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 2004.

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 support 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. (1999-2004, $2,500,000; 2002-2007, $2,500,000)

The Regional Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program for Administration & Management (RRCEP-A&M). Deon Locklin, Project Director. 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. This program is funded through a cooperative agreement with U.S. Department of Education. (2004-2009, $1,706,050)

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 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. (2003-2004, $9,520; 2004-2005, $9,520)

RSA Scholars Program (U.S. Department of Education). Deon Locklin and Roger Weed, College of Education. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership received a grant award in 2004 from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, to provide scholarships to Georgia State University students seeking a Masters degree in rehabilitation counseling. The RSA Scholars Program is a collaboration between the Program for Rehabilitation and the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services within the College of Education. Scholarships cover full tuition/fees and provide a nominal monthly stipend for up to 36 graduate students to pursue a five semester course of study. The grant award is for a five year period. This project is unique in its strategic emphasis on the needs and priorities of the Georgia public vocational rehabilitation program. The RSA Scholars Program will ultimately improve capacity to provide meaningful employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities in Georgia and throughout the southeast. (2004-2009, $750,000)

Strategic Planning and Needs Assessment Initiative (North Carolina Division of Vocational Rehabilitation). Deon Locklin. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership is assisting the state vocational rehabilitation agency in North Carolina with a long term initiative to transform the existing statewide service delivery system for individuals with disabilities seeking employment. The project involves comprehensive needs assessment, market-based strategic planning, and organizational change implementation. (2004-2005, $96,000)

New England Rehabilitation Leadership Institute (Assumption College). Deon Locklin. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership was asked to conduct a three phased leadership development institute for state vocational rehabilitation agency personnel employed throughout federal Region I. (2004-2005, $20,156)

Community Needs Assessment (Special People of Fayette County, Inc.). Deon Locklin. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership conducted a comprehensive assessment of service and support needs of individuals with disabilities residing in Fayette County, Georgia. Findings were used to expand community employment options through partnership with local non-profit organizations specializing in employment services for people with disabilities. (2004, $18,600)

State Rehabilitation Council Training Initiative (U.S. Department of Education). Deon Locklin. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership assisted with a national initiative to provide training to State Rehabilitation Council members appointed in each state to oversee planning and evaluation of the state vocational rehabilitation agency. Georgia State University will pilot the training curriculum in January 2005, targeting participants from the eight southeastern states of federal Region IV. (2004-2005, $20,512)

Learned Optimism (U.S. Department of Education). Deon Locklin. Staff from the Program for Rehabilitation Leadership were funded to complete a certification program at the Center for Positive Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, in the topic of Resiliency. The curriculum will be used to train state vocational rehabilitation agency supervisors and managers in building personal resiliency skills necessary for organizational change. (2003-2004, $39,000 and $5,404)

Recruitment Initiative (U.S. Department of Education). Deon Locklin. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership was provided supplemental funding to assist state vocational rehabilitation agencies with human resource planning, as these agencies face critical personnel shortages at all levels. (2003-2004, $31,019)

Employment Partners Team Contracts (Region IV State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies). Sally Siewert. The Program for Rehabilitation Leadership was asked to provide technical assistance to state vocational rehabilitation agencies throughout the southeast, to build capacity to network with private businesses and industries that employ individuals with disabilities. (2004-2006, $36,000)

1. For a complete listing of AYSPS Active Research Sponsored Grants from CY2004, see the Appendix: Report on External Funding.