Located in:
- Program-Specific Requirements for State Vocational Rehabilitation (Combined or General)
The Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services Portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following descriptions and estimates, as required by sections 101(a) and 606 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by title IV of WIOA.
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.
In accordance with the requirements in Section 101(a)(7) of the Rehabilitation Act, the VR agency must develop and maintain annually a description (consistent with the purposes of the Rehabilitation Act) of the VR agency’s comprehensive system of personnel development, which shall include a description of the procedures and activities the State VR agency will undertake to ensure it has an adequate supply of qualified State rehabilitation professionals and paraprofessionals that provides the following:
- i. Comprehensive System of Personnel Development.
i. 2. C. Description of staff development policies, procedures, and activities that ensure all personnel employed by the VR agency receive appropriate and adequate training and continuing education for professionals and paraprofessionals:
i. Particularly with respect to assessment, vocational counseling, job placement, and rehabilitation technology, including training implemented in coordination with entities carrying out State programs under section 4 of the Assistive Technology Act of 1998; and
ii. Procedures for the acquisition and dissemination of significant knowledge from research and other sources to VR agency professionals and paraprofessionals and for providing training regarding the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act made by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Current Narrative:
To ensure that staff have access to adequate training, LRS systematically provides ongoing training. At least twenty-four (24) hours of in-service training are required annually for each employee covering topics such as assessment, vocational counseling, job placement, rehabilitation technology, and other topics relevant to vocational rehabilitation. Statewide training sessions regarding revised policies and procedures are conducted throughout the year. The LRS Training Unit also elicits input from counselors, supervisors, support staff, and administrators regarding their training needs. LRS also distributes articles, information, and literature about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and vocational rehabilitation practices at Regional Manager meetings, regional staff meetings, and training sessions. All staff development activities contribute to the mission of improving the quality of services and the number and quality of employment outcomes for people with disabilities. LRS uses all available information for the on-going analysis of training needs including the following: Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment results; Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) review; Management reports; and Quality Assurance findings.
LRS is certified through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification to provide approved continuing education hours for applicable coursework.
Additionally, all Office of Workforce Development staff are required to attend at least 10 hours of continuing education courses. Trainings through the Vocational Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Centers, and Workforce GPS are approved to meet this continuing education requirement.
LRS consistently analyzes all consumer data to identify areas of need for increased training or varied approaches. Updated information and research is disseminated to all LRS field staff by State Office. In addition, shared network drives and folders are utilized for storage and reference of recorded training, policy and procedural information.
LRS partners with the Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network (LATAN) under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 to provide client referral to their Assistive Technology Market Place, peer-to-peer information sharing, and information and referral for other assistance such as the secured loan financing program that helps consumers obtain financing for assistive technology. LRS staff are invited to participate in LATAN assistive technology (AT) day events including AT device demonstrations and educational webinars.