VOCARE: PCP in Action
Kristi Webb, Director of Vocational Services

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, "How will person-centered planning affect our work program?" Honestly, I do not have an an-swer so much as I have a belief---whatever the changes, the effect will be excellent if training to residents is enhanced. I also believe that en-hancements do not naturally follow a good idea. They require development, planning, and imple-mentation. Such has been the case over the past several months in the Vocational Division.

PCP has certainly been an exciting catalyst for reflection and change. Through resident PCP feedback, brainstorming with other program di-visions, visiting regional placement centers, and evaluating our program, several opportunities were revealed for improving delivery of vocation-al training to Baddour residents. Clearly, choice is important in the residents' world of work. How do we facilitate more choice when so many of our jobs are similar? On a practical level, this is a challenge. We are constrained by such things as markets, location, competitors, and our own imaginations. Right now, procuring jobs on a made-to-order basis is not feasible; however, with a properly laid foundation, such a concept is possible in the future.

The Foundation
Vocational Center for Assessment and Resi-dent Employment (VOCARE) encompasses the Pre-Vocational program in that assessments continue to be administered to new admissions while expanding services to offer skills assess-ment and job exploration to current residents. VOCARE has a three-part mission:

• To assist residents with determining their vocational potential, strengths, and areas of growth
• To assist residents with using that knowledge to make vocational choices
• To assist residents with acquiring training to make vocational choices a reality

In order to meet this mission, considerable groundwork is required. And though much has been accomplished, much more is required before VOCARE is fully meeting its mission. In July, renovations to the VOCARE room lo-cated in GoodWorks Complex II were completed. Shortly thereafter, the room was furnished through a grant provided by the H.W. Durham Foundation. This room provides a quiet environ-ment in which we will work one-on-one with res-idents. It was determined in the planning phase that additional assessment tools were needed. This task proved to be a challenge. The tools had to be designed for use with people who have in-tellectual disabilities, and have vocational inter-est, exploration, and performance components. At the recommendation of VALPAR International Corporation, Beth Crowell, AVS Manager, and I visited Lakeshore Rehabilitation Facility in Birmingham, Alabama to see a demonstration of the Therapist's Portable Skills Assessment Mod-ule (T-PAL). The T-PAL was designed for use with populations with intellectual disabilities, neuro-muscular skeletal disabilities, and closed head injuries. The module gauges learning styles, auditory ability, affective abilities, cognitive abili-ties, psychomotor abilities, and career interest. The results are not intended to predict success or failure. Rather, the focus is on the resident's needs within the vocational setting in which they chose to become a part. The T-PAL system, which integrates computerized and hands-on activities, was purchased in September. Voca-tional staff members are currently in training. The search continues for additional VOCARE tools, especially in the areas of job readiness, job-keeping, and job exploration.

The Future
The T-PAL, existing VALPAR work samples, and McCarron-Dial help meet the first two elements of the VOCARE mission. The third element re-quires matching resources to help the residents achieve their vocational aspirations. In some cases this might be as simple as information about a particular job, filling out an application, or specific task training. On the other hand, it could be as complicated as off-campus employment. In all cases the direction, pace, and success can be determined by the resident and their commitment to achieve the goal they set.

VOCARE is open to all residents; however, the primary source of referrals is the PCP process. When life goals related to work are revealed in PCP meetings, VOCARE begins. Continued collaboration with other program divisions is essential. Long-term goals bring a new and key component into the equation. We must develop employment partnerships in the community, strengthen relationships with the local school system, and form alliances with employment agencies. Any practitioner in the field will testify to the difficulty and time investment involved with cultivating such partnerships; however, the residents are a dedicated workforce and our history of developing partnerships with companies large and small gives us great hope for the possibilities.