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 employment services 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. 2003 marks the 25th anniversary of the Program for Rehabilitation Leadership at Georgia State University. Deon Locklin served as Director of the Program for Rehabilitation Leadership in 2003.

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 non-profit 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 programs 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 Center on Disability and Employment at the University of Tennessee.

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 project 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 continued funding in 2003 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. Twenty-nine students from throughout the Southeast graduated in 2003 with master’s degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling.

Region IV Employer Outreach Project. Sally Siewert, Project Manager. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership continues to support the ongoing effort of the Region IV Employment Partner’s Team, which includes representatives from state vocational rehabilitation agencies throughout the southeast. The Employer Outreach Project, a specific curriculum development initiative of the Region IV Employer Partners Team, was completed in 2003.

Region IV Recruitment Initiative, Chip Kenney, Project Manager. State vocational rehabilitation agencies face severe personnel shortages due to massive retirements within the field. To address the personnel preparation, recruitment, and retention needs within the public program, the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, implemented a strategic initiative in 2003. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership plays a key role in implementing this initiative in the southeast.

1. For a complete listing of AYSPS Active Research Sponsored Grants from CY2003, see the Appendix: Report on External Funding.