Journey of 1,000 Miles

Making the IPE Dynamic

TOOLS FOR SUCCESS
A Kentucky SGA Project Statewide Conference
March 14-16, 2017
Lexington, Kentucky

Presented by Russ Thelin, M.S., LVRC, CRC

Institute for Community Inclusion
University of Massachusetts Boston
I Hope Today to Take You on a Journey
 By the Time We are Finished
• I hope that you:
– feel you’re in a different place.
– have a “worked out” feeling.
– feel challenged. (I am going to challenge some of
your thinking)
– are empowered to act.
 Any
Trekkies
Here?
 Kirk: Damn it Spock!
Spock: Captain, what have I done?
Kirk: What you've done is betray every man on this ship!
Spock: Worse I've betrayed you. I do not expect you to
forgive me.
Kirk: Forgive you? I oughta knock you on your ass!
Spock: If you think it would help.
 McCoy: Do you want me to hold him, Jim?
Kirk: You stay out of this! Why, Spock, why? All you had to
do is pull the trigger!
Spock: If I had done that Sybok would be dead.
Kirk: I ordered you to defend your ship!
Spock: You ordered me to kill my brother.
 Kirk: The man may be a fellow Vulcan but he...
Spock: No, no you do not understand. Sybok also is a son
of Sarek.
Kirk: You mean he's your "brother" brother?
[Spock nods]
Kirk: You made that up.
 Spock: I did not.
Kirk: You did too! Sybok couldn't possibly be your brother
because I happen to know for a fact that you don't have a
brother.
Spock: Technically you are right, I do not have a brother.
Kirk: There! You see?
Spock: I have a half-brother.
Kirk: I gotta sit down.
 Been There, Done That?
• Have any of you been in a situation
professionally where you felt a little like Kirk
did in this situation?
• What were your reactions?
• How did that affect your thinking or
orientation?
• What were your eventual actions?
 IPE Development Orientation
• What has been the cultural/historical
philosophy within KY-OVR when it comes to:
– Comprehensive Assessment
– IPE Development
– Amending the IPE
Finding a Solid Foundation for Our
Discussion
 Regulations Regarding the IPE
• § 361.45 Development of the individualized plan for
employment.
• (a)General requirements. The vocational rehabilitation
services portion of the Unified or Combined State Plan
must assure that -
• (1) An individualized plan for employment meeting the
requirements of this section and § 361.46 is developed and
implemented in a timely manner for each individual
determined to be eligible for vocational rehabilitation
services or, if the designated State unit is operating under
an order of selection in accordance with § 361.36, for each
eligible individual to whom the State unit is able to provide
services;
 Regulations Regarding the IPE
• § 361.45 Development of the individualized plan
for employment.
• (b)Purpose.
• (1) The designated State unit must conduct an
assessment for determining vocational
rehabilitation needs, if appropriate, for each
eligible individual or, if the State is operating
under an order of selection, for each eligible
individual to whom the State is able to provide
services.
 Regulations Regarding the IPE
• § 361.45 Development of the individualized
plan for employment.
• 34 CFR 361.45 (e)
The individualized plan for employment must be
developed as soon as possible,
 Comments on 34 CFR 361.45
(Development of the IPE)
• Time Frame for Developing the Individualized
Plan for Employment

• “The Act, as amended by WIOA, is intended to

efficiently and effectively serve eligible
individuals, move them through the VR
process with minimal delay, and achieve
employment outcomes in competitive
integrated employment.”
 Consider the Intent of Regulatory
Language
• “Assure”
• “Developed and implemented in a timely manner
for each individual”
• “Must conduct . . ., if appropriate,”
• “Maximum productivity with minimal wasted
effort”
• “As soon as possible,”
• “Achieving a desired result”
• “Minimal delay”
 Taking Liberties with Language
• The development of the IPE is to assure the
establishment and implementation of an
agreed upon plan of supports, in a timely
manner, for each individual; conducting, if
appropriate, a mandated comprehensive
assessment that results in maximum
productivity with minimal wasted effort in
achieving a desired result as soon as possible,
and with minimal delay.
 IPE: What is it?
• Is it a thing, an event, a concept, a process, or
something else?
• Is it transactional or transformational?
• Is it a management tool, or a vision
document?
• Is is for the Counselor, or the Consumer”
• It its primary purpose to monitor, or to
inspire?
• Is it dynamic, or is it rote?
So What Does a Dynamic
IPE Seem & Feel Like?
 So What Does a Dynamic
IPE Seem & Feel Like?
Let’s list your thoughts:
What do You Think?
 Want Some of My Ideas?
• Reinvent Comprehensive Assessment and the IPE in
your mind (think beyond the form).
– Comprehensive Assessment is not “a” document.
– The plan does not need to start comprehensively
• Once an appropriate goal and clear service need are
identified, start a plan on those alone.
• Engage in discovery with your consumer- not on your
consumer. Let it be a mutual journey.
• The sooner you get them “on base” they are at least on
the playing field and not in the dugout.
• This latitude in serving individually will improve the
morale of your consumers, and you as a counseling
professional.
Does it Really Make a Difference*?
Intervention Control Difference

*Kentucky SGA Project Demonstration: An Interim Report, Mathematica (12/14/2016)

 So . . ., What Now?
• Try it!! (take a supported risk)
• Exercise your professional latitude.
• Let your counseling practice be dynamic.
• Consult, consult, consult.
• Watch “Moneyball.” (Brad Pitt)
• Listen to consumers’ experiences with this.
• Share experiences among yourselves.
 Gut Check
• How is your blood pressure?
• Anyone figuratively need a “I gotta sit down”
(Capt. Kirk) moment?
• Workload concerns?
• Is this not Rehabilitation Counseling (vs.
caseload management)?
• Final thoughts and comments?
 Well, We’re are Finished
• Do you:
– feel you’re in a different place?
– have a “worked out” feeling?
– feel challenged? (Did I challenge some of your
thinking?)
– feel empowered to act?
 Thank You!!
Russell J. Thelin, M.S., LVRC, CRC
Senior Policy Fellow
Institute for Community Inclusion
University of Massachusetts Boston
russell.thelin@umb.edu