CRP-RCEP

CRP-RCEP News : West Virginia

What's Happening in West Virginia?

The Region 3 CRP-RCEP trainings are about to begin in West Virginia! Multiple CRPs and state stakeholders provided VCU with suggestions, comments and concerns regarding the training needs for CRPs in West Virginia and from these suggestions a training schedule was developed. The first training scheduled will be held in Institute, WV at the WV Rehabilitation Center. The topic will be: Diversified Funding: How to Write a Grant. Katherine Inge and Jennifer McDonough will discuss suggestions and hints about what makes a good proposal. Participants will be actively involved as the trainers guide them through writing an actual grant proposal.

Special thanks go out to LuAnn Summers and WV DRS for helping VCU secure this training location. For a full schedule of events planned for WV, please visit: http://www.crp-rcep.org/training/training.cfm?state=WV Two individuals from West 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 busi ness 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

VCU CRP-RCEP also offers a 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 West Virginia CRP-RCEP state liaison, Jennifer McDonough has worked with key state stakeholders to develop a training and technical assistance plan for community rehabilitation programs. Initial visits to the state were made by the liaison to discuss the current state of supported employment in West Virginia as well as the history of employment for individuals with disabilities in the state. Planning meetings have taken place with WV DRS, multiple CRPs, and other key stakeholders to identify specific training and technical assistance needs. In addition, an online needs assessment was made available.

On July 25th, a full day training entitled “Interagency Collaboration” took place in Morgantown, WV. There were approximately 15 individuals in attendance including CRP Executive Directors, CRP supported employment program managers and staff, state VR personnel, and the WVARF director. The training was directed at looking at how state and local agencies were currently communicating and collaborating and how VCU could improve or assist with this effort. In addition, the training looked at how the state compared to other states in relation to supported employment services, where the CRP’s and VR would like to see their programs headed, and what VCU could do in the way of technical assistance and training to help them increase and improve supported employment services. This event was the result of a joint effort with the West Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services and PACE Training and Evaluation Center.

Through initial site visits, meetings, and the July 25th training, a training and technical assistance plan has been developed with the help of WV DRS and many CRPs. Priority training areas that have been identified include: financial diversification, Social Security Disability benefits issues, marketing, job development, and customized employment. Trainings are being planned on these topics. Technical Assistance will focus on the need for increased interagency coordination of SE policies and strategies and assistance with implementing Regional Forums to increase learning and sharing of information across CRP’s.

A number of staff members from community rehabilitation programs in West Virginia participated in the CRP-RCEP Employment Conference held April 4-5 in Richmond, VA, as well as the Live Web Cast Series available to CRPs in Region III. 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) will be offered in September 2006 and are open to Region III CRPs for a discounted cost.

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

Jennifer McDonough, West Virginia TA Liaison
Voice: 804-828-6984
E-mail: jltodd@vcu.edu