Research Database: Article Details

Citation:  Haines, K., Soldner, J. L.; Zhang, L., Saint Laurent, M., Knabe, B., West-Evans, K., Mock, L., & Foley, S. (2018). Vocational rehabilitation and business relations: Preliminary indicators of state VR agency capacity. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 48 (1), 133-145.
Title:  Vocational rehabilitation and business relations: Preliminary indicators of state VR agency capacity
Authors:  Haines, K., Soldner, J. L.; Zhang, L., Saint Laurent, M., Knabe, B., West-Evans, K., Mock, L., & Foley, S.
Year:  2018
Journal/Publication:  Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:  IOS Press
DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-170921
Research summary:  https://ep.vcurrtc.org/resources/content.cfm/1317
Full text:  https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-vocational-rehabil...   
Peer-reviewed?  Yes
NIDILRR-funded?  Yes

Structured abstract:

Background:  State vocational rehabilitation agencies (SVRAs) have been developing business relations capacity for decades, as part of a dual-customer approach. The literature to date explores “demand-side” strategies in VR, but little is known about what infrastructure is being built to sustain demand-side approaches.
Purpose:  The purpose of this study was to describe SVRAs’ efforts to build capacity in business relations through current policies and practice, staffing and organizational structures, marketing and outreach, and other related strategies.
Data collection and analysis:  Researchers conducted a web-based survey of the population of SVRAs (n?=?80). The target respondent was the National Employment Team (NET) “single point of contact” for business relations activities at the SVRA.
Findings:  Sixty-seven SVRAs responded to the survey. Results indicate that SVRAs are providing a wide range of services to businesses and engaging in a wide variety of business relations activities. VR has an infrastructure to serve businesses as customers, as supported by data reported about business relations staffing patterns, organizational structures, and qualifications of business relations staff.
Conclusions:  The results provide important insights for developing a baseline measure of VR business relations capacity, which should be considered one element of the dual-customer approach and of demand-side strategies in general.

Disabilities served:  Multiple disabilities
Interventions:  Vocational rehabilitation
Other
Transition services
Outcomes:  Employment acquisition
Full-time employment
Other