CRP-RCEP

CRP-RCEP News : Delaware

What's Happening in Delaware?

On September 27th, 2006 thirty five community rehabilitation professionals attended a one day training titled: Supporting People with Behavioral Challenges to Keep a Job: Proven Strategies that Really Work. The training, conducted by VCU-RCEP consultant, Connie Ferrell, was held at the Delaware Department of Labor’s training facility, located in Wilmington. Session evaluations revealed, the training was well received, and participants left with some very useful information which would immediately be applicable in their work. The RCEP would like to extend a great “Thank-you” to Delaware’s Department of Labor for providing the training site.

The Delaware CRP-RCEP state liaison, Lucy Miller, has worked hard to identify the key stakeholders in DE and has made individual contact with a majority of these stakeholders. The purpose of these efforts has been to develop a needs-based training and technical assistance plan that builds upon existing local, State, and regional initiatives and resources. The goal has been to design a program of training and technical assistance that dovetails with current programs and focuses on previously unmet needs.

Planning meetings have taken place with representatives from Del ARF, the ARC of DE, University of DE, DE DRS and representatives from numerous community rehabilitation programs. The purpose of these meetings has been to identify specific training needs and to strategize on the most effective methods for delivering training and technical assistance. The top priority training areas identified in this first year were job development and strategies for successful job retention. In May, Lucy Miller conducted a one-day intensive training session on job development in Dover, DE. The next event is scheduled for September 2006 and will be conducted by Connie Ferrell. The topic is supporting individuals with challenging behaviors in community job sites. Evaluations of the job development session were very positive! Participants can now register online at http://www.crp-rcep.org for the upcoming September training in Wilmington, DE.

Several staff members from DE community rehabilitation programs have participated in the two Supported Employment Web Courses (the certificate course that serve as an overview of supported employment and the specialty course that focuses on supported employment for individuals with severe mental illness) that ran from January 2006 through May 2006. The courses will be offered again in September 2006. CRP and VR personnel from Delaware have also taken advantage of the no cost registration to the Live Web Cast Series available to CRPs in Region III.

If you have questions about what is happening in Delaware, please contact:

Lucy Axton Miller, DE State Liaison
Voice: 502-899-1391
E-mail: lamiller@vcu.edu