Georgia State Rehabilitation Council annual report: 2008 executive summary

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{) am pleased to present the Georgia State Rehabilitation Council annual report for SFY 2008, and on behalf of the Council J members , I am equally pleased to report that this Georgia SRC had a successful first year. The Council ' s actions achieved a balance between support for current critical decisions and thoughtful analysis about future issues.

If last year was one of transition for the newly-configured Council, then this year was one of education . Council members learned about one another; they learned about the Council ' s responsibilities; and they learned about the intricacies of working side-by-side with VR administration to achieve measurable outcomes for the Georgia VR program.

The Council also discovered that commitment relies on honest and forthright discussion , and that commitment can only be transformed into action by strategically aligning efforts and speaking with one voice that reflects one common purpose: to ensure that the Georgia VR program becomes the premier organization that assists people with disabilities to maximize their work potential and level of independence.

The chief responsibility of the Georgia SRC is to ensure the integrity of the Rehabilitation Act by supporting all efforts to put persons with disabilities to work, and by making customer focus a top priority. To fulfill this responsibility. Council members have achieved and will continue to build the kind of relationships within and outside the rehabilitation community that leads to purposeful collaboration . As a new Council opera ting in a time of considerable change , we will work to establish our reputation as an entity that carries out the spirit as well as the letter of the law.

The Council values its role as a voice for persons with disabilities in Georgia . As we move ahead to face new challenges and propose innovative solutions to tough problems, we will always be mindful that disability is a natu ral part of the human experience; it should not stand in the way of any person to achieve success in work or in life.

Sincerely,
~~..1_
Linda Shepard , Chair

[1,lssisfcmf Commissioner

Linda Shepard , Peggy Rosser

{) f past is prologue , then the transition experienced by the new Georgia SRC
J last year gave way this year to a deeper understanding of how Georgia's VR
program functions on a daily basis and the Council 's modus operandi became one of education . This was a yea r of learning and discovery, with a continued rigorous examination of policies and principles , challenges and conclusions. by both Council members and VR staff, as well as numerous site visits and extensive meetings with community partners.
That kernel collaboration fostered a high level of accomplishment and an " in the trenches " attitude from Council members that signaled steadfast acceptance of their advisory and policy-affirming roles . Their thoughtful input, creative energy and unselfish sharing of time and talent helped guide our work and achieve our measurable outcomes.
Such commitment will be critical in the year ahead, which promises to be a challenging one . Anecdotal evidence indicates that it is taking a longer time at an increased cost to serve those with the most significant disabilities. There is fewer staff to interact with consumers, many more of whom are seeking new training opportunities and increased post-secondary education options. And clearly we face a difficult budget year, with cuts verging on the draconian .
However. I believe the Council will continue to demonstrate its sincere advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities with fresh enthusiasm . and will use its collective energy and intellect to address whatever hardships might confront us and to help fulfill unmet needs. I am confident that this group of dedicated volunteers will do its utmost to ensure that vocational rehabilitation remains a significant force in the lives of Georgians with disabilities. I am privileged to work with them and proud to call them my colleagues.
1 L ncerely,) ). PelP.Rosser Assistant Commissioner for Rehabilitation Services

VR Program Service Trends
(SFY 2006 - SFY 2008)

Total Clients Served - By Disability Category
(SFY 2008 )

Total Clients Served - Race/Ethnicity (SFY 2008)

Referrals

Appl icants

Work Plans

6 ,969

Clients Working

Rehabilitated

4.477
4 ,648

D -SFY2006 D - SFY2007 - - SFY2008

Mental & Emotional (Psychosocial) Disabilities

Other

Visual Impairments Deaf & Hard of Hearing Commun icative Impairments

Total=
33 ,934 100%

Physica l Di sorders

Cognitive Impairments

American Indian or Alaskan Native

Total=
33 ,934 100%

Asian Black or African American
White or Caucasian Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Multi -Racial Hispanic or Latino

.240/o .560/o 45.290/o 51 .690/o .080/o .390/o 1.75%

Served

110 Program Funding Sources (SFY 2008)

State 220/o

Social security reimbursement

I 0/o

Other match

I 0/o

Federal 760/o

Referral Sources for New Referrals (SFY 2008)

Educational Institutions (Elementary/Secondary) Educational Institutions (Post Secondary)

- ,_ ,-

3.795 _ ,_ 28.56%

434

,~ 3.26%

~

-

Physician or other Medical Personnel or Institutions ,~

Welfare Agency (State or Local Government) -

,-

64 1
,_
~
172 - ,_

4.82 %
-
1.29%
-

Community Rehabilitation Programs Social Security Administration

,_

1.14 1 - ,_

8.58% -

305

2.29%

-

- -

-

One-Stop Employment/Training Centers

,_ 444 _ ,_ 3.34%

Self-Referral Other Sources Total

3.741

28.13%

-

--

- -~ 2,626
~

19.75%

13 ,299

100%

Total Clients Served - Age/Gender (SFY 2008)

Under 18 18 - 24 25 - 30 31 - 39 40 - 54
55 +
Total

Served
1,930 15 ,329 3,194 3, 69 2 7.3 99 2,390 33 ,934

Percentage
5.69% 45 .17% 9.4 1% 10.88% 21. 80% 7.04% 100%

Female
770 6,090 1,202 1,590 3,553 1,225 14.430

Female Percentage
2.2 7% 17.95 % 3.54% 4.69% 10.47% 3.6 1% 42 .52%

Male
1,160 9,239 1,99 2 2,102 3,846 1,165 19 ,504

Male Percentage
3.42% 27.23 % 5.87% 6.19% 11.33% 3.43% 57.48%

110 Program Expenditures (SFY 2008)
(In mi llions)
Services purchased (Total)
Services provided to consumers by Roosevelt Warm Springs
Admin istrative Support
Services provided to consumers by Business Enterprise Program Services provided to co nsumers by Vocational Rehabilitation

Client Employment by Occupation (SFY 2008)
Closed 26/W ithout Supports
87
Farm/Fishing/Forestry 20/o

Total=
4.003 100%

Industrial /Trades/Manufacturing 220/o Professional/Technical/Managerial 120/o
Service Occ upations 31 0/o Miscellaneous Occupations 130/o

Clerical/Sal es 200/o

Client Employment by Occupation (SFY 2008)
Cl osed 26/W ith Supports
II
Farm/Fi shing/Forestry

Industria l/Trades/Manufacturing Professional/Technical/Managerial Service Occupations

Total=
602 100%

Miscellaneous Occupa tions

Clerical/Sales

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essence of(Jeo'!}ia 's vocafionaf rehabifftafion (1r0Jram, but
thCJ lo he0 faint a(1icfure of
ifs cffenfs. ... ofthe (1eo(1fe who are server/with the resources affottel. Most im(1ortant, each number re11resenfs an indivirluafwith a Jisabifff_J on a (1ersonaf11ath ofachievement

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The SRC enjoyed a busy and productive year. working diligently to help empower Georgia ns with disabilities to achieve success in work and independence in their communities. Since nearly ninety percent of its members were serving in their first year. the Council devoted considerable time and disciplined action to training and orientation. In a continuing effort to expand the Counci l's understanding of the needs of VR clients. members traveled to the Georgia School for the Deaf. as well as the Cave Spring Rehabilitation Center (CSRC) and th e VR Unit at Roosevel t Warm Springs. The value of such site visits and meeting consumers where they live, learn , work and play cannot be overstated.
Council member teams also visited each VR region to be able to interact as much as possible with VR sta ff. and to learn fi rst hand about their successes and challenges. Almost universa lly. staff expressed concern about th e vacancy rate . the lengthy recruitment/h iring time to fill vacancies. compensation inequities. and the critical need to increase awa reness of VR. Al so universa l and perhaps far more important. the Council noted that VR staff is buoyed by every client achievement reach ed whether it be acquiring a new skill. finali zing a work plan . completing a success ful college semester or finding employment for the first time .

Virtually every situation in the pa st yea r offered this new Council an unprecedented knowledge-building opportunity, the most critical one perhaps being to help prepare. develop and monitor the annual State Plan . In renewing its pledge to not only support but also refine the 2008 State Plan goals and objectives. the Council reaffirmed the work of its predecessors and underscored the need to have adequate time for implementing those previous recommendations.

With an eye toward building a comprehensive knowledge ba se. th e Council held extensive discussions with the VR leadership team and established committees that broadly reflect the state plan priorities. each with access to at least one designated GDOLNR employee-liaison to assist with the flow of information and aid the Council 's education. Committees to date are Public Relations/Human Resources. Native American. Policy/Procedure/Monitoring & Evaluation . Employer & Recruitment, Legi slative, Education & Transition . and Sensory Services.

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Arguably, the Council 's most critical objective as it moves forward in the new yea r is to hel p create ways to maintain the vitality of the VR program . The Council is clearly engaged in a multifaceted learning process. one in which members are likely to be immersed for the remainder of their term s. Additiona lly. members will continue to identify and refine goals and objectives relevant to th eir committees . and encourage candid dialogue with the VR leadership and committee liaisons. The Council will be open to shaping new ways to use the knowledge and talent of its members to foster an ever-increasing understanding of the public VR system in Georgia . and to provi de support for identified needs.
As previously noted. th e Council has committed to and refined the 2008 State Plan goals and objectives . but has also added two new recommendations for SFY 2009. One aims to increase VR services to veterans. and to provide training for VR sta ff that focus on common disorders experienced by return ing veteran s. most notably traum atic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Th e second recommendation places an emphasis on monitoring the effectiveness of the VR program by maintaining an open line of communication with the consumers of VR services. the employers who hire th em and VR progra m staff. It is essential to listen to customers and to ta ke their advice to heart. Th e major thrust fo r the second half of SFY 2009. th erefore . is to work cooperatively with VR staff to develop and conduct statewide public hearings. as well as customer sa tisfaction surveys for both consumers and employers.
Th e Council strongly believes it has an obligation to assess customer satisfaction. and to evaluate how well the VR program is meeting the needs of its consumers . The survey provides an independent effort to look at how particfpants feel about their involvement with the Georgia VR agency, and allows the Council a means to identify best practices as wel l as areas where there are indications of a decline in consumer satisfaction .
The sa tisfaction su rvey is largely an individual measure . Th e other side of the assessment coin is the public hearing. which is in essence a gathering of interested citizens who provide their perspectives on the way VR does business. Th e Council must engage the community and elicit comments wi th regard to VR program prio riti es. new strategies to improve ou tcomes . and innovative ways to expand services without increased financial resources, among others.
The information received at the pu blic hearings and collected through the satisfaction surveys serves much more than th e basic mandated purpose according to th e law. Customer observations. feelings and experiences give credibility to anecdotal comments and provide a real snapshot of the perceived effectiveness of Georgia ' s VR program .
Such activities are critical to the Council 's effective operation . and underscore its intent to contin ue to lead with integrity. accountability and innovation . and to help cu ltivate an environ ment where all people have an opportun ity to express their talents.

~ he Georgia State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) reflects a cross section of the state's / citizenry who have a stake in the vocational rehabilitation process, and who bring experti se to the Council from myriad perspectives. The Council works jointly with state officials to develop VR goals and priorities and review them annua lly. To accomplish this effort, the SRC aims to:
Build partnerships among people and orga nizations that participate in realizing the mission and vision of the organization ;
Forge a spirit of trust and cooperation among all partners ;
Reach out to people with disabilities and employers throughout the state to create a true spirit of inclusion ;
Be receptive to the concerns and issues raised by people with disabilities. employers , and other concerned individuals so that its work can be a catalyst for positive change.
Mission
To work in partnership with the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) / Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program to prepare Georgians with disabilities to enter. return to . and/or advance into competitive employment. and to promote their hiring.
Vision
To advocate for VR to be the premier organization that assists people with disabilities to maximize their work potential and level of independence, and to ensure that each person with a disability will have the opportunity to gu ide his/her own education and career path .
f.Jhlosoph]
We believe all people deserve the best we have to offer; therefore. we strive to actively value:
Meaningful Work Inclusion Informed Choice
Self Determination
Trust and Integrity Positive and Effective Change Purposeful Collaboration
Vocational Rehabilitation Program State Rehabilitation Council 1700 Century Circle Suite 300 Atlanta , Georgia 30345 Phone# : (404) 638-0380 FAX #: (404) 486-0197
Visit the SRC web site at www.srcgeorgia .com to access the full annual report. Comments and questions may be sent to info@srcgeorgia .com .
G EORGIA D EPARTMENT OF LABOR
MICHAEL L. THURMOND , COMMISSIONER

Linda Shepard, Chairperson Douglasville
Joe Tedesco, Vice Chairperson Athens
James Ashworth Atlanta
Dexter M. Brown Atlanta
Cornelius L. Butler Bainbridge
Fred Cannon Atlanta
Ashley Carraway Decatur
Thomas W. Dennis Newnan
Russell C. Fleming Rome
Michael G. Hale Bogart
Virginia C. Harris Bainbridge
Charles W . Lamb, Jr. Alban y
Wes Massey Commerce
Walter Morris Conley
B. Lu Nations-Miller, Ph.D. Atlanta
Bennie Butler Newroth Columbus
Alice Ritchhart Brun swick
Shelia H. Thomas Augusta
Dorie Tuggle Austell
Christina Peggy Venable Whigham
Charles F. Wells, CRC Macon
Peggy D. Rosser, Ex-Officio Atlan ta