Conference Minutes, Baltimore, MD, March 29-31, 2006
Attendance
* Opening/Welcome and Agenda Review
* Individual Center Review - NCSOCRC Round Table
* Transfer of NCSOCRC Treasury- Letter of Agreement 2006
* National Conference Update and Planning Discussion
* Tour of Workforce and Technology Center
* CARF Survey - Consortium Discussion
* Business Meeting
* Adjournment/Next Meeting
Present: David Holmes (TN), Donald Dew. (GWU), Barry Newill (KY), Lane Wilder (WV), Richard Luck (VA), Rick Sizemore (VA), Jean Jackson (MD), Donald Rullman (PA), Dennis Hart (MI), David Parmer (GA), Barbara Lewis (AR)
David Holmes opened the meeting by welcoming everyone to the Maryland Workforce and Technology Center. He also indicated that he brought a digital camera in order to take pictures of those directors whose pictures are needed for the Consortium's web page. He also expressed appreciation to Lee Dayton, HGAC for her work in serving as the web master for the Consortium's web page.
Jean Jackson welcomed everyone to the Maryland Center.
Don Dew debriefed the group on the latest teleconference that was conducted as preparation for this meeting. He further indicated that, in order to make our future interactive teleconferences more effective, we should all activate the mute button on our remote control devices when we are not speaking. This will increase the audio effectiveness.
Chairman Holmes reviewed the agenda for the meeting.
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David indicated that the NCSOCRC Round Table was placed as the second item of business so that the Consortium members would be able to present and discuss all of the informational items brought to the meeting, as requested at the previous meeting. He then turned the time over to Barry Newill to lead the roundtable discussion:
Carl D. Perkins Rehabilitation Center (KY)
- CARF accreditation review was conducted on Feb 23 and 24th. A three year accreditation was awarded.
- Invited the State Department of Homeland Security to complete a security analysis last year and a copy of the analysis and report was presented to the membership. The report contained physical, procedural and communication vulnerabilities and recommendations
Hiram G. Andrews Center (PA):
- Security is a concern and a phased planning process is in process
- Remedial program revisions are being made to enhance performance levels via teamwork between instructors and remedial teachers through pre/post tests.
- Articulation agreements are being developed with public and technical schools in order to accept students and related credits for high school courses
- Services in vocational evaluation are being expanded to individuals who are blind.
- Census is being maintained in spite of flat budgets.
- CARF is scheduled in June.
- Renovation projects are moving along (25,000 sq. ft,)
- Medical services will be moving to a downtown Johnstown hospital due to a merger of the two main healthcare systems.
- Working to develop a working relationship with the Veterans Administration for vocational services which would operate out of Center space where medical services had been operating. A conference on May 3, 2006 is planned. All members of SOCRC will receive an invitation to the conference.
Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center (AR):
- The Center has been nominated as an historic site. This designation would most likely mean improvement funding for the Center.
- HRSC is working on improvements to their behavior management system on a variety of fronts.
- Each training instructor has been asked to develop one short term training program along with the skills to become employed.
- Career orientation has been added to all vocational skills programs.
- Initiated a 2 day field counselor orientation and training program at the Center.
- Initiated a a one week college preparation program called Learning Evaluation Program. It will start in July.
- Initiated a weight management program.
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Michigan Career and Technical Institute (MI):
- Distributed their latest public information brochure to the members of the consortium.
- Developed a vocational readiness program which can be preparatory to entering a training program.
Roosevelt Warm Spring Rehabilitation Institute (GA):
- Close to selecting/naming of a new director for the Center.
- 35,000 sq. ft. Outpatient Services Building is now under construction.
- There is a renewed emphasis on vocational evaluation, vocational training, and placement.
- Vocational preparation is also being emphasized.
- Census is at 150 and the demand is high.
- Acupuncture has been added to an array of medical services.
- Wound care program is being emphasized and promoted.
- Doing diabetes research.
- Starting a second hospital with separate medical staff to cope with changing funding requirements.
Tennessee Rehabilitation Center (TN):
- Currently operating on an order of selection.
- Clients are more severe and staying longer.
- Operating at 80% capacity.
- Discharge planning starts on admission day.
- Independent Living/ Behavior services are increasing on the priority scale.
- Conducted a major crisis exercise for drill purposes.
- Currently retraining supervisors in behavior management.
- A short term Hospitality Worker training program is being added.
- A new state director has been named and she has quadriplegia. Her perspective is changing the agencies philosophy and operations.
- Attempting to obtain permission to place clients in status 20, thirty days before graduation.
- $7.5 million dorm renovation project is now moving.
- Implementing community partnerships for use in recreation purposes.
West Virginia Rehabilitation Center (WV):
- Debbie Lovely has been appointed as the new state VR Director.
- Donna Ashworth is now working as the Assistant Director for Field Services.
- Assistive Technology, Deaf services and Life Skills have been administratively assigned to the Division of Field Services.
- Closed three training programs (drafting, construction technology, and computer technology) in January due to poor outcomes.
- Refocusing efforts on life skills, transitioning, and community integration.
- Developing a contract to reduce costs in purchasing pharmaceutical supplies.
- Operating under severe fiscal constraints.
- Hosted a job fair for local high school students.
Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (VA):
- Annual report was presented to the membership.
- Average daily census is 274. Goal is 300.
- Life skills transition program (9 weeks) has been successful.
- VR Commissioner has been reappointed.
- Staff survey is being conducted relating to the "renewal" process that was implemented at WWRC.
- Exploring options and factors regarding the establishment of a Research Division at WWRC.
- $20 million has been approved in capitol funding for a medical center updgrade.
- Looking to develop some land leasing opportunities with property owned.
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Workforce and Technology Center (MD):
- Jean Jackson has been appointed as the Center Director.
- Received a three year accreditation from CARF.
- Partnership Training programs are being emphasized.
- Work Adjustment Training is being initiated.
- Maryland Region III VR Office moved into the Center last week.
- Assistant Secretary Hagar visited last week.
The Center for Rehabilitation Counseling Research and Education (GWU):
- The Center will be focusing its outreach on Research and International Programming.
- The National Rehabilitation Employment Conference is scheduled for August 2006
and hopefully the SOCRC Consortium can make a presentation.
- The IRI this year is scheduled for May 1-2, 2006. Topics are related to Autism,
VR. And Business.
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Treasurer Rullman reviewed the letter of agreement between the NCSOCRC and the WWRC Council of Organizations. Approval of the terms and conditions of this memo of agreement clears the way for the Council of Organizations to manage NCSOCRC's funds. Following a discussion and review of the terms and conditions of the letter of agreement with the WWRC Council of Organizations, approval by the NCSOCRC was made by acclamation.
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Following a planning discussion by the members of the NCSOCRC, regarding the National Training Forum for 2006, the following decisions were made:
- Training Forum Dates: September 12-13-14, 2006
- Location: Wyndham Baltimore Hotel - Inner Harbour
- Theme: Preparedness, Prevention and Practice
- Tracks:
- Emergency Preparedness and the Role of the SOCRC as a Community Resource for People with Disabilities (Red Cross, Homeland Security-National or State)
- Prevention: Responsibilities (Security, Physical Plant, Medical)
- Practices: Successful Employment Outcomes and Strategies in Vocational Services (Behavior Education and Community Reintegration, Assistive Technology, Vocational Evaluation, Traditional Services, Planning and Employment)
Dr. Dew and Dr. Luck agreed to develop a draft training forum agenda and send it to the membership.
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Jean Jackson, Director, provided a tour to NCSOCRC members of the Workforce and Technology Center through members of her staff.
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A discussion was lead by Dick Luck about the consortium membership's interest in developing peer review standards of practice that the NCSOCRC would establish and operate.
The consortium agreed to study and explore all of the factors associated with this issue and discuss the concept further at a future meeting.
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Secretary's Report: The secretary requested changes/additions to the minutes of the
previous meeting; receiving none, the minutes were approved as presented.
Lane Wilder, Director of the West Virginia Rehabilitation Center was elected secretary
since Donna Ashworth is no longer the Director of the WV Center.
It was also decided that the minutes for future SOCRC meetings would be the responsibility of the Center Director of the Center in which the consortium was meeting. A draft would then be sent to the secretary for final review prior to sending them to the general membership. When the meeting was not held at a center, the consortium secretary would be responsible for the minutes.
Treasurer's Report: The current financial report was then presented by Don Rullman:
| Beginning balance |
$54,120.33 |
| Receipts |
$0.00 |
| Disbursements |
$0.00 |
| Ending Balance |
$54,120.33 |
| Cash and Investments: |
|
| Savings Account (Rate: 1.30%-APY 1.31%) |
$25.00 |
| Money Market. Acct. (Rate: 2.20%-APY 2.22%) |
$14,095.33 |
| Cert. of Deposit (Rate:4.60%-APY 4.70%) |
$40,000.00 |
| Total Fund Balance |
$54,120.33 |
The Treasurer's Report was accepted by acclamation.
The Treasurer was asked by the NCSOCRC membership to develop a spending plan for the use of the Consortium's funds. He was also asked to send notices for dues to each member each year.
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The next meeting will be held on June 7-8-9, 2006 at the Michigan Career and Technical Institute.
Respectfully submitted,
Barry H. Newill
Acting Secretary
