Oregon Association of Rehabilitation Professionals

2005-06
EXECUTIVE BOARD

Officers
(Click name to
contact by email.)

Grace Smith, President

Teddy Forester, President-elect

Kathy Wallace, Treasurer

Adriane Gaffuri, Secretary

Sandy Johnson,
Past President

Board Members
at Large

Cheri Ballantine

Marlene Bastian

Kim Foye

Dennis Funk

Ed Hickok

Linda Hill

Margaret Moore

Michele Nielsen

Sandy Schramm

Index: (Click on bookmarked link to go to the article)

•  President's Message
•  Past President's Message
•  Treasurer's Report
•  Legislative Committee
•  RAU Update
•  Injured Worker Fund
•  Editor's Notes
•  Spring Conference Photo Album

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President's Message
Grace Smith, OARP President 2005-2006

As the incoming President for the 2005-06 year, I congratulate all of you who do the arduous work of a rehabilitation professional.  It takes strong communication skills, the ability to multi-task, set priorities and make sometimes difficult decisions, as well as  excellent problem solving and mediation skills. 

I am proud to be a rehabilitation professional.  I came into this field by chance, but have stayed because of my love of the work.  After 23 years, I still enjoy the variety and change I see in it.  I enjoy the clients we serve, feel empathy for the employers we work with, respect the other professionals we deal with, and hate the paperwork!  I suspect many of you do, too.

During this upcoming year, we can look forward to yet another interesting year (you remember that Chinese Proverb).  It will, no doubt, be a year of significant change.  We can look forward to rule changes again, as well as potential legislative changes that may impact our work.  Some thoughts on those are detailed elsewhere in this newsletter.

One of the most interesting aspects of our work is the variety of situations in which we find ourselves.  This year will undoubtedly increase the already seemingly endless possibilities.

I look forward to a year of serving you.  Ours is a dynamic organization that reflects the diversity of our members.  We no longer are a private rehabilitation provider organization; we are striving to change to meet the needs of all sectors in which our members work.  Help us to do so by allowing us to hear from you about the changes you want to see, and come help us grow to meet the challenge of the year and decade ahead.

Past President's Message

Sandy Johnson, M.Ed., CRC
April 11, 2005

If someone had told me in 1985, when I first heard of OARP, that I would be completing a year as President 20 years later, I would have laughed hysterically.  I was fairly new to the profession and brand new to Oregon.  My colleagues all seemed to know everyone and appeared to be much more confident than I felt.  Now, looking back on my year as President, it is heartening to feel the support of so many. 

First, I offer my deepest appreciation to the Board of Directors, which consists of 12-15 professionals who work tirelessly in so many arenas.  One committee plans and implements two outstanding conferences every year.  We have speakers from widely diverse backgrounds who share their knowledge in areas such as the medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, ethics, legal issues, governmental systems that support and regulate our field, and so many more.  Each conference also allows us to become familiar with a variety of vendors, such as schools and training programs that support the work we do.  Plowing through the myriad of logistical details to enable these conferences to function smoothly is a remarkable achievement!

Other Board members attend and participate in legislative hearings that impact our field.  They serve a vital function to educate legislators about the benefits of rehabilitation so that individuals with disabilities, particularly injured workers, can access these services that enable them to function again as productive members of society.  OARP also publishes a newsletter three times per year with the latest updates and helpful information we need to function effectively—such as the latest changes in administrative rules. 

Of course, what truly makes the organization work is its membership: the counselors in the public and private sectors who together form a dynamic force.  The lively discussions and networking that enrich the conferences are testimony to our strength and our heart.  I am proud to work with all of you! 

Treasurer's Report

Kathy Wallace, OARP Treasurer, reported total assets of $3,14111.80 as of the last Board meeting on April 19, 2005.  OARP funds are low at this time, primarily due to decreased membership.  We will be looking for ways to encourage membership and to increase OARP income over the next several months.  As always, feel free to contact any Board member to make any suggestions or to discuss how you think OARP might best utilize this money to benefit members.

Legislative Committee Report

By Grace Smith 

Our committee has not met since the last Newsletter article but has been active.  We participated in a number of MLAC meetings in the Fall and up into January.  MLAC meetings were held to discuss the 105, 110 and 120 Rules in early to mid-January.  We attended those meetings and provided input into the process.

Significant changes proposed

105 Rules (Employer At Injury Program):

• Skill building classes may be defined as “transitional work” and employers may be reimbursed for allowing workers to attend classes, e.g. GED, other skill enhancement.

• Current 90 days maximum reimbursement for wage subsidy would continue but would not have to be consecutive—any 90 days within a one year period would count.

110 Rules (Preferred Worker Program):

• Allow EAI to access PWP benefits one time without jeopardizing worker’s entitlement to future use of PWP.

• Promote use of PWP before permanent limitations known, if it’s clear that worker will have permanent limitations.

120 Rules (Vocational Assistance):

• Eligibility Evaluation to begin when doctor projects worker will not be able to return to regular work and projected permanent limitations are provided by physician.

• Eliminate vocational evaluation process, since most workers who are eligible are eligible for training benefits.

• Requiring a conference with RRU if no plan is ready within specified timeframe (75 days).

Based upon input from WCD, attorneys, employer representatives, injured worker groups, and the OARP Board, proposed rules have been drafted.  They are available at the WCD Website.  Public testimony, verbal and written, was taken on all the above rules on April 22, 2005.

The Legislative Committee and other interested Board members met at the Board meeting on April 19, 2005, to draft written testimony relative to the above issues.  This was presented on April 22, 2005.

The current timeline is that the new rules will be effective July 1, 2005.  WCD representatives from both RRU and RAU are planning on giving some joint training around the state.

RAU Update

Re-employment Assistance Unit Update,
An Interview with Jerry Rutherford, RAU Manager
By Adriane M. Gaffuri

Jerry Rutherford says that RAU personnel have been stable over the past several months. They are currently in the process of hiring a person who will job share as a Re-employment Specialist. The Job Match Program continues to be in operation. This program attempts to match preferred workers with employers interested in utilizing the Preferred Worker Program. The web site for the Job Match is http://www.oregonpwp.info. Employers can place job orders on the web site and workers can view the job orders and learn how to apply.

Barb Smith is the Assistant Section Manager of the Re-employment and Dispute Resolution Services Section. Barb gave a presentation at the OARP Spring conference about the changes being made to the 105 and 110 rules. Jerry Rutherford indicated that he and his staff re-wrote the 105 and 110 administrative rules to implement the changes recommended by MLAC that did not require statutory changes. RAU staff was assisted by an external advisory committee on which OARP President, Grace Smith, served.

For the Employer At Injury Program, these changes would include allowing use of the EAIP to support skill building options when both parties agree and allowing employers to “string” together separate periods of transitional work to make up the 90 day wage subsidy period. The maximum wage subsidy reimbursement will now be 66 work days and must be completed within a 24-month period. For the Preferred Worker Program, these changes would allow the employer-at-injury to use PWP benefits one time without jeopardizing the worker’s entitlement to future use of the program and would make it easier for the program to be used prior to having permanent restrictions defined.

The proposed new rules have been available on the website and a hearing was held on 4/22/05 for public comments on the proposed rules. The OARP Legislative Committee submitted some written feedback to RAU at the hearing. Jerry indicated that the time-line will be to have proposed rules finalized as permanent rules once all the testimony is considered. The new rules are expected to go into effect at the same time as the new 120 rules on July 1, 2005. Jerry indicated that the legislature is considering a bill that would allow RAU to use Preferred Worker Fund money to provide some job placement assistance to Preferred Workers who are looking for work. If this passes, new rules would need to be written that would go into effect in early 2006.

Jerry Rutherford indicated that individuals may e-mail him at:
gerald.v.rutherford@state.or.us with any comments regarding the proposed 105 or 110 rule changes.

Injured Worker Fund

Editor's Notes

by Adriane Gaffuri

The Program Committee did a great job in arranging the 2005 Spring Conference, March 11 in Wilsonville.  We are all grateful to Sandy Schramm, Linda Hill, Margaret Moore, Grace Smith, Cheri Ballantine, Teddy Forester and Adriane Gaffuri for their hard work in contacting speakers, vendors, and making all the other arrangements.  See the photos from the conference in this issue of the newsletter.  It was a very successful, enjoyable and informative conference.  Thanks to all those who attended.

The 2005-2006 Program Committee (Sandy Schramm, Cheri Ballantine, Linda Hill, Grace Smith, Margaret Moore, Teddy Forester, Adriane Gaffuri, Dennis Funk, Marlene Bastian, and Sandy Johnson) is busy contacting potential speakers for the Fall Conference to be held at the Mt. Bachelor Village in Bend on October 7 and 8.  Some potential speakers/topics include:  the latest in assistive technology; a Bend-area doctor speaking on a medical topic; Karen Pagen, a physical therapist with Work Capacities Inc will give a joint presentation on Job Analyses and Tools to gather objective measures; and a discussion of ethical considerations and liability issues related to medical marijuana.  These and additional speakers should make for a very interesting conference and the weather in Bend as well as the Fall foliage on the way to Bend is beautiful in October.

Members of the OARP Legislative Committee, Grace Smith, Kathy Wallace, Scott Stipe and Kent Riegel, have been monitoring and participating in the legislature’s MLAC (Management Labor Advisory Committee) meetings.  Committee members were very active in giving their input to MLAC, which recommended several changes to the 120, 110 and 105 administrative rules. The OARP Board would like to thank Grace, Kathy Scott and Kent for all of the time and effort they have donated to the cause of vocational rehabilitation in the workers’ compensation system.

Thanks should go to Grace Smith who volunteered her time and efforts to participate on the external advisory board to the Re-employment Assistance Unit’s re-writing of the 110 and 105 rules.

The Board of OARP continues to thank Linda Hill for her continued willingness to administer the Injured Worker Fund.  Linda, with considerable assistance from Judy Shaw, recently completed all of the IRS paperwork required to get the Injured Workers’ Fund a 501c3 designation.  The Injured Workers’ Fund is now a separate entity from OARP, with its own Federal Tax ID number.  The Board extends our gratitude to Linda and to Judy for all of the work that it took to make this happen. Thanks also to all of you who have contributed to the fund to keep it going over the past 10 years.  We are always grateful for additional donations.  Please contact Linda Hill or any Board member to make a donation.

As always, please continue to provide feedback about OARP At Work or anything else related to OARP or the Rehab community to any Board member (names and phone numbers are listed on the front of this issue). The opinions expressed in any OARP At Work article are those of the author of the article only and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the OARP Board or any of its members.

OARP 2005 Spring Conference

Click on picture thumbnail to get larger image.

Barb Smith, Assistant Section Manager of the "Reemployment and Dispute Resolution Services Section, discusses new 105, 110 and 120 rule changes.

Marlene Bastian shows off the hat she won from NW Technical Institute (Kathleen Hoffman and Lonnie Keplan).

Clariner Boston, Executive Director of Better People, presents on Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Job Readiness, Placement and Retention.