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  • 1.  Forensic entry

    Posted 07-03-2022 18:09

    Hello everyone! Happy 4th!  Please bear with me as this is my first post.

    As a CRC,  I wish to expand my practice into forensics (and later/concurrently adjunct faculty assignments). I've been completing research to identify qualifications,  certifications, education, and practical experience to enter the field with confidence and expertise. I would love to have a conversation with an expert on the "inside".  Requesting mentorship, guidance, suggestions on appropriate credentials/experience and insight. I am currently enrolled in CVE certification coursework through the CRCC.

    www.linkedin.com/in/jenbenconsulting

    Thank you for any advice or input!

    Respectfully,

    Jennifer Bennett, MA, CRC
    Vocational Counselor & Consultant
    Jennifer Bennett Consulting
    Santa Fe, NM
    909-957-1905
    Business: info@jenbenconsuting.com
    Personal: jenben505@gmail.com



    ------------------------------
    Jennifer Bennett
    Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor & Consultant
    Info@jenbenconsulting.com
    Santa Fe, NM United States
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Forensic entry
    Best Answer

    Posted 07-06-2022 13:11

    Welcome.
    You have the three most important ingredients for qualification and practice as a VE:

    • CRC
    • Master's degree in counseling, preferably RC
    • Experience in VR doing plans and placement
    You may hear from some who tell you that one or more of these are not really necessary because some judge might let them, or others w/o testify as experts. But please don't listen to what they tell you since they are outliers. It is nutty as fruitcake to claim yourself to be an expert (at anything) not possessing what most peers (or peers to be) possess. The vast majority of us have what you do and those who don't are make lame excuses about it rather than simply doing all the hard work and getting what almost all of their competition has long possessed.

    Join ABVE and go to their conferences and read their journal. Go to IARP conferences as well. 

    The way most VEs enter the field is via becoming a Social Security Vocational Expert. It provides the single best means of developing skill, experience and comfort in providing testimony, responding to cross examination questions, and in required use of standard methodology used in virtually all legal venues in which VEs are often utilized. SSA is the largest retainer of Vocational Experts, and no other legal venue will afford you a fraction of the experience in testimony as will SSVE. 

    Unfortunately, the IARP SSVE group does not allow admittance to their forum unless and until you actually have a SSVE contract which, to me, makes zero logical sense. But you can ask any question relevant to SSVE on the forensic forum since what one does as an SSVE is obviously forensic. and since most on Forensic are currently or have been SSVEs.  You can also attend sessions relevant to SSVE at IARP conferences.

    Best of luck to you

    ------------------------------
    Scott T. Stipe, MA, CRC, CDMS, IPEC, D/ABVE
    Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
    Board Certified Vocational Expert
    Scott Stipe & Associates, Inc.
    DBA Career Directions Northwest
    4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd
    #188
    Portland, Oregon, 97214
    (503)234-4484
    (503)234-4126 fax
    email: sstipe@careerdirectionsnw.com
    website: www.careerdirectionsnw.com
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Forensic entry

    Posted 07-06-2022 14:27
    I agree with Scott.  Join ABVE.  Just preparing for the exam and obtaining letters of support from attorneys in front of whom I've testified was a very helpful process in transitioning to forensic work.  You can also submit a work product,;demonstrating your ability to write a thorough vocational assessment.  I am still fairly new to forensic work compared to others in this forum, but I'm glad to have the certification.

    Best Regards,
    --
    Michele Erbacher, MS, CRC, ABVE/F
    Erbacher Rehabilitation & Consulting
    Cell:  (716) 807-6708






  • 4.  RE: Forensic entry

    Posted 07-06-2022 19:43

    Michelle-

     

    Excellent suggestion.  I will join as an associate member to access the benefits while I gain additional experience.  Thank you!

     

    Jennifer A. Bennett, MA, CRC 

    Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor/Consultant

    Jennifer Bennett Consulting

    Mobile: 909-957-1905 |  info@jenbenconsulting.com  

     

     

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  • 5.  RE: Forensic entry

    Posted 07-06-2022 20:11
    Hi Scott-

    The warm welcome is appreciated! You email helped me realize I am better prepared than many wishing to enter the field. YES I have my CRC! YES my M.A. is in Rehabilitation Counseling and YES I have great experience in VR doing plans and placement in addition to completing many vocational assessments for the DOR. I have also written and presented findings and recommendations judicially through my advocacy work.  Every experience contributes and builds. I will keeping building. Thank you!

    I am joining ABVE, the resources and networking look fantastic. A few people reached out to me from this organization. The 2021 IARP conference was my first.  I'll be in Fort Worth in October!

    "It provides the single best means of developing skill, experience and comfort in providing testimony, responding to cross examination questions, and in required use of standard methodology used in virtually all legal venues in which VEs are often utilized. SSA is the largest retainer of Vocational Experts, and no other legal venue will afford you a fraction of the experience in testimony as will SSVE."  This is exactly what I need, I will do this!
    Your suggestion of the SSVE has echoed throughout multiple emails and advice over the last few days. I am researching others with a BPA that to sub and gain this valuable experience with oversight and guidance.

    Thank you again Scott.   -Jen


    ------------------------------
    Jennifer Bennett
    Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor & Consultant
    Info@jenbenconsulting.com
    Santa Fe, NM United States
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Forensic entry

    Posted 07-07-2022 19:22
    Glad to assist.
    There are some really great folks in IARP and ABVE as well as some faux "experts" amongst us as well as at large. They are welcomed as colleagues but really aren't.  You can talk basic RC 101 stuff, standard methods, transferability of skill fundamentals, testing, placement and VR Plan development with and get weird deer in headlights looks and nodding back...duh. Some have never placed anyone or done a plan. The stuff you will read can be goofy.
    Don't listen to anyone who doesn't have what you (and most of us) have as they are not real Vocational Experts. Be suspect, like any attorney would be, of any expert at anything who is retained 99% by one or the other side. What they do specifically requires using no, selective, or incorrect method in order to engineer desired outcomes. Attorneys go to them when they know their case sucks. Most attorneys just want a fair, objective opinion based upon good method, and to know how bad things are. Be excellent.
    Hopefully others will add some stuff

    ------------------------------
    Scott T. Stipe, MA, CRC, CDMS, IPEC, D/ABVE
    Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
    Board Certified Vocational Expert
    Scott Stipe & Associates, Inc.
    DBA Career Directions Northwest
    4110 SE Hawthorne Blvd
    #188
    Portland, Oregon, 97214
    (503)234-4484
    (503)234-4126 fax
    email: sstipe@careerdirectionsnw.com
    website: www.careerdirectionsnw.com
    ------------------------------



  • 7.  RE: Forensic entry

    Posted 07-07-2022 23:27
    Scott's words make great sense.  After over 40 years doing expert witness work, I have always stuck to a basic rule: I will never tell a referral source what they want to hear....I will tell them what they NEED to hear.  Now, there is a certain amount of arrogance (though most will call it CONFIDENCE) that goes along with this, of course, but the importance of this cannot be overstated.

    I encourage you to find a mentor and start working with them or a group willing to hire you in a supporting role so you can gain experience before you strike out on your own.  Don't be in a hurry. There is a lot to learn.

    Best of luck to you.

    Bob

    Robert H. Taylor
    1987 Haven's End
    Prescott, AZ 86305-2148
    (928) 713-6833
    (720) 600-2636

    Sent from my iPad





  • 8.  RE: Forensic entry

    Posted 07-08-2022 10:47

    Already did ��

     




    alt

    KIM NORTZ, MRC, LVRC, CRC, CDMS

    Manager, Vocational Rehabilitation

    P (385) 351-8093

    knortz@wcf.com







  • 9.  RE: Forensic entry

    Posted 07-08-2022 10:49

    So sorry, I don't know how that was sent here. My apologies.

     




    alt

    KIM NORTZ, MRC, LVRC, CRC, CDMS

    Manager, Vocational Rehabilitation

    P (385) 351-8093

    knortz@wcf.com