IARP members,
On behalf of the RCC, I apologize for the quickness in which we posted the Statement on Professional Qualifications and Credentials this week. A number of the RCC members have been at conferences or enroute to conferences and we wanted to get the document up so you had time to read it and comment in advance of the Town Hall meeting on Friday at the IARP conference. Thank you to Elizabeth Skyles for posting this.
We have already received some very valuable comments, which is what we were hoping for. And wee want more.
So, I just wanted to clarify,
1) the document is not final;
2) We are in a 30-day comment period until Monday, November 23, 2015
3) To clarify, the RCC statement’s intent is not to exclude or disregard, but is meant to focus on what truly makes the rehabilitation counseling profession, training and expertise unique and valued.
We have taken a bold stand with this statement, although some may see it as too bold and others see it as not bold enough, while others may feel too little too late. Given the times we are in and the issues we are facing as a profession specific to rehabilitation counseling (including vocational rehabilitation counseling), the coalition members felt we had to take a stand on recommended qualifications and credentialing publically to try and firmly establish our professional standing across the board, from the counselors in the field, students aspiring to work in the field, employers and public agencies, educators/institutions, licensing boards, legislators and the public.
The RCC is a coalition and the recommendations are not addressed to one subgroup of rehabilitations counseling nor one organization, but take into consideration a consensus amongst the organizations that make up the RCC. We understand some will be upset and may feel disenfranchised. This is not our intent. We hope to protect the profession for all as best we can given the current climate and dangers the profession faces.
Please consider that since the RCC was formed after a meeting in October 2014 (only one year ago) in the midst of strategic planning, we have had to quickly address two pressing events - language in WIOA which effectively would allow others outside our field with little expertise to work as rehab counselors in state agencies and the notice of merger of CORE and CACREP with CORE going away as of July 1, 2017. In fact, the merger of CORE and CACREP became a central focus of the time the RCC members had together at our August meeting.
So, please make your voices heard.
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Lynne Tracy
Vocational Counselor
lynnetracy@sbcglobal.netCalabasas, CA United States
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