Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for Vocational Rehabilitation
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan* must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by section 101(a) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by WIOA:
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* Sec. 102(b)(D)(iii) of WIOA
- d. Coordination with Education Officials
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- I. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development(Formerly known as Attachment 4.10)). Describe the designated State agency's procedures and activities to establish and maintain a comprehensive system of personnel development designed to ensure an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professional and paraprofessional personnel for the designated State unit, including the following:
- iii. Personnel StandardsDescribe the State agency's policies and procedures for the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards consistent with section 101(a)(7)(B) and 34 CFR 361.18(c) to ensure that designated State unit professional and paraprofessional personnel are adequately trained and prepared, including:
- iii. Personnel Standards
- I. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development; Data System on Personnel and Personnel Development
- 2. Information on the Formal Interagency Agreement with the State Educational Agency with Respect To:
- d. Coordination with Education Officials
d. 2. I. iii. I. Standards That Are Consistent with Any National or State- Approved or -recognized Certification, Licensing, Registration, or Other Comparable Requirements That Apply to the Profession or Discipline in Which Such Personnel Are Providing Vr Services; and
Current Narrative:
The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services adopted a standard which states rehabilitation counselors would be “eligible to sit” for the CRC exam in 2009. This standard is easily obtainable by a majority of new staff, because they are graduating from rehabilitation specific programs. Almost all other staff hold related degrees, which fortunately contain coursework in the theories and techniques of counseling, a critical component in an individual’s ability to be “eligible to sit” under current CRCC reviewing practices. Transcripts are required as part of the state personnel application process allowing coursework to be reviewed by the hiring supervisor and the human resource division of the department. However, one of the greatest obstacles in using the “eligibility to sit for the CRC” standard are the changes that CRCC periodically makes to this criteria as it relates to Category D and R. CRCC implemented a change to the categories in July 2014. This in effect knocked 16 agency staff out of “eligibility” status. In order to prevent this from happening in the future, the agency is considering certifying all current counselors and supervisors that meet CSPD for the agency based on the current educational standards for CRC eligibility and not requiring them to meet any new standard that should be implemented. Individuals hired after any new CRCC regulations are enacted will be required to meet the new standard as being “eligible to sit” for the exam. Ninety (90) possess a master’s degree and CRC certification (47%) Additionally, 97 possess a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling (CORE program) or required coursework and experience and are eligible to sit for the CRC exam (99%) There are currently four (4) counselors who do not meet the state CSPD requirement. One (1) will complete her coursework in the spring. The three (3) remaining have been offered opportunities to further their education either by distance education or on campus, thus enabling them to enhance their knowledge and effectiveness and provide for succession planning. These employees who either possess a master’s degree in a non–related field, or possess a related degree but without the necessary coursework or supervised experience have been presented with opportunities to acquire a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling through RSA long term training grant programs or obtain the necessary coursework through the RSA in–service training grant. All have been made aware of the requirement to meet the state standard. Those who chose to remain or were hired by the department beyond the required timeframe have had their signature authority removed for determinations of eligibility and rehabilitation plans. These rehabilitation counselors’ specific duties must be reviewed, approved, and signed by a senior counselor or supervisor meeting the CSPD standard. Current and closed consumer files are reviewed by the department’s Quality Assurance section to assure compliance with this policy until the staff meets the CSPD requirement. ADRS and state personnel adopted new minimum qualifications in 2012 to strengthen the application process. By requiring that qualified candidates must be eligible to sit for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) by the end of their probationary period (up to one year) ADRS now has the ability to terminate employees who do not complete the necessary requirements. This change has helped to align the state personnel qualifications more closely with the CSPD standard. However, there appears to be an effect on the number of qualified applicants in areas of the state where there is not a rehabilitation counseling program. This has recently prompted a discussion among agency leadership to review and possibly make changes to the CSPD standard and/or the personnel qualifications in the future. The listed salary range of our beginning rehabilitation counselor positions is $33,902.40– $51,376.80. The senior rehabilitation counselor pay range is $37,389.60–$56,685.60. Each pay range consists of eighteen steps. Newly hired counselors can start at step three of the eighteen–step range, or $35,589.60, in order to help in recruiting efforts.