Welcome to Jacksonville 2019 - National Coalition of State Rehabilitation Councils

WELCOME TO JACKSONVILLE 2019 WE RE GLAD YOU RE HERE

PRESENTED BY THE NCSRC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NATIONAL COALITION OF STATE NATIONAL COALITION OF STATE REHABILITATION COUNCILS REHABILITATION COUNCILS (NCSRC) (NCSRC)

Who are we? Section 105 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) requires consumers, advocates and other representatives of individuals with disabilities to participate in the administration and oversight of a state s VR program. The SRC fulfills this mandate in all states and territories.

Our Job is To be involved in developing policies, planning activities, evaluation the program effectiveness and carrying out other functions related to the vocational rehabilitation program To jointly conduct the comprehensive needs assessment of individuals with disabilities in the state, develop (and agree to) the State s annual goals and priorities, and evaluate the VR performance toward the goals annually

THE ROLE OF THE SRC HAS CHANGED FROM ADVISORY TO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE VR AGENCY

THIS WEEKEND WE WILL HIGHLIGHT ~ LAUNCHING THE NEW IRI REVISIONS STRATEGIC PLANNING OUR ROLE IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTING TO THE STATE PLAN BUILDING A STRONG RAPPORT WITH VR WHAT IS A GOOD ORIENTATION OUR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES WHY DO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND DATA PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!

SRC members from around the country met in 2005 to discuss a shared vision The group began considering the benefits and drawbacks of establishing a national organization Some were paid SRC staff, while others were volunteers or VR staff assigned to work with their SRC Our History That common ground and the power of the collective potential is what led a motivated core of individuals to move forward from brainstorming to organizing

A national Steering Committee was formed and with the A national Steering Committee was formed and with the support of the Rehabilitation Services Administration support of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has convened regular national conference calls of (RSA) has convened regular national conference calls of the SRCs on a bi the SRCs on a bi- -monthly basis focusing on topics monthly basis focusing on topics members have requested to enhance their Councils members have requested to enhance their Councils The Steering Committee formalized into a Board of The Steering Committee formalized into a Board of Directors which meets on a regular basis to further the Directors which meets on a regular basis to further the structure and development of the NCSRC structure and development of the NCSRC For the past several years prior to each CSAVR Conference For the past several years prior to each CSAVR Conference in the spring and fall, the NCSRC has been providing two in the spring and fall, the NCSRC has been providing two (2) full days of training for Council members to become (2) full days of training for Council members to become more educated, opportunity to network with other states, more educated, opportunity to network with other states, given outlines of detailed responsibilities and the tools given outlines of detailed responsibilities and the tools needed to have an effective Council needed to have an effective Council

Attendees offer topics areas in which they would desire more training during conference calls and at each training The spring conferences are held in Bethesda, Maryland with Hill visits scheduled during the CSAVR portion and in fall meetings are held in various locations across the country and planned by CSAVR staff SRC sessions are geared toward basic responsibilities of the Council and how to achieve the requirements as in the law

WE DEAL WITH ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS, UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES IN SRCS, FORMING INTRICATE LINKS FOR ONGOING SUPPORTS AND ACTIVITIES WE NORMALLY MEET WITH THE RSA COMMISSIONER AND THE CEO OF CSAVR AND/OR THEIR STAFF TO GIVE THE SRCS UP-TO- DATE INFORMATION ABOUT VR AND THE IMPACT THE SRCS SHOULD HAVE

The result has seen a much firmer foundation which positions SRCs to be more effective within their respective states & territories and as a national entity This helps to bridge relationships with other SRCs forming strong peer support, create a strong united voice and access to ongoing information pertinent to their Council

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE NCSRC THIS YEAR HAS BEEN THE REDESIGN OF THE COALITION S WEBSITE. THE SITE IS MORE USER FRIENDLY AND WILL BE MAINTAINED BY A CONSULTANT TO ASSURE ALL DATA IS TIMELY AND ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR MEMBERS THE GOAL OF THE NCSRC WITH THE USE OF THE WEBSITE WILL BE TO PROVIDE A RESOURCE FOR COUNCILS TO FIND INFORMATION THEY MAY NEED, REQUEST GUIDANCE FROM OTHER STATES NETWORK AND TERRITORIES AND TO FEEL CONNECTED IN ACHIEVING THEIR MISSIONS AND VISIONS

NCSRC MISSION: NCSRC MISSION: On behalf of people with disabilities, our national membership coalition will advocate for and work in partnership with the national public vocational rehabilitation system s continual quest for excellence.

NCSRC VISION NCSRC WILL BE THE PREMIERE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE CONSUMER VOICE TO ENHANCE THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES THROUGH THE PUBLIC VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SYSTEM

NCSRC CORE VALUES INTEGRITY INTEGRITY ADVOCACY ADVOCACY COMMITMENT COMMITMENT DIVERSITY DIVERSITY EXCELLENCE EXCELLENCE LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP

Our Responsibilities Include Drafting, Collaborating, Development & Participating in the Writing, Monitoring and Implementation of Unified or Combined State Plan Development of Policies Evaluation & Recommendation of the performance of VR programs Having a Knowledge of the Programs & Services Conducted by the Agency Assuring Council Membership is Compliant Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment Process Conducting Consumer Satisfaction Surveys Keeping Abreast of the Fiscal Aspects of the Agency Creating a Council Annual Report Encouraging Council Members to be Active in the Educational Process of the NCSRC

When Determining Your Role ~ Remember That We Are A . Voice Partner Advocate Consultant Supporter Liaison Spokesperson

DO YOU HAVE THE MANDATED PEOPLE ON YOUR DO YOU HAVE THE MANDATED PEOPLE ON YOUR COUNCIL? COUNCIL? HOW DOES THE COUNCIL RECRUIT MEMBERS? HOW DOES THE COUNCIL RECRUIT MEMBERS? ARE YOUR APPOINTMENTS MADE IN A TIMELY MANNER ARE YOUR APPOINTMENTS MADE IN A TIMELY MANNER AND IF NO HOW CAN THAT BE CORRECTED? AND IF NO HOW CAN THAT BE CORRECTED? DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE A GOOD ORIENTATION? DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE A GOOD ORIENTATION?

Unified or Combined State Plan The Council is mandated to advise the Agency on the development of the VR Services Portion of the State Plan. The SRC and Agency should partner to develop, agree to and review the plan s goals and priorities of the Agency. Determining the remarks is a requirement and the responsibility of the Council! The Council should be determining, writing and presenting your observation of what the Agency is doing or could be doing on your SRC letterhead & signed by the Chairperson and/or Committee Chairperson.

Once the observations are noted, the Council should make a recommendation following each observation to the Agency. The Agency s responses to the observations and recommendations should be discussed with the entire Council prior to submitting to RSA.

DID THE COUNCIL HELP DRAFT THE SURVEY DID THE COUNCIL HELP DRAFT THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT? INSTRUMENT? IS THIS DONE INTERNALLY OR THROUGH A IS THIS DONE INTERNALLY OR THROUGH A CONSULTANT? CONSULTANT? HOW OFTEN IS THIS DISSEMINATED? HOW OFTEN IS THIS DISSEMINATED? WHEN & HOW ARE THE RESULTS PRESENTED TO WHEN & HOW ARE THE RESULTS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL? THE COUNCIL? WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL DO WITH THIS WHAT DOES THE COUNCIL DO WITH THIS INFORMATION? INFORMATION? DO YOU CONDUCT A CONSUMER SATISFACTION DO YOU CONDUCT A CONSUMER SATISFACTION SURVEY? SURVEY? CONSUMER SATISFACTION SURVEYS

Comprehensive Statewide Needs Assessment Are you getting regular reports from the agency? Do you know who in in charge of doing this for the Agency? Why is this data important? Ask for the Council to be educated on how this data is collected.

ANNUAL REPORTS WHO GETS THE REPORT? WHAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT? WHEN SHOULD WE START THE REPORT & WHEN IS THE REPORT DUE? WHERE DO WE GATHER THE NECESSARY INFORMATION? HOW DO DISSEMINATE THE REPPORT? WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

WHO ARE THEY? WHAT IS THEIR ROLE WITH THE COUNCIL? REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (RSA) CAN WE CONTACT THEM DIRECTLY? DO WE HAVE A LIAISON TO CONTACT DIRECTLY?

Help Light The Way Speak Up ~ Ask Questions Stay Involved & Informed Encourage Council Members to Participate in Agency Events, NCSRC Conference Calls & Attending Conferences