Program for Rehabilitation Leadership¹
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership (PRL) provides human resource development and organizational development services to public and not-for-profit organizations providing services and supports to individuals with disabilities. The Program is funded through federal cooperative agreements as well as various state and local contracts. PRL activities include on-campus and field-based training and education, technical assistance, and action research. PRL is nationally recognized for exemplary practices in human resource development and organizational development. Deon Locklin served as Director of the Program for Rehabilitation Leadership in 2002.

Projects

The Regional Continuing Education Program for Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRP-RCEP). Deon Locklin, Project Director. The CRP-RCEP is designed to address the broad range of learning needs shared by community rehabilitation organizations throughout the eight southeastern states. Begun in 1997, the CRP-RCEP is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, to provide learning services to over 700 community rehabilitation providers and independent living centers in the region. Each of these organizations provides employment-related services and supports to individuals with disabilities. The CRP-RCEP is a partnership of the Program for Rehabilitation Leadership at Georgia State University and the University of Tennessee Technology, Inclusion and Employment (UT-TIE) program.

The Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program for Administration & Management (RRCEP-A&M). Deon Locklin, Project Director. Cooperative agreement with U.S. Department of Education. The RRCEP-A&M was established in 1978 in order to meet the recurring learning needs of supervisory, managerial, and administrative personnel in state vocational rehabilitation agencies in the eight states of federal Region IV. The RRCEP-A&M has evolved into an on-demand, rapid response, continuing education and technical assistance program serving state rehabilitation leaders. In addition, the RRCEP-A&M provides technical assistance to affiliated RRCEP programs around the nation in the areas of organizational development and human resource development.

Consortium for Distance Education in Rehabilitation (CDER), in collaboration with San Diego State University and the University of North Texas. Sally Siewert, Project Director. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership at Georgia State University, the University of North Texas, and San Diego State University received funding in 2002 from the U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration, to provide M.S. degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling to currently employed professionals in the field, allowing them to meet current standards in federal legislation for rehabilitation providers. The degree program is conducted using distance learning technologies, and includes cohorts of 50 counselors from throughout the nation. In December, 29 students from throughout the Southeast graduated with master’s degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling.

Region IV Employer Outreach Project. Sally Siewert, Project Manager. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership, in concert with the Region IV Employer Partner's Team (made up of representatives from each of the 12 state vocational rehabilitation agencies in the southeast), concluded a 24-month project to develop five marketing resources for vocational rehabilitation. A Marketing Plan, a Practical Guide to Establishing Effective Employer Relationships, training materials, and training workshops have been produced. In addition, a Web site was created, dedicated to employment issues for state agency rehabilitation staff, and marketing videos to be utilized in outreach to employers were produced. The project is funded by the Technical Assistance Center, Rehabilitation Services Administration, and jointly administered by the Georgia Division of Rehabilitation Services.

Highlighted Activities

The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership hosted several events during the year, including:

• National Management Simulation. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership, in collaboration with the Independent Living Management Research & Training Center in Buffalo, N.Y., sponsored a national management simulation for Center for Independent Living personnel, held in Nashville, Tenn., October 8-11, 2002.
• Regional Community Rehabilitation Leadership Program. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership sponsored a Community Rehabilitation Leadership Development Program, targeting emerging leaders within not-for-profit organizations providing rehabilitation services. The Leadership Development Program involves 10 months of on campus and distance learning activities.
• New Supervisors Institute. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership sponsored two Institutes for New Supervisors, one targeting personnel from an eight-state region and the other conducted for the Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services. The Institutes involve one year of training and coaching for newly promoted supervisors in state vocational rehabilitation agencies.

1. For a complete listing of AYSPS Active Research Sponsored Grants from CY2002, see the Appendix: Report on External Funding.