Utilization of Social Media
IARP Illinois has developed a
LinkedIn page and currently has 46 members. We utilized this page to
communicate information about our Annual Seminar that took place in
September 2013 and plan to update our members regarding the 2014 Annual
Seminar when information is finalized. Discussion has begun among the
IARP Illinois Board regarding the posting of employment opportunities,
internship requests by students, networking events, mentoring and other
ways to connect students with rehabilitation professionals via LinkedIn.
We have also developed an IARP Illinois Facebook page which currently
has 9 likes from IARP Illinois Facebook users. Within the Facebook page
are several announcements regarding student member benefits and IARP
Course of a Lifetime Interviews. This page was developed for IARP
Illinois members to connect with other rehabilitation counseling
professionals, share resources, discuss conference news, and to network
regarding potential job opportunities. Student members are encouraged to
share information, weblinks, or any other resources and news with other
rehabilitation professional members and student IARP members through
the IARP Illinois page. Links to the IARP Illinois page have been
posted several times on IARP’s official Facebook page. The development
of clear guidelines on the utilization of Social Media within IARP would
assist with our initiative to streamline communication among our
members, provide valuable resources for employment and internship
opportunities for students and professionals and allow access to current
events and the latest trends in the Rehabilitation industry.
IARP Illinois Student Committee 2014 Update
A
survey was sent out to all 32 Illinois IARP student members and yielded
responses from 10 members. The 5-item survey contained questions
designed to determine the most appropriate monthly telephonic meeting
times, and gauge student attendance at IARP conferences and level of
interest in participating in future conferences. The survey asked
questions regarding ranking the level of knowledge one has in IARP and
private case management rehabilitation areas of practice. The majority
of respondents stated they are interested in the scope of private
rehabilitation, excited to learn more about the field, but have a
somewhat minimal understanding of IARP areas of practice. The leading
areas in order of level of interest: (1) Vocational Case Management, (2)
Forensic Expert Witness Testimony, (3) Disability Management, (4)
History of IARP, Private Case Management, and NARRPS, and (5) Life Care
Planning. The findings of aspects that would make student members become
more involved in the IARP community ranked by level of interest: (1)
Professional Networking, (2) Job Board for New Graduates, (3)
Student/Professional Networking Events, (4) Counselor (CRC) Mentors, (5)
Volunteer Opportunities, (6) Internship Opportunities, (7) Job
Shadowing Possibilities, and (8) Career Development Activities.
A networking event night is to be tentatively held on June 25, 2014 at
IARP’s headquarters in Glenview, IL and social media task force
initiatives involve ways to approach gaining more student interest and
contribution to IARP IL’s student section and to encourage maximum
student attendance at the event. As a face-to-face approach is also
very worthwhile, IARP IL Student Chair Christopher Mathis will create
handouts explaining the many benefits of student membership and provide
small presentations to universities with rehabilitation counseling
programs within the Chicago-land area. Northern Illinois University is
our first university visit and is scheduled for 4/17/14. We will look to
speak with newer graduate students who may not have a clear
understanding of rehabilitation counseling in the private sector and
explain IARP’s student benefits. We will also begin conducting monthly
telephonic meetings outside of traditional work hours. Future meetings
could be held at 6 PM to enable more student contribution. These
efforts will maximize student participation within the section and
elicit high attendance for the IARP IL professional/student networking
event evening.