Trauma-Responsive Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Research on the effectiveness of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs has revealed that VR services are less effective for trauma-affected and Black consumers. For instance, consumers with trauma exposure disengage from services earlier than their non-traumatized counterparts, and Black consumers...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/13/6/511 |
| _version_ | 1797596088101765120 |
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| author | Sara Chopp Dimitri Topitzes Joshua Mersky |
| author_facet | Sara Chopp Dimitri Topitzes Joshua Mersky |
| author_sort | Sara Chopp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research on the effectiveness of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs has revealed that VR services are less effective for trauma-affected and Black consumers. For instance, consumers with trauma exposure disengage from services earlier than their non-traumatized counterparts, and Black consumers benefit less from each phase of VR services compared to others. One midwestern state’s VR program sought to address these disparities by offering trauma-informed and trauma-responsive services that emphasize cultural responsiveness, racial equity, and strengths-based practices. To begin this work, the state’s VR program collaborated with an applied research unit in a public university to establish two work groups: a communications group and a training group. The purpose of the communications group was to build a robust referral network within the VR Division and with other community-based agencies and providers, particularly for low-income, Black consumers. The purpose of the training group was to develop and deliver a training program to support VR professionals in providing trauma-informed and trauma-responsive services. Results from an evaluation of the training indicated that each training module generated for staff both reminders and new insights into ways to effectively work with consumers. Staff expressed that they wanted opportunities to further explore and apply the training content and needed additional, ongoing support to implement what they were learning. In response to staff needs, the state’s VR program is continuing to invest in this community–university partnership by establishing communities of practice for staff and evaluating the effectiveness of the training program. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:45:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4b07a4fdb4d749d9922d75ab7e84fc5a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:45:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4b07a4fdb4d749d9922d75ab7e84fc5a2023-11-18T09:20:02ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2023-06-0113651110.3390/bs13060511Trauma-Responsive Vocational Rehabilitation ServicesSara Chopp0Dimitri Topitzes1Joshua Mersky2Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2400 E Hartford Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USAHelen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2400 E Hartford Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USAHelen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2400 E Hartford Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USAResearch on the effectiveness of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Programs has revealed that VR services are less effective for trauma-affected and Black consumers. For instance, consumers with trauma exposure disengage from services earlier than their non-traumatized counterparts, and Black consumers benefit less from each phase of VR services compared to others. One midwestern state’s VR program sought to address these disparities by offering trauma-informed and trauma-responsive services that emphasize cultural responsiveness, racial equity, and strengths-based practices. To begin this work, the state’s VR program collaborated with an applied research unit in a public university to establish two work groups: a communications group and a training group. The purpose of the communications group was to build a robust referral network within the VR Division and with other community-based agencies and providers, particularly for low-income, Black consumers. The purpose of the training group was to develop and deliver a training program to support VR professionals in providing trauma-informed and trauma-responsive services. Results from an evaluation of the training indicated that each training module generated for staff both reminders and new insights into ways to effectively work with consumers. Staff expressed that they wanted opportunities to further explore and apply the training content and needed additional, ongoing support to implement what they were learning. In response to staff needs, the state’s VR program is continuing to invest in this community–university partnership by establishing communities of practice for staff and evaluating the effectiveness of the training program.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/13/6/511trauma-informed caretrauma-responsive servicesculturally-responsive practicesracially equitable service deliverystrengths-based practices |
| spellingShingle | Sara Chopp Dimitri Topitzes Joshua Mersky Trauma-Responsive Vocational Rehabilitation Services Behavioral Sciences trauma-informed care trauma-responsive services culturally-responsive practices racially equitable service delivery strengths-based practices |
| title | Trauma-Responsive Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
| title_full | Trauma-Responsive Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
| title_fullStr | Trauma-Responsive Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trauma-Responsive Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
| title_short | Trauma-Responsive Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
| title_sort | trauma responsive vocational rehabilitation services |
| topic | trauma-informed care trauma-responsive services culturally-responsive practices racially equitable service delivery strengths-based practices |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/13/6/511 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarachopp traumaresponsivevocationalrehabilitationservices AT dimitritopitzes traumaresponsivevocationalrehabilitationservices AT joshuamersky traumaresponsivevocationalrehabilitationservices |