CRP-RCEP

CRP-RCEP News : Virginia

What's Happening in Virginia?

The Region 3 CRP-RCEP has an exciting line-up of trainings scheduled for 2007! Trainings will be held across the state touching on issues from Customized Employment to Job Site Training and Retention.We will begin our line up in Richmond and Northern Virginia and have Cary Griffin discussing Customized Employment including self employment. Carys trainings are always fun and extremely informative so register now for these events (http://www.crp-rcep.org/training/training.cfm?state=VA).

Other state happenings include the Virginia Transition Forum March 12 - 14, 2007, at Norfolk Marriott Waterside. This longstanding conference is ideal for educators, rehabilitation practitioners, workforce development personnel, community stakeholders, including students, parents, employers, advocates and representatives from adult service agencies invested in the successful transition of youth with disabilities. For more information, including registration and agenda, go to: http://www.virginiatransitionforum.org/

Eight individuals from Virginia recently participated and completed our Supported Employment Web-Based Certificate Series. This is a twelve week course that is offered online and can be accessed from any computer that has an internet connection. The next course will be offered March 26, 2007 and will end June 10, 2007. During the course, you will receive information several important employment strategies including developing business partnerships, instruction in the workplace, marketing and job development, positive behavior supports, and social security work incentives. For more information and directions for registration, go to: http://www.crp-rcep.org/training/courses/se_course.cfm

Two individuals from Virginia recently completed VCU CRP-RCEP’s other course - Supported Competitive Employment for Individuals with Mental Illness – for more information on this web-based course, please visit: http://www.crp-rcep.org/training/courses/mi_course.cfm

During the first year of funding for the Region III CRP-RCEP, the Virginia CRP RCEP state liaison, Jennifer McDonough, has worked to develop a training and technical assistance plan for community rehabilitation programs that complements and expands on current CRP focused training initiatives and resources in Virginia and addresses unmet training needs. Planning meetings have taken place with representatives from Virginia APSE, VA ACCESS, and the Department of Rehabilitative Services to identify specific training needs. Also, an online needs assessment was made available. Priority training areas identified to date include marketing and job development, customized employment, and work place supports for individuals with challenging behaviors. Trainings are being planned on these areas.

The CRP RCEP staff will be attending upcoming regional meetings around Virginia focused on strengthening supported employment services. For example, the state Independent Living Conference is taking place in August 2006 in Roanoke, and the annual Collaborations Conference will be held in Virginia Beach in September 2006. The VCU Region III CRP RCEP is actively supporting these conferences by providing four concurrent training sessions at each on topics in areas such as Benefits Planning and Employment, Personal Assistance Services in the Workplace, Employment of Persons with Severe Mental Illness, and Business Development.

The CRP RCEP has also worked with the Virginia Departments of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services and the Department of Rehabilitative Services on how best to support interagency collaborative efforts on making supported employment an evidenced based practice available to individuals with severe mental illness. For example, on April 3, 2006, a one-day training titled Supported Employment of Persons with Severe Mental Illness as an Evidence Based Practice was held at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, Virginia. In attendance were approximately 25 professionals. The training was specifically geared toward state vocational rehabilitation counselors who primarily serve individuals with mental illness on their caseloads. The training included: an overview of Supported Employment, a panel presentation, and a facilitated discussion related to the opportunities and challenges involved in implementing evidence based practices. This event was the result of a joint effort with the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services. Follow-up trainings will be taking place with community rehabilitation programs.

A number of staff members from community rehabilitation programs in Virginia 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 persons with severe mental illness) that ran from January 2006 through May 2006. The courses will be offered again in September 2006. CRP staff in Virginia have also taken advantage of the free registration to the Live Web Cast Series available to CRPs in Region III. These web casts are conduced by the VCU CRP RCEP. Six Virginia CRPs registered for the June 2006 web cast on diversified funding. Be sure to contact your Region III CRP-RCEP to participate in these low cost or no cost opportunities!

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

Jennifer McDonough, VA TA Liaison
Voice: 804-828-6984
Email: jltodd@vcu.edu