Department of Rehabilitation Counseling

VCU Associate Professor and Department Chair appears in the International Innovation journal for Empowering Minority Group Research.

Please click here to see the pdf article that is now appearing in the International Innovation journal. We will have our copies of the journal in hand soon. You will recall that our grant was selected for a spotlight in the journal that features innovation this year for worldwide distribution. This journal has a worldwide distribution of between 35,000 and 40,000 so I am told. This certainly will increase the visibility of this project internationally.

Marjorie Howard Scholarship

Karen Hui, a current student in the Master's Program in Rehabilitation Counseling at VCU is this year's recipient of the Marjorie Howard Scholarship for an outstanding distance learning student. Karen is from Hong Kong, China and is in her third year as a distance learning student in the program. This award in the amount of $800.00 was based on her extraordinary potential and fine qualities as a student. A brunch honoring Karen and other scholarship recipients in the department will be held during the semester.

VCU Professor Receives Additional Funding For "Rehabilitation Counseling: Comprehensive System of Personnel Development through Distance Learning"

Dr. Christine Reid, a professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, was awarded a $750,000 ($150,000 per year for five years ) grant by RSA to fund additional distance learning students. The project start date is July of this year, so the department can fund students beginning the fall of 2009. Unlike previous CSPD grants, this grant is not limited to employees of state agencies.

The project “Rehabilitation Counseling: Long Term Training through Distance Learning” is designed to provide high quality, flexible, and cost-effective graduate education options to increase the number of highly qualified Rehabilitation Counselors committed to working in state vocational rehabilitation agencies. State vocational rehabilitation agency personnel will collaborate in instruction as well as supervision of fieldwork experiences within the agencies. Two distance-learning degree options are available to meet varied individual trainee needs and backgrounds: a CORE-accredited master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, and a postgraduate Advanced Certificate in Professional Counseling. Both programs are available on a full-time or part time basis, and have rolling admissions so that students may enter the program in the Fall or Spring semester of any year. Potential trainees with disabilities, members of ethnic minority groups and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people who have demonstrated commitment to vocational rehabilitation agency careers through working for those agencies in some capacity will be actively recruited for inclusion in the applicant pool.

A combination of intensive in-person classroom experiences and flexible asynchronous online training is used to deliver the curriculum. This “high tech – high touch” program offers individualized attention and technical support to each trainee, including reimbursement of computer expenses. Through this project, 30 trainees are expected to become qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors committed to state agency employment. All Federal funds for this project (100%) are dedicated to student tuition and fees, stipends to defray the cost of books and computer equipment, and reimbursement of travel required to attend the on-campus sessions. All other project costs will be paid by Virginia Commonwealth University, a respected leader in Rehabilitation Counseling distance education.

VA to Request New Occupational Category for Counselors

ACA and AMHCA are pleased to announce that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) has approved the establishment of a new occupational category, or categories, for licensed professional counselors and marriage and family therapists working within the VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) health care system. The move is a step toward implementation of Public Law 109-461, the “Veterans Benefits, Healthcare, and Information Technology Act of 2006,” which established explicit recognition of both mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists within the VHA. Until the VHA’s endorsement of a new occupational category, it was unclear if counselors and marriage and family therapists would be considered merely subcategories of an existing occupational category for a different profession.

Establishment of an occupational category for professional counselors has been a key objective for ACA and AMHCA in implementation of the law. Federal occupational categories are developed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), but only at the request of federal agencies such as the VA. Creation of an occupational category will mark a key step in achieving recognition of the profession, although the process is likely to take another year or more.

The VHA’s announcement of the new occupational category came after the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee—which has direct jurisdiction over the agency—wrote to Secretary Eric Shinseki urging the VA to “move quickly” to establish regulations enabling counselors and marriage and family therapists to “work to their full potential within the VA.” The letter also stated that federal job classifications for each of the professions should be established, “in order to recognize their status as full-fledged, independent mental health professions.”

The House Veterans Affairs Committee letter was developed and promoted jointly by ACA, AMHCA, and the American Association for Marriage and Family (AAMFT). Our three organizations—recently joined by the California Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT)—have been working closely together to push for implementation of P.L. 109-461. Our organizations’ close collaborative working relationship with AAMFT and CAMFT will increase our effectiveness in pushing for new occupational categories for each profession, and for continued progress by the VA and Congress in expanding the role of counselors and marriage and family therapists in serving our nation’s veterans.

Peter Atlee
Legislative Representative
American Counseling Association
ph 703-823-9800 x242 | 800-347-6647 x242
www.counseling.org

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Long-term (LT) Training Grant

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Long-term (LT) Training Grant is funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services of the United States Department of Education. The RSA LT Training Grant is designed to prepare and train career rehabilitation professionals for service in the public, state and federal rehabilitation system. Students who are funded on this grant have a strong interest in working in the context of public vocational rehabilitation. The grant as implemented here at Viriginia Commonwealth University prides itself on training the next generation of public vocational rehabilitation professionals. To this end, students funded on the grant are called Keith Wright Scholars. This grant is to honor the career legacy of Keith Wright, a Professor Emeritus, who first worked in state vocational rehabilitation for many years and then as a professor in this department for close to 40 years. Professor Keith Wright exemplifies the blend of passion, advocacy, and expertise to which we want the currently funded Keith Wright Scholars to aspire.

Current Keith Wright Scholars are:

Janice Bailey
Danielle Burton
Matthew Deans
Marcia Gard
John Gomez
Alexandra Hayes
Janneke Kotte
Lawrence Kenyon
Deborah Logan
Ruby Miles
Shermale Motley
Gale Nicholson
Harry Schork
Terry Seward
Karen Clark

Graduation 2008

On Saturday, December 13, 2008 Fifteen students graduated from the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling. They were Rachel Anderson, Heidi Balsley, Desiree Clark, Dael Cohen, Trevin Colclough, Williard Daniels, Yohance Goodrich, Michael Hottman, Autumn Huey, Lamekia Jarman, Donecia Lawson, Daniel Madrid, Rachel Michael, Ronald Smith and Aminata Turay. A special ceremony for the department's graduates was held in the Theater Row building immediately following the University's graduation ceremony. Eight students, families and friends of the graduates, and faculty and staff from the department participated in this special ceremony. Short biographies of those who attended are listed below:

Trevin Colclough
Trevin started in the Master’s program in the Fall of 2007 as an out of state student from Sumter, South Carolina. His advisor has been Dr. Amy Armstrong. Trevin completed his internship at the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority in the Crisis Unit. Trevin is interested in helping people make a change in their lives which is why he came to the Rehabilitation Counseling Program.

Yohance Goodrich
Yohance started in the Master’s program in the Fall of 2002. He is from Petersburg, VA and his advisor has been Dr. Brian McMahon. Yohance completed his internship at the MCA Network. This is a program in Church Hill in Richmond where he works with at risk youth as a substance abuse counselor.

Michael Hottman
Michael Hottman is a student in our Master’s program from Ashland, VA. He began the program in the Fall of 2007. His advisor is Dr. Brian McMahon. He completed his internship at the United Methodist Family Services where he counsels youth in a residential setting. He is currently pursuing a position in the mental health and case management arena. He says his brother has been his inspiration and also the subject of several papers and class discussions.

Autumn Huey
Autumn is from the Richmond area. She started the Master’s program in the fall of 2007. Dr. Brian McMahon has been her advisor. She completed her internship at MCA Medical’s Pinnacle EAP and Millhouse Clubhouse dealing with brain injury patients.

Lamekia Jarman
Lamekia is one of our distance learning students from Pikeville, North Carolina. She started in the Master’s program in the Fall of 2006. Her advisor is Dr. Christine Reid. She currently works for state VR system in North Carolina as a Rehabilitation Counselor. After graduation, Lamekia wants to continue her work in Rehabilitation Counseling to serve those with disabilities.

Donecia Lawson
Donecia started in the Master’s program in the Fall of 2007. She is originally from Brunswick County, VA. where she was a massage therapist and a physical therapy technician. Her advisor has been Dr. Brian McMahon. Donecia completed her internship at the VA hospital here in Richmond. She is the Student Representative for the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling for the School of Allied Health Professions. People around campus know that Donecia has been instrumental in getting the name of the Dept. of Rehabilitation Counseling back in the VCU bookstore and currently on sweatshirts and T-Shirts.

Aminata Turay
Aminata started in the Master’s program in the Fall of 2006. She is from Richmond and her advisor is Dr. Amy Armstrong. Aminata completed her internship at the VA Dept of Rehabilitative Services in the Henrico office as a Voc Rehab counselor. Her interest in Rehabilitation Counseling came from her volunteer experience at a juvenile correctional facility where she combined her interest in working with youth and the criminal justice system.

Ronald Smith
Ronald Smith is a New Orleans native. He completed the certificate program in the spring of 2008 and returned that summer for additional coursework for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor. He completed his internship at John Randolph Medical Center. His advisor in both the Master’s and Post Certificate programs has been Dr. Chris Wagner.

Marjorie Howard Scholarship

Shermale Motley, a current student in the Master's Program in Rehabilitation Counseling at VCU is this year's recipient of the Marjorie Howard Scholarship for an outstanding distance learning student. This award in the amount of $1000 was based on her extraordinary potential and fine qualities as a student. A brunch honoring Marjorie and other scholarship recipients in the department will be held during the semester.

VCU Associate Professor and Department Chair receives $1.78 million dollar DRRP research grant.

Allen Lewis , Associate Professor and Department Chair has just received news that his $1.78 million dollar DRRP research grant proposal ($356K+ each year for five years) to the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research has been funded. Allen will serve as the PI for this grant. The grant focuses on building the system's capacity to conduct minority disability research.

This project identifies and evaluates current practice and methods in the conduct of minority disability research, offers research findings, and improves the capacity of minority institutions and persons with disabilities to effectively conduct and disseminate such research thereby advancing the state of the art and capacity in this research area. The project conducts three primary studies: (1) a national survey that examines the experiences of Americans with disabilities from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups to illuminate the current capacity of the public rehabilitation and disability system, and what research methods, dissemination practices, and strategies are needed to advance the field in culturally competent research; (2) a longitudinal study of post-injury unemployment for minority persons with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries; and (3) prevalence and trends in employment discrimination due to disability for different ethnic groups. In addition to these three studies, the project has seven other objectives: (1) establish meaningful collaborations and partnerships with historically black universities; (2) convene a major Think Tank Summit in Year 1 that becomes an ongoing Minority Disability Research Consortium; (3) create and implement an ongoing interactive Web portal; (4) mentor interested minority students and faculty members; (5) infuse minority disability research best practices into research courses; (6) teach grant writing and publishing skills; and (7) conduct a State-of-the-Science Conference. The proceedings from such a conference and the results from the three studies lead to a major project outcome of a Handbook on Minority Disability Research. Other project outcomes include but are not limited to published papers from the three studies; a national network of individuals with disabilities and minorities from which the efficacy of research and dissemination practices can be evaluated in an ongoing manner; a web database of exemplary research studies, and trained minority students and university faculty who can implement minority disability research best practices identified by this effort and produce more research, including funded research via NIDRR grants, in the future.

VCU Graduate of the Masters Program in Rehabilitation Counseling wins the Virginia Association of Rehabilitation Leadership (VARL) Emerging Leader Award

Maggie Butler, a December 2006 graduate of the Masters Program in Rehabilitation Counseling, recently won the Virginia Association of Rehabilitation Leadership (VARL) Emerging Leader Award. The VARL Emerging Leader award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership potential within the field of Vocational Rehabilitation. This emerging leader will have demonstrated a commitment to the advancement and development of exemplary leadership qualities through innovative thinking, leadership of others, effective participation in leadership activities, and study leading to a positive impact on the vocational rehabilitation community.

VCU Professor Receives Funding For "Rehabilitation Counseling: Comprehensive System of Personnel Development through Distance Learning"

On 4-15-08 Dr. Christine Reid, Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling received notice from the U.S. Dept. of Education's competition that her project "Rehabilitation Counseling: Comprehensive System of Personnel Development through Distance Learning" was funded for $2 million ($400,000 per year for five years, starting July 1, 2008).

Historically, around 12 programs have been funded under the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) CSPD competition. This year, no more than two projects were scheduled to be funded and VCU’s project was one of the two.

The goal of the project, “Rehabilitation Counseling: Comprehensive System of Personnel Development through Distance Learning,” is to provide high quality, flexible, and cost-effective graduate education options to vocational rehabilitation counselors working in state agencies struggling to meet Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) mandates. Three distance-learning degree options are available to meet varied individual and state agency needs: a CORE-accredited master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, an Advanced Certificate in Professional Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Health Related Sciences (Rehabilitation Leadership emphasis). Each option satisfies a different educational eligibility category for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor credential. The master’s degree and advanced certificate programs are available on a full-time or part time basis, and have rolling admissions so that students may enter the program in the Fall or Spring semester of any year. Employees of state vocational rehabilitation agencies with the greatest unmet CSPD needs will be given funding priority.

A combination of intensive in-person classroom experiences and flexible asynchronous online training is used to deliver the curriculum. This “high tech – high touch” program offers individualized attention and technical support to each trainee, including computer assistance and subsidy for purchasing appropriate equipment. Through this project, more than 80 trainees are expected to become qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors, to satisfy CSPD mandates. All Federal funds for this project (100%) are dedicated to student tuition and fees, stipends, and reimbursement of travel required to attend the on-campus sessions. All other project costs will be paid by Virginia Commonwealth University, a national leader in Rehabilitation Counseling distance education.

VCU Professor Receives Award for Disability Discrimination Research

RICHMOND, Va. (May 21, 2008 ) – Brian T. McMahon, Ph.D. , a professor in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Rehabilitation Counseling , and his colleagues have received the Kevin Karr Innovative Rehabilitation System of the Year Award for 2007.

The annual award, sponsored through the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals, IARP, is presented to an individual or group that has made considerable strides in the advancement of rehabilitation systems available to people with disabilities.

McMahon and his colleagues were selected for their contributions to the National Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Americans with Disabilities Act Research Project. This project, housed at VCU, was designed to address disability discrimination in the workplace.

Since 2003, McMahon, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission , and 50 rehabilitation researchers from 12 universities, have worked to profile more than 369,000 allegations of workplace discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act . Through rigorous database development and mining, researchers have been better able to define, document and understand workplace disability discrimination.

“We put this virus (workplace discrimination) under a microscope in order to understand it so that over time we can eliminate it entirely from the social fabric of our society,” said McMahon. “This is social justice research at its best.”

Researchers are nominated by IARP members, and then are selected by an Awards Committee. The award was presented at the IARP Annual Conference on May 16, in Los Angeles.

McMahon is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and past president of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association as well as recipient of its Career Research Award. The concept for the project was developed while he was a Distinguished Research Fellow at the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research during a sabbatical from VCU in 2004-2005.

The research was funded by the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research through a grant to VCU and the National Network of ADA Resource Centers.

VCU Associate Professor Receives NIDRR Field Initiated Grant to Study Substance Use Among College Students With Disabilities

Congratulations to Dr. Steven West for being awarded a NIDRR field initiated grant in the amount of $600,000 over three years ($200K per year) to study substance use among college students with disabilities.

NIDRR field initiated grant is extremely competitive. There are literally hundreds of applications and only a few receive funding. Dr. West is to be commended for his accomplishment.