System Change in Iowa: Vocational Rehabilitation Partnership
Dr. Robert Stensrud, Drake [email protected] Maher, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation [email protected] Stoeckel, Navigator – Mason [email protected]
What We Learned From Previous Grants
Systems Don’t Trust Other Systems It’s All About Risk Trust Reduces Risk But Takes Work Trust Takes Explicit Agreements Systems Change Takes Networking
Systems Don’t Trust Other Systems
Local Agencies Don’t Trust Each Other Local Agencies Don’t Trust State
Agencies State Agencies Don’t Trust Local
Agencies Nobody Trusts Federal Agencies Federal Agencies Don’t Trust Anybody
It’s All About Risk Clients Want to Reduce Their Risk
When Seeking Services Employers Want to Reduce Their Risk
When Hiring People Providers Want to Reduce Their Risk
When Referring People Communities Want to Reduce Their
Risk When Supporting Agencies and Individuals
Trust Reduces Risk But Takes Work A Shared Purpose is Critical Open Give-and-Take Communication Builds
Trust There Always Will Be Crises Crises Can Increase or Decrease One’s
Sense of Risk States Are in the Business of Reducing Risk
and Building Trust Somebody Has to Take a Risk and Lead the
Trust Building
Trust Takes Explicit Agreements Local Partners Have to Be Clear on Who is
Responsible for What Problem-Centered Agreements Prevent Turf
Battles Memoranda of Agreement Are Worth the
Effort It’s the Journey, Not the Destination Agreements Are Like Onions, Today’s
Solutions Uncover Tomorrow’s Problems
Systems Change Takes Networking A State Assistance Team Networked with
Local Agencies Navigators Were Key to Building Local
Collaboration Navigators Couldn’t Get Stuck Providing
Direct Service We All Have to Show the Community That
We and Our Clients Are Members We All Have to Show That We and Our
Clients Are Solutions
Navigators Were Key to Networking Navigators Were Key to Bridging
Collaboration Among Agencies Navigators Were Key to Helping
Clients Move Between Agencies Navigators Were Key to Mapping
Community Resources Navigators Were Key Guides for All
the People Trying to Make Sense of the System
Barriers/Challenges Statewide
Uncertainty resulting from placement of Rehab Act into Workforce Investment Act
Uncertainty re: infrastructure costs to support One-Stops and impact on VR clients
Barriers/Challenges Local Overcoming past histories and agendas Obtaining staff buy-in to collaborative efforts
developed by Managers Gaining clarity in goals and roles for partners Setting measurable outcomes and monitoring
Navigators’ work with VR clients Constant partner turnover and need to
continually update and educate all staff Setting a referral method between agencies
Strategies/Actions Statewide
Encouragement from State Administrators for collaboration around grant-writing to bring resources to the state for individuals with disabilities
Input from VR and other partners in hiring Navigators
Strategies/Actions Local All partners work to minimize duplication Educate Navigator about VR and identify
gaps that require Navigator assistance Develop referral, follow-up and monitoring
mechanisms Maintain close contact and communication Establish everyone’s roles at the outset Cross Training of partners Group meetings held to build relationships
Overcome Concerns Statewide Funding from WIG and Systems
Change grants allowed experimentation and produced results
Cooperating in projects allowed people to work together at the state and local levels and form relationships
When there are touchy issues, relationships lead to problem solving
Overcome Concerns Local
Identify the benefits of working together that outweigh the costs
Plan ahead to schedule meetings Meet regularly and follow through
with commitments Build and maintain trust
Maintain Relationships Statewide
Collaboration between Governance Group and Support Team
Forming a collective response to issues from state-level administrators and sharing information statewide
Maintain Relationships Local
Developing an Employment Network with all partners who are trying to assist individuals with disabilities in their job search efforts
On-going communication and willingness to listen to the other point of view
Changes Statewide
Identification and solution to barriers that prevent collaboration around client-service issues
More familiarity with of partner agency staff, leading to increased trust
Changes Local Strengthened partnership between
agencies and better coordination of services
More awareness by staff of other partners’ activities
Increased cynicism in a couple areas due to negative experiences in either defining the role of the Navigator or identifying results
Sustain Changes Statewide
Continued meetings of Governance Group and Support Team
Permanent funding for Navigators
Sustain Changes Local
Continue the activities that have begun
Continually evaluate and try to improve
Obtain buy-in and repetition, as with any project
Advice Statewide
Get people with good communication skills who are willing to listen to varied input
Respond in a collaborative way that is focused on client outcomes
Advice Local Take time to develop the Navigator as a
resource from the beginning Make sure outcomes are reported and
convey that information to VR staff so they can help improve the process
When things don’t work out, find another way to approach a situation
Keep focused on how to improve the customer experience for the individual with a disability
Make sure you have buy-in and not just head nodding
