Program Management

Treva Roanhorse and Paula Seanez from the Navajo Nation Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services Program will present on the Navajo VR program’s involvement with the ICI Learning Collaborative, and their work on using Motivational Interviewing techniques with clients. MI incorporates strong beliefs, values and practices of Native people by forming partnership with clients. A foundation of Navajo culture includes not only the individual but the family and community.

This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDILRR-funded RTAC project of VR Program Management present the lessons they've learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Download the Powerpoint presentation: Motivational Interviewing: A Management-Focused Learning Collaborative Powerpoint (PDF)

All ExploreVR webinars are live captioned: Motivational Interviewing: A Management-Focused Learning Collaborative Transcript (WORD)

On Monday, September 28, 2015 from 12pm - 4pm EST and Tuesday, September 29, 2015 from 12pm - 3:30pm EST, the Research and Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) on VR Program Management hosted an online virtual conference, Expert Summit: Introducing the VR Program Management Framework as a Tool for WIOA Implementation. The RTAC Expert Summit discussed the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Program Management Framework, and highlighted effective program management practices in the context of adapting to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

The two-day virtual conference was a forum to bridge research, policy, and practice. We invited researchers, service users, providers, consultants, and administrators to join us as we discussed priority issues regarding WIOA and identify avenues for future research and development.

This summit stimulated a dialogue between ICI researchers, state VR agency leadership and staff, and content experts regarding all components of the VR Program Management Framework.

For more information about the RTAC Expert Summit, including an archive of the Expert Summit:

RTAC Expert Summit Day 1 Webinar Presentation Day 1 includes Sessions 1, 2, and 3. 

RTAC Expert Summit Day 2 Webinar Presentation Day 2 includes Sessions 4 and 5.

RTAC Expert Summit Session 1: VR Program Management Key Findings (PPT)

RTAC Expert Summit Session 2: Employer Engagement (PPT)

RTAC Expert Summit Session 3: Pre-employment Transition Services (PPT)

RTAC Expert Summit Session 4: Customized Training (PPT)

RTAC Expert Summit Session 5: Extended Services (PPT) 

RTAC Expert Summit Sessions & Agenda (PDF)

RTAC Expert Summit Sessions & Agenda (Word)

Brooke Rogers, Melody Roane, and Deborah Collard will present a description of strategic planning efforts at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired. The presentation will address data collection and analysis, strategic objectives, and development of an overall plan to correlate the services of the center with successful employment outcomes. The speakers will explain how this process addressed program structure, collaboration, and transparency to optimize use of the center. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDILRR-funded RTAC project of VR Program Management present the lessons they've learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Dacia Johnson and Eric Morris from the Oregon Commission for the Blind will discuss their agency’s outcome-based management system. The system addresses specific performance areas with a step-by-step method of problem solving, and uses individual and program-level scorecards. Presenters will discuss how the system was used as the framework for the agency strategic plan, and will share the leadership playbook that established business routines across program managers and the executive director. They will also explain their breakthrough plan that focuses on becoming a client outcome-driven agency. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDILRR-funded RTAC project of VR Program Management present the lessons they've learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Michael MacKillop, Lou Oma Durand, & Arlene Itou from Washington State Services for the Blind will discuss the strategic planning project that the agency initiated in 2014. This presentation will guide participants through the stages of starting up the project, gathering agency data and environmental information, and providing structured means for input from staff and stakeholders. The speakers will also address mission, customer focus, communication, leadership, and process improvement, as well as key lessons learned. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDILRR-funded RTAC project of VR Program Management present the lessons they've learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Kate Drake and John Stem will present on the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services payment methodology and monitoring process for employment services delivered by community rehabilitation programs. They will summarize the activities they implemented, how they included their stakeholders, the results of the activities, their current proposal, and next steps. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDILRR-funded RTAC project of VR Program Management present the lessons they've learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Aaron Thompson from the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation will present on the agency’s VR client base size reduction and control project. This presentation will cover evaluation of client/VR counselor ratio increases, efficiency in serving clients, process analyses, and determining the need to implement an Order of Selection. Aaron will also address the project’s success and barriers, and will offer recommendations for states exploring similar issues. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDILRR-funded RTAC project of VR Program Management present the lessons they've learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

Jason Burns and Michelle Wilson from the Chickasaw Nation VR Department will discuss the program’s involvement with the ICI Learning Collaborative, and their work on developing a national model of job placement for tribal VR programs. The speakers will discuss strategies for developing and implementing a national job placement/development model for tribal VR departments.

Kamilia Drogosz and Erin Pluto from the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind will guide participants through the program development and implementation processes of a new statewide mentoring program. This program connects transition-age VR consumers with working professional mentors who are blind, with the goal of maximizing employment outcomes. This webinar is part of a series where members of the NIDILRR-funded RTAC project of VR Program Management present the lessons they've learned through their management initiative. The RTAC is a collaborative initiative to identify, test, and disseminate management practices to build a performance management model tailored to the vocational rehabilitation system.

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