The RCC has taken major steps forward in advocating for the rehabilitation counseling profession. We now have a website (still being built) and a telephone number for inquiries about the RCC. (937) 775-4203.
We met in March at the same time as NRA's Legislative Summit. This afforded the RCC the opportunity to meet personally with RSA Commissioner Janet LaBreck to introduce the RCC to her and begin a dialog about the future of the rehabilitation counseling profession, especially in light of language in WIOA. The RCC members emphasized the intention of all the member associations to work together for the greater good of the profession and our interest in supporting and partnering with her. Commissioner LaBreck in particular was focused on the lack of discussion, in general, around cultural competencies, diversity and disability. She noted that one of the profession's hurtles was not being able to show outcome data, something IARP and the RCC are well aware of and working on.
The RCC has also issued a public statement regarding language recommendations to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) that the RCC would like to see included in the "other comparable requirements" provision in the CSPD (Comprehensive System of Personnel Development). The focus the RCC has recommended is on skill domains for personnel providing VR services. A copy of the RCC's statement is attached to this posting.
On the second day, members of the RCC went to the Hill to meet with various committee staffers. Katherine Dunlap, Bob Paré and myself met with two senior policy advisors from the Committee on Education and Workforce (Jacque Chevalier with the House minority and Brad Thomas with the House Majority). All three of us felt this was a very successful meeting for both the RCC and those of us in the private sector as in general they have very little knowledge or understanding of the work we do in the private sector. For this committee, provision of quality services helping those needing to transition from school to work is a significant concern and hearing about IARP's advanced educational programming to train voc people to do this work really piqued their attention.
RCC members also had a meeting with staffers from the HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Committee including Dr. Chrisann Geist. Unfortunately, this group ran into resistance from this group, some of whom helped draft the language in WIOA that would allow for people such as those with business degrees to act as VR counselors with no training in working with people with disabilities.
Finally, we had four meetings with staffers on the Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education & Related Agencies and one is the Minority Staff Director on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security to discuss IARP's continued advocacy for an increase in SSVE fees along with reasonable established qualifications for all SSVEs. For those of you who do not do SSVE work, there has not been an increase in fees in over 30 years for those doing this type of work.
IARP has been joined by NASPPR to fight for an increase in SSVE fees. Dr. Amy Vercillo, myself and our lobbyist Lou Enoff were joined by NASPRR members Dr. Joe Keferl and Elizabeth Skyles (also an active IARP member.) All four staffers were very interested in the fee issue and the overall role of the VE in the Social Security disability hearing process. They requested language from us on the fee issue. They also seemed to support the need for qualification standards for SSVEs.
Next Steps:
Our SSVE Section lobbyist, Akerman will be crafting a few scenarios regarding language we would like to see accepted by SSA regarding SSVE fees. Once completed, the scenarios will be sent to all four of the staffers we met with.
The RCC will be meeting again in August 2015 in Dayton, OH to continue our work on the future of the rehabilitation counseling profession. As a reminder, the four areas the RCC is focused on include: 1. Recommending competencies in professional preparation and credentialing of personnel; 2. Coordinating legislative action through legislative branch, the executive branch, and public policy; 3. Engaging in contemporary research and promotion of funding priorities; 4. Developing of a dynamic plan for rebranding/gilding Rehabilitation Counseling.
I will continue to keep IARP members apprised of the work of the RCC and solicit your comments about the challenges facing the profession and directions recommended by the RCC. Please stay informed, keep the IARP Board and the RCC informed when you come across needed information and contacts, and please give feedback and thoughts. The future is at our feet.
Lynne Tracy, IARP President and RCC member
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Lynne Tracy
Vocational Counselor
lynnetracy@sbcglobal.net Calabasas, CA United States
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