2005-06
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Officers
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contact by email.)
Board Members
at Large
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Cliff Wood Remembered
Cliff Wood died of cancer at home on September 15, 2005 at
the age of 57. Cliff worked with Portland Community College’s
Professional Skills Training Program for 25 years where he
worked with injured and dislocated workers before retiring in
May 2003. At Cliff’s celebration of life services on September
20th, we remembered his life as a helping
professional and as an athlete and a musician (he played guitar
and sang). Cliff volunteered his basketball and teaching skills
to referee games with youth in our community. He was a devoted
husband and father. For those of us who worked with Cliff and
knew him, he will be remembered for his gentle soul and his gift
for being able to connect with students. We are all better
people for having known him. |
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President's Message
Grace Smith, OARP President 2005-2006
Our Fall conference has just occurred. I
would categorize it as a very “hands-on” conference, with a
variety of topics pertaining to public and private rehabilitation
practices, including tools for job analyses, break-out groups to
discuss client-based vocational goals, and an interactive
presentation by a leading rehabilitation educator on the topic of
ethics. Our Spring Conference, planned for February 24, 2005, in
Wilsonville, is shaping up. Plans call for a large number of
CEU’s related to ethics.
As noted elsewhere in the Newsletter, the
Oregon Legislature took workers’ compensation matters under review
again. Legislative action requires that rules pertaining to
workers’ compensation be rewritten again. SB119 allows for
the use of the Preferred Worker fund to directly assist Injured
Workers, not just employers. Relative to this, it is my
understanding that the Workers’ Compensation Division plans to
pilot a project to provide job search assistance to Preferred
Workers who are NOT eligible for vocational assistance. I have
heard that they will begin the pilot in 2006 in the Portland
Metropolitan area using the services of the Oregon Office of
Vocational Rehabilitation Services. The OARP Board feels WCD
should utilize the services of both private and public sector
vocational counselors. The Board has written to John Shilts,
Director of the WCD, to encourage the use of both sectors in this
pilot project. If you wish to express your views on this topic,
we also recommend voicing your opinion via mail, email, or
telephone to him, Barbara Smith or Jerry Rutherford.
Due to Teddy Forester’s resignation from the
Board, Ed Hickok has been appointed to be President Elect for the
2006-7 year. I want to thank Ed for stepping up to the challenge
of being President again. It is a time-consuming and challenging
position, and although I have thoroughly enjoyed it, I will be
happy to relinquish the scepter to Ed next Spring.
Yours for good rehab,
Grace Smith
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Treasurer's Report
Kathy
Wallace, OARP Treasurer, reported total assets of $2,272.18 as of
the last Board meeting on November 15, 2005. OARP funds are low
at this time, due to decreased membership and low attendance at
the Fall Conference. 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.
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Legislative Committee Report
By Grace Smith
Oregon:
Written and oral testimony relative to potential new rules for OAR
436-105, 110 and 120. The hearing and written testimony period
have already elapsed, the rules will be written, most likely to be
effective January 1, 2006. . We have attended the appropriate
meetings and submitted testimony relative to the 110 Rules, as
noted in the President’s Message.
National:
There are changes pending at RSA, which according to IARP
President Robert Taylor, include “a process to redesign the
mechanism it uses to provide monitoring and technical assistance
services to state vocational rehabilitation agencies.” The OARP
Board wrote Mr. Taylor expressing our concern for potential
funding cuts for state vocational rehabilitation agencies. He
stated, ““The IARP Board of Directors has elected to take a
“bystander” position at the present time, recognizing that the
closure of RSA regional offices will not result in a decrease in
the funds available for state VR agencies to provide services to
people with disabilities, or will this result in staffing cuts at
the state level”. This is per a letter from Mr. Taylor to the
OARP Board, dated June 1, 2005.
As of the date of this newsletter, we are not
aware of what decision was taken or will be taken by RSA.
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RAU Update
Re-employment Assistance Unit Update,
An Interview with Jerry Rutherford, RAU Manager
By Adriane M. Gaffuri
Jerry Rutherford indicated that Re-employment
Assistance Unit (RAU) personnel have been stable over the past
several months. They did hire Jane Fernandez to work as a
Re-employment Specialist about 6 months ago.
The Job Match Program continues to be in
operation, though under utilized. This program attempts to match
preferred workers with employers interested in utilizing the
Preferred Worker Program. The web site for the Job Match is
www.oregonpwp.info, then click on Job Match. Employers can place
job orders on the web site and workers can view the job orders and
learn how to apply. Jerry indicates that they are looking into
the possibility of somehow connecting with the Employment
Department’s iMatch system available at
www.qualityinfo.org.
New 105 and 110 administrative rules went
into effect on 7/1/05, along with new 120 administrative rules, to
implement changes that did not require statutory changes. The
Workers’ Compensation Division provided training on these rule
changes in Salem, Eugene, and Medford. Training in Portland was
not scheduled and very few requests for training were received by
WCD. The Salem training was recorded and DVDs are available at no
cost to anyone who would like to see the training at their
leisure. You can request a DVD at the following website:
http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/wcd/communications/training/videorder.html.
Since then the Oregon Legislature passed SB
119. Jerry indicates that the EAIP, 105 rules will get a wording
change regarding supplemental documentation needed when payroll
doesn’t give the date and number of hours worked per day. This
wording change will be made retroactive to 7/1/05.
The 110 rules will be changed to match
statutory language changes that Preferred Worker Program
assistance can be made to the injured worker and to the employers
that employ them. The rules will also be changed to indicate that
the worker must be authorized to work in the United States to be
made a preferred worker. The worker will be able to request a
re-determination of their preferred worker status if they later
became legal to work in the U.S. There are a few other wording
changes to clarify some rules, but nothing big. RAU just received
and accepted an invitation to speak about Preferred Worker Program
changes since 7/1/05 at the OARP conference in Wilsonville,
February 24th.
Jerry indicated that some questions have come
up related to the 110 rules that he wanted to bring up here. He
wanted us to be aware that under the 110 rules, in 0290(4), when
the employer-at-injury requests the use of the Preferred Worker
Program, the worker must agree to accept the new or modified job
in writing in order for the use of the program to be
considered by RAU. The job offer must include: (a) The start
date. If the job starts after the modifications are in place, so
note; (b) Wage and hours; (c) Job site location; and (d)
Description of job duties. Jerry explained that the injured worker
doesn’t authorize the use of the program, but they do need to be
aware of the job offer and any intent to modify the work site.
RAU is putting together a Pilot Project with
OVRS (Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services) to try
providing job-search assistance to preferred workers who are not
eligible for vocational assistance according to the 120 rules.
They are still in talks and working out the details, including an
estimation of the cost of the Pilot Project. They have decided
that the Pilot Project will begin after 1/1/06 and it will involve
two OVRS offices, East Portland and North Portland. Connie Foster
will be the counselor for the Pilot Project at the East Portland
office. The plan is for an 18-month project that could include
testing, evaluation and providing services (not necessarily just
job placement services). They are still determining how many
injured workers might be included, how many want this assistance
and how many would take the help if offered. The Pilot Project
will be well documented, so watch the OARP newsletter for periodic
updates. Any
questions or feedback regarding the 105 and 110 rules or the Pilot
Project can be sent to Jerry Rutherford at
gerald.v.rutherford@atate.or.us.
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Injured Worker Fund
by Linda Hill, M.S., C.R.C., Fund Administrator
In September 2004 the Injured Worker Fund (IWF), at the
recommendation of the Internal Revenue Service, became its own
Non-Profit. Federal ID #95135
The Professionals in the Rehabilitation Community have been
very generous in their donations to the IWF. The fund has
continued to meet the needs of Injured Worker’s in Oregon. In many
cases what the injured worker needs is very inexpensive and
extremely important. The IWF was created to meet the needs not
addressed by other sources. The maximum amount of money any one
injured worker can receive is $200.00.
Since the year 2000 a total of 43 injured workers’ have been
provided with assistance such as; car repairs, utility payments,
computer purchases, gas for job search, apartment deposits, rental
assistance and food while waiting for an ATP to start or during
job search activities.
Due to donations we have been able to meet the demand, with no
reasonable request being denied. Private Vocational
Rehabilitation Companies, Private Counselors, Insurance Companies,
OARP and others have donated generously to the fund.
We are always in the need of donations to meet the growing
demand. Anyone who wishes to make a contribution or who
wants to request information about the fund can contact:
Oregon Injured Worker Fund
c/o Linda L. Hill
833 SW 11th Avenue, Suite 507
Portland, OR. 97205
503-224-6808
llhjca@ipns.com
The Injured Worker Fund would like to thank each of you who
have been so generous and hope that donations will continue.
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Editor's Notes
by Adriane Gaffuri
The Program Committee did a great job in arranging the 2005
Fall Conference in Bend. We are all very grateful to Sandy
Schramm, Linda Hill, Margaret Moore, Grace Smith, Cheri Ballantine,
Marlene Bastian, Sandy Johnson and Adriane Gaffuri for their hard
work in contacting speakers, vendors, and making all the other
arrangements. See the article about the conference in this issue
of the newsletter. It was a very enjoyable and informative
conference. Thanks to all those who attended.
It must be noted that the OARP Board is considering whether we
will be able to sponsor conferences outside of the Willamette
Valley, at least for the foreseeable future. The cost for
conference facilities has increased a lot in Bend and at the coast
and therefore the cost to conference attendees has gone up. In
addition, fewer people from all over the state attended the recent
conference in Bend. The Board believes that we can provide more
cost efficient continuing education by limiting conferences to the
Willamette Valley and to one day. Please call or e-mail any Board
member (Board member names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses are
provided through the link on the oarp.org home page) to share your
thoughts on these ideas.
The 9/16/05 half-day training on the Ability Profiler went well
and was well-attended. We are looking into providing follow-up
training regarding how to administer and score the actual test.
We are also looking into the possibility of providing Ability
Profiler training in Eugene.
The Program Committee is busy
contacting potential speakers for the Spring Conference to be held
at the Holiday Inn in Wilsonville on February 24, 2006. Some
potential speakers/topics include Dr. Larry Moore, who will speak
on the DSM-IV and vocational implications for providing
rehabilitation to people with mental disorders. We hope to have a
speaker address the new vocational rules and the new TPD laws.
These and additional speakers should make for a very interesting
conference with lots of continuing education credits.
Members of the OARP Legislative Committee, Grace Smith and
Kathy Wallace have been monitoring and participating in WCD’s
re-writing of the vocational rules. On behalf of the OARP Board
and membership, they have written a letter to the department
encouraging them to include both public and private rehabilitation
counselors in the pilot project under the 110 rules (see Grace
Smith’s president’s article for further details on the pilot
project).
The Board of OARP continues to thank Linda Hill for her
continued willingness to administer the Injured Worker Fund.
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.
The OARP Board has formed a committee to review the Oregon
By-laws. Any recommended changes will be made available to the
membership in time for a vote at the Spring Conference.
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, phone
numbers and e-mail addresses are provided through a link on the
oarp.org home page). 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.
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OARP 2005 Fall Conference
Ed Hickok is OARP 2005 Rehabilitation Professional of the Year
By Sandy Johnson
 Each
year, OARP honors one of its members as the Rehabilitation
Professional of the Year. For 2005, the honors go to Ed Hickok, a
longtime member of OARP and our profession—28 years, in fact! Ed,
who currently works at Standard Insurance as a Vocational Case
Manager, completed his Master of Arts degree in Education with a
concentration in vocational rehabilitation from Seton Hall, the
basketball power of the East, as he quickly points out. This was
in the era when the mentally ill, who had been housed in
institutions, were being released from hospitals. Ed began his
career working in a community-based mental health program, where
he was involved in Milieu Therapy.
In looking back over his varied career experiences, two success
stories highlight his creativity. One client was a construction
contractor who injured his shoulder and back and had already begun
training as a pilot on his own. Ed convinced the state
rehabilitation agency to provide the remaining classes and
requirements for his pilot’s license. This man successfully
completed the course and then worked as a courier picking up money
from banks all over the state. The memorable part is when he flew
Ed and family over Mt. St. Helens after the eruption.
Another client recognized Ed at the airport a couple of years
ago after finishing his training 20 years before. He had
completed a Professional Skills Training in safety and was
grateful to Ed for giving him the opportunity to change his life
and his career.
Despite these accomplishments, Ed wants more. He would
eventually like to teach vocational rehabilitation to college
students and open his own private counseling practice,
particularly for adoptive parents. As an adoptive parent of two,
he laughs as he says he wants to make sure no one else makes the
same mistakes he has. With his track record of supporting people
in some of the most disastrous times of their lives, he will
undoubtedly play a major role in helping students and clients
achieve their dreams and aspirations.
Another Success! Fall 2005 conference
By Kimberly Foye
The Fall 2005 OARP conference has come and gone with great
success. Nestled in the beautiful town of Bend at the Mt.
Bachelor Resort and Conference Center, rehabilitation
professionals from across the state convened to network, gather
current industry information, and gain those ever so coveted
ethics CEUs!
The conference provided a full spectrum of vocational
rehabilitation topics of interest; from diagnostic medical
procedures, to global issues health crises, assistive technology,
and difficult case management decisions. Each presenter offered a
key and integral point on our everyday work, allowing for new
thoughts and insights into our profession.
Maureen Carney, M.D., yet another informative Carney sister
from the University of Washington and VA center in Seattle, shared
her insights into rehabilitation and diagnostic testing as related
to nerve conduction studies. As a previous vocational
rehabilitation counselor, she was able to relate the studies
conducted to occupational demands; discuss requirements of the
test and the ramifications for “shocking” patients for data.
Phyllis Petteys, an Assistive Technology Specialist from
Portland State University offered a hands-on look at today’s
modern computer assistive devices. She shared annecdotal
scenarios related to each devise, openly discussing the pros and
cons of each and applicability of the tool.
Bob Williams, Reemployment Consultant with the Workers
Compensation Division partnered with Karen Pagen, from Work
Capacities Inc in Bend, to present on making job analyses (JA’S)more
objective. They provided guidelines to address the myriad of
topics, events, and duties presented during a JA.
Krishna Balasubramani, Attorney at Law, provided in-depth
realizations into Legal return to work issues and potential
pitfalls. His insights into employer and client needs during a
Workers’ Compensation claim really illuminated the rights and
legal ramifications of actions on the part of the client, the
vocational professional and the employer.
As an interactive group of counselors, the next presenter (Ed
Hickok, OARP Rehabilitation Professional of the year 2005!!)
tapped into our “gift of gab” by dividing into groups to discuss
“Problems, Profiles, and Vocational Planning”. Each group was
presented with a unique client to identify barriers to employment,
and assist in developing a vocational plan. Many ideas were
presented and suggestions were offered. Perhaps this
collaborative effort changed vocational plans across the state!
On the second day we dedicated our attention strictly to issues
relating to ethics related to rehabilitation counseling. Dr.
Jerry Fischer presented a review of ethical principles. After our
detailed review we were able to apply our ethical knowledge to
scenarios fraught with ambiguity and ethical questions. Small
groups tackled the assignment with fervor to see the ramifications
of all actions potentially taken. This hands-on event was
detailed and applicable to both public and private rehabilitation
settings.
The event was a success. There were stimulating ideas
presented, wonderful networking and conversations, and great
food. Thanks to the amazing program committee for AGAIN, making
the OARP Fall Conference such a success!
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