Narrative: d. 2. I. ii.

MVR works actively in recruiting new counselors with master’s degrees in rehabilitation counseling or other related areas. As mentioned above, Missouri has one graduate level rehabilitation counseling program that, at this time, is not sufficient to produce the number of qualified rehabilitation professionals needed by MVR in all areas of the state. Even though graduate enrollment is high at Maryville University, many of the students are not willing to relocate from the St. Louis area. To address this issue, job announcements are sent to other institutions of higher learning that have rehabilitation counseling programs such as Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Emporia State University, University of Arkansas, and Missouri universities that offer graduate-level counseling, social work and/or psychology programs.

MVR advertises all openings with the jobs.mo.gov web page and lists all openings on the agency’s website. Additionally, MVR advertises all openings on multiple online job search sites, including Indeed.com, Simply Hired, and US Jobs among others.

MVR sends all job announcements to its state’s historically black college, Lincoln University-Jefferson City, Missouri; as well as other historically black colleges such as Southern University-Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Langston University-Langston Oklahoma; and Mississippi State-Starkville, Mississippi.

MVR utilizes a diversity consultant to assist with ongoing staff development activities and outreach to underserved populations around the state. The consultant and the MVR Diversity Team work with MVR staff. The diversity consultant presented in-person training sessions for all staff in each of MVR’s 25 offices and in-person training to new counselors this past year.

During 2017, approximately 12% of all professional staff and 26% of support staff with MVR were persons from diverse backgrounds. MVR also actively recruits individuals with disabilities. District supervisors and VRCs in MVR district offices receive all VRC job notices. Other disability organizations, including CILs and CRPs, are consulted about recruiting persons with disabilities. Approximately 25% of all professional staff and 11% of support staff with MVR were persons with disabilities.

MVR continues to offer non-paid as well as paid graduate internships for potential employees. MVR also considers candidates who have completed their necessary coursework and need to complete their internship requirement for open positions with the agency. During 2017, MVR provided one student with an unpaid practicum experience to enable the student to complete graduate coursework. MVR also provided a job shadowing experience for another student. These students will be considered for upcoming counselor vacancies. Three staff members worked on or completed their internships while serving as VRCs.

MVR is involved in a variety of activities to recruit and retain qualified rehabilitation personnel. Recruitment efforts are focused in part on maintaining good relationships with colleges and universities that offer degrees that meet state rule. MVR has a close working relationship with the graduate rehabilitation counselor program at Maryville University. MVR staff attends career fairs, serves as guest speakers, and makes regular contacts and visits to recruit students from the above master’s level rehabilitation program. MVR representatives sit on the advisory board at Maryville. Staff development needs and important future training/recruiting issues are discussed at these advisory meetings.

MVR provides a career ladder for counselors rewarding their success and tenure. MVR has a succession plan team that is working on recruitment plans and ideas to retain qualified personnel. Leadership development and capacity building is encouraged statewide through optional training, the Emerging Leaders program, tuition reimbursement, team membership, guidance from MVR’s leadership director and other activities. MVR encourages each staff member to view themselves as a leader in their current role.

The team has developed a new “Becoming a Counselor” brochure for potential VRCs and a welcome letter for after they are hired. The team held focus groups with Maryville students ready to graduate with their masters and current staff. The purpose was to solicit feedback on what students are looking for in their counseling careers and what current staff feels about working at MVR.