan development. This presentation focuses on the delivery of services outside of a State VR agency, emphasizing the importance of State VR agencies playing a lead role in the development of partners and resources needed to provide services in the most efficient manner. In addition, this presentation focuses on the importance of understanding current inter-agency processes and improving them to reflect the principles of rapid engagement highlighted in the previous presentations.

Participants are encouraged to read RSA Technical Assistance Circulars 15-01 and 15-02 that provide guidance around resource identification, partnership development and continuous improvement of processes to meet the needs of the customers and reach the vision of competitive integrated employment for persons including those with the most significant disabilities.

 

Research shows that collaborative problem solving and teamwork are linked to better outcomes in organizations. Are you creating an environment in your organization that supports collaborative work and reaps the benefit of effective team work? This training provides an overview on enhancing your teams’ performance even in the midst of turbulent times.

The redesigned Case Service Report (RSA-911) Data Dashboards are now available in an accessible Excel workbook, which includes performance results for all State VR agencies and four previous quarters of RSA-911 data. This webinar recording explores how to optimally use the redesigned dashboards in a self-paced format.

The VRTAC-QM is pleased to announce the release of a webinar entitled: "Long COVID: Under What Circumstances Is It A Disability?" Your presenters, RoseAnn Ashby and Nichole Tichy discuss Long COVID and the symptoms and functional limitations that may result as well as the definitions of "disability" in both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Vocational Rehabilitation program and how they may apply to Long COVID. In addition, the webinar will provide practical tips that will help you use the information you have gained regarding Long COVID and the applicable legislative guidelines for practices within Vocational Rehabilitation so that you can better assist individuals who present with this condition.

This second module in the series is a practical look at how VR counselors can apply rapid engagement strategies in their work to keep individuals with disabilities actively engaged throughout the VR process. The training reviews regulations relevant to the essential VR processes (e.g., handling referrals, taking applications, making eligibility determinations, developing Individualized Plans for Employment, and providing services leading to employment outcomes). Throughout this discussion, new methods of service delivery consistent with regulatory requirements are specifically highlighted so that counselors can provide efficient and effective support to individuals with disabilities seeking VR services. The training concludes with some case examples that will allow VR counselors to apply the information presented throughout this module so that they can more readily implement rapid engagement strategies in their service delivery practices.

This four-part series will provide relevant information for VR administrators, managers, and VR counselors to increase VR data literacy and data quality at all levels of the agency. Trainings will be released quarterly during Federal Fiscal Year 2023 and will be available in the training portal throughout the duration of the VRTAC-QM grant. The training series includes Part 1: The Essential Role of Data in the VR Program; Part 2: Data: A VR Cultural shift; Part 3: Data: VR Talent and Tools; and Part 4: VR Data and Analytics.

CRC opportunities are available.

The VRTAC-QM is pleased to announce the release of a micro-training on determining eligibility for individuals seeking to advance in employment. Your presenters RoseAnn Ashby and Chaz Compton discuss the eligibility criteria as applied to individuals seeking to advance in employment, RSA guidance on advancing in employment and how post-employment services applies to this topic.

The training is intended for supervisors and managers in State VR agencies to provide an overview of the importance of onboarding for new employees in order to enhance their knowledge and skills.

 

Rapid engagement in VR - Module 1: A Call to Action makes the case that streamlining and expediting the processes associated with eligibility determination and IPE development in State VR agencies is a practice that will have positive impacts in maximizing the likelihood that consumers will be active and full participants in their rehabilitation plans and achieve successful outcomes.

Part 1 – Background and Purpose of Training provides an overview of the data and background on why rapid engagement is an effective strategy and demonstrates the linkages with better outcomes based on data from the RSA 911.

Part 2 - Administrator’s Perspective focuses on strategies for administrators to assess their current service practices and develop change initiatives to incorporate rapid engagement strategies as part of their service models. Examples are also provided of agencies that successfully implemented these practices.

This webinar provides an overview of the performance management process and how to effectively conduct performance reviews. You will learn about performance review best practices and some dos and don’ts of performance reviews that will help those newer to supervision in carrying out this duty as effectively as possible. Eligible for CRC credit