A Solution to Personnel Shortages in the Florida Public Vocational Rehabilitation System
Project Description:
The Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of South Florida, Tampa (Congressional district 15) is funded under the Rehabilitation Services Administration Long-Term Training Program to address personnel shortages within the Florida Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) system. New courses are proposed to teach scholars customized employment strategies that align with provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) and adhere to recommendations from researchers on essential knowledge domains. These courses add to the already strong Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accredited program, ranked 30th in the nation by US News and World Reports. The program emphasizes applied learning that focuses on effective practices to serve VR consumers with a wide range of disabilities.
Aim 1: Recruit a minimum of 30 scholars (5-7 annually), with outreach to underserved groups, to increase the number of competent rehabilitation professionals available to work in the VR system.
Aim 2: Provide high quality training based on the recommendations of researchers and effective practices in the field to promote competitive, integrated employment outcomes for VR consumers.
Aim 3: Provide targeted training on CE strategies designed to identify the interests and talents of job seekers and to negotiate career placements in competitive, integrated settings.
Aim 4: Enhance collaborative relationships with VR, community-based providers, employers, and other stakeholders to promote a more efficient, effective, and seamless system.
Keyword(s):
rehabilitation counseling Florida public vocational
Core Function(s):
Continuing Education/Community Training
Area of Emphasis
Employment-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
