The impact of professional service in rehabilitation is not only evidenced by the number of individuals a person rehabilitates, but also in the improvements in a system that last long after a person a leaves. Such is the impact of the work of Ralph Childers. Ralph is most proud of his work in developing the policy and procedural manuals in a manner that is easy to read and understand, and in creating the CSR 300 into one sheet of paper (which was originally four sheets of paper) that has been used for decades. Despite his work to create a VR system that can stand the test of time, he feels his greatest achievement is the rapport he developed with staff and the joy he has had in the philosophical discussions he exchanged with people around the state.
Indeed Ralph has had enormous impact not only upon the staff around the state but also through his involvement with other states and various initiatives. Ralph first began working for the public VR program in Pennsylvania in January of 1967 after graduating with his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Iowa. Of course he took a path less traveled to get there as he was in Washington, D.C. at the time attending Seminary to become a Minister in the Methodist Church. However his experience working part-time for a church and attending seminary helped him realize that was not his calling when the Superintendent of the District called a meeting to discuss the book, “God is Dead” and stirred the seminarians and ministers to sing “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”. Finding the music to be less than inspiring, Ralph left the seminary in the winter of 1966 and began a job for the public VR program in New Castle, Pennsylvania in January of 1967.
His transition into a secular job was not uneventful. On his drive back to D.C. after finding an apartment for himself and his wife Margaret and after spending two days without sleep, he realized his mind was playing tricks on him as he drove along the highway and thought that a train was going to hit him head on. While it was in fact just the tracks running parallel to the highway, Ralph almost had a heart attack as it passed him by. Between that and the shoveling coal to keep his rental home and wife warm in New Castle, Ralph realized there were certain talents he did not posses. So in 1969 he moved his first wife, Margaret, and newly adopted daughter, Becky, back to Iowa to attend the University of Iowa to get his Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling.
His first experience with the University of Iowa was during an appointment he made with the department chair, Leonard Miller. He shared with Dr. Miller that he was selling a home in Pennsylvania, had a new baby, and had been out of school for quite a while and wondered what he thought he should do to enhance his success in graduate school. Dr. Miller handed him a statistics text book and told him that most students fail statistics and he should go to the book store and purchase a copy. “I got through statistics thanks to the Viet Nam War” Ralph reported. He shared that at that time Kent State was having the riots as well as many other universities, so the University of Iowa gave students the option of taking their finals or accepting the current grade they had in class. “I accepted my current grade because I never could have passed the final” Ralph said.
During his education his department made appointments for the future graduates to meet with the state office staff of the Iowa VR program. At that time there were three rehabilitation bureaus and Ralph was hired to work as a Counselor for $9,500/year at the Women’s Reformatory in Rockwell City. He was offered the opportunity because he had previous VR experience in Pennsylvania. After 13 months the administration at that time decided they couldn’t afford to have a counselor assigned to that prison full-time and so they moved Ralph and his family to Des Moines where he worked for 6 months in the Community Corrections Project as the Pre-Trial Release and Parole VR Counselor.
Realizing that he was ready to try something else Ralph was promoted to the In-Service Training Consultant, which was a newly established position. In that position he reported that he developed a very substantial training component: developed an orientation for new counselors, identified a number of deficits in how things were being done and created the new CSR 300. He recognized the importance of connecting in-service to the policy and procedural requirements and proudly shared that most of the things he developed continue to be used today.
It was around this time that he was asked to participate in the Institute for Rehabilitation Issues as they studied effective practices in measuring counselor performance. Ralph stated that in that analysis it was clear that what was essential to measure counselor performance was that clear expectations for counselors is defined and communicated with enforcement of those expectations. Ralph stated that he thought Iowa VR may have communicated clear expectations and definitions, but may not have always enforced them in the past. Ralph stated he believed the best system in evaluating counselor performance was to establish a specific number of 26s staff are suppose to get and then enforce that. He stated the problem in the CQI was the failure to enforce.
After working as the In-Service Consultant the administration realized in 1988 that Ralph had particular strengths in policy and procedure so he moved into the Policy Coordinator position. He chuckles when he speaks about the process to hire his replacement to do training. Steve Wooderson applied for the position but was passed over in favor of hiring Micheleen Maher. Little did he realize at the time that his path would cross with Steve again when Steve came to Iowa VR as the Bureau Chief and asked Ralph to re-write the manuals to be less prescriptive and more focused upon regulations. Ralph said at first he was opposed to the idea but after working it through he believes that it actually was a good idea.
As the Policy Coordinator Ralph has had the responsibility of representing The Agency in appeals. His first appeal was a very emotional one where a client whose file was being closed due to questions of employability. The appeal lasted four hours and The Agency called the housing manager of the unit where the client volunteered to testify as to whether or not they would hire the client. The housing manager reported that if there was an opening they still would not hire the client. Over the weekend the client passed away and the mother called the hearing officer and Ralph and requested that no decision be rendered. It was the only appeal in which a decision was not made.
One of the most notable responsibilities that Ralph had as the Policy Coordinator has been his work with the Ticket to Work. He established ten different agreements and approached the project as a means by which Iowa VR could improve partnerships with employment networks, which were all CRPs at the time. Other states in the nation viewed the ENs as competition and even were reported as stating “they are after our money.” Iowa was so successful because of the approach that Ralph developed in the process that he was asked to be one of the faculty in training other states as the ticket rolled out. Ralph also praised the Ticket Counselors involved in the project: Lyn Crank was interested and focused upon the impact upon the client; Sandy Taylor was dedicated to seeing the impact upon the client improve their opportunities; Donna Runge approached the Ticket with a focus on helping ENs understand the law and regulations; Gary Herrig was strong in finding Employment Networks interested in entering into an agreement; and Michelle Myers asked a lot of questions that stimulated thoughts.
Upon reflection about IVRS Ralph shared that he felt the most negative thing in The Agency is the informality that has been embraced. Thinking about where VR started and how staff wore suites, ties, and a more professional attire, Ralph thought The Agency staff would be perceived as more professional and knowledgeable if they dressed more formally. He likened it to his doctor and that he would take his doctor much more seriously if his doctor wears his lab coat.
Likewise Ralph stated that he felt the leadership of Marge Knudson was one of the more positive aspects of VR because she involved staff. He said that in the 5-10 years prior to Marge’s employment with VR none of the administration traveled to the area offices. Marge made sure that administration traveled to the area offices twice a year and he felt that made a big difference as staff took more ownership and felt more a part of The Agency.
When asked about his regrets he said his only regret is really a trade off. He had a job that suited him very well, but he had been advised by a mentor that people don’t get promoted into higher management positions without supervisory experience. But he doesn’t regret retirement as he has plans to read a lot and looks forward to having time to do things without a schedule. He also hopes to find a part-time job in something entirely different but equally as enjoyable as his work here at IVRS. While he would like to purchase property in Florida, he and his wife Kathy have no plans to do that since the cost of real estate there isn’t in their budget. Ralph completes his distinguished career with IVRS after years of thoughtful decision-making and achieving a high level of education culminated in a Ed.D in Counseling and Guidance from Drake. Ralph will be missed.
Ticket to Work – The Impact on Client Services
It is amazing the impact Ticket to Work can have upon our ability to serve individuals
with disabilities. While there remain distinct disincentives to all systems,
the Ticket system does allow IVRS to partner with other employment networks
to enhance opportunities to individuals with disabilities. Of course a significant
advantage to IVRS working within the Ticket to Work system is the financial
impact placing an individual with a ticket has upon our budget, which only increases
the number of individuals who can be served.
Karen Hanley continues to send notices to staff to advise them of the amount of money generated from staff placing an individual into competitive employment. This always is greeted with great enthusiasm and appreciation because we all realize that this is a population who finds their lives significantly changed by employment. Finding employment for all individuals with disabilities is important and finding employment for Ticket holders is no exception.
Despite our best efforts to work with individuals who hold tickets, sometimes
the ticket goes unassigned. This has a significant impact on the IVRS budget
and our ability to serve more individuals with disabilities. Client KR found
employment and IVRS would have received $3638.44 if his Ticket to Work was assigned.
Client MZ was placed into competitive employment and his counselor tried to
get the Ticket assigned after the case closed but the client ignored the request.
IVRS would have received $1250.46.
Client SD’s case was closed earning 180/wk per the counselor who didn’t
get the Ticket assigned. At the time IVRS could have claimed on the ticket,
the client was making 273/wk per IWD records and IVRS could have received $12,442.74.
Client ME worked 4 quarters above SGA and then the case was closed in Status
28 due to losing contact. If he had assigned his Ticket to Work to IVRS, $5183.32
could have been received in Reimbursement as the Status of a case is not pertinent
to receiving Reimbursement.
As we work with individuals who receive a ticket we should remember there are
key pieces of information that will help us. The following information from
Karen Hanley will be helpful to us as we work through the issues related to
the Ticket to Work assignments:
SGA can start up to 12 months after a case is closed.
While a client might not be making SGA at closure (SGA in 2006 is $860/month),
he might find that the job is going well and be given more hours, or, with a
raise, be above SGA after 10 months.
The 12 month time period in which SGA needs to start
can be waived if a reason can be shown for SGA starting after
that time. There has been a client who was able to work getting wages above
SGA which he didn’t have when his case was closed because he had additional
job coach under a Status 32 case. Or it could be the client just wanted to be
cautious when he started out working to see how much stress there was on the
job.
SSA has suspended the Progress Reviews of beneficiaries
who have assigned their Ticket. (These were 24 months after the Ticket is assigned,
and every 12 months after that.) This has been done because there is legislation
pending approval revising the Ticket to Work program which should be finalized
in a few months.
IVRS not only gets money back from SSA for the actual expense of services to
the client but also receive $159.62 per month the case was open
for Administrative, Counseling and Placement services. Even if IVRS paid out
very little for services, it will get $1915.44 for example if the case is open
12 months. Most cases are open longer.