Madam Chairwoman and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to present testimony related to the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Programs.  We appreciate the opportunity to provide this written testimony, as the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) was unable to make arrangements to provide verbal testimony.  My testimony will highlight the continued need for qualified services through the VR&E programs, including the VR&E National Acquisition Strategy (NAS) contracts, and how Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs) are uniquely qualified to provide services to veterans.

CRCC Supports the Benefits of the VR&E Programs

CRCC’s mission is to promote quality rehabilitation counseling services to persons with disabilities through the certification of rehabilitation counselors and to provide leadership in advocating for the rehabilitation counseling profession.  Veterans who have a service-connected disability are a growing population of individuals who receive essential career and independent living services from VR&E programs.  They need services from those who are uniquely qualified to provide effective vocational rehabilitation services so that veterans may transition from military service to suitable employment or, for those who with severe disabilities who are unable to work, to independent living.  We understand the VR&E to be conscientious about continually assessing its programs and services to ensure that veterans are receiving quality services from the point of initial evaluation to the end goal of suitable employment or independent living. 

CRCs are uniquely qualified to provide the full range of services provided by VR&E including:

• comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine abilities, skills, interests, and needs
• vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning
• employment services such as job-seeking skills, resume development, and other work readiness assistance
• assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives
• if needed, training such as On the Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences
• if needed, post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school
• supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and referral
• independent living services

Overview of the CRC Certification Program

Incorporated in 1974, CRCC is the world’s largest rehabilitation counseling organization, currently certifying over 16,500 CRCs.  Our CRC certification program has maintained long-standing national accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, which demonstrates that our certification program meets the rigors of the best practice standards established by the industry.  The majority of our applicants have a master’s degree specifically in rehabilitation counseling with current eligibility criteria requiring a minimum of a master’s degree in counseling including key course work in both rehabilitation/disability and counseling content along with experiential requirements.  In addition to meeting eligibility criteria that include course work and experiential requirements, individuals must pass our national Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Examination (CRCE).  The exam tests knowledge with regard to both rehabilitation/disability and counseling.  Individuals must achieve a passing score on both sections of the exam in order to pass the exam as a whole.  Those who achieve CRC certification demonstrate that they have met the national standard for rehabilitation counseling and have the unique skills to assist individuals with disabilities as they seek re-employment with a previous employer, rapid access to employment through job-readiness preparation, self-employment, employment via long-term training and education, and services to maximize independence in daily living for those unable to work.  Once certified, individuals must demonstrate continued skill development through a program of continuing education or may take the CRCE, which is continually updated based on empirical research.  CRCs must also abide by the Code of Professional Ethics for Rehabilitation Counselors, which mandates ethical behavior and supports best practices.

VR&E’s National Acquisition Strategy Contracts

Although our direct knowledge of the success of the NAS contracts is limited, CRCC has anecdotal information that supports a need for restructuring the program.  We believe that an essential component of an outsourcing arrangement such as the NAS contracts is to identify and select appropriate individuals who are capable of providing quality services in a timely manner.  We believe that CRCs are those uniquely qualified individuals who have the requisite skills and knowledge in order to provide quality career and independent living services.  We understand, however, that requirements for those providing contract services were not aligned with the specific education and course work that highly qualified and skilled CRCs possess.  Whether as part of the NAS contracts or for primary staff, we would urge the VA to maintain high standards by aligning hiring standards to be inclusive of CRCs who are specifically trained in working with individuals with disabilities, such as the veteran population.

Funding and Improvements

Whether VR&E directly hires or contracts work, in order for qualified individuals to be interested in employment opportunities through the VA, the compensation must be adequate in order to compete with other employment opportunities.  The VA is viewed as an employer of choice for many of our CRCs due to the fact that the VR&E programs provide them with the ability to provide the full scope of rehabilitation counseling services for which they are trained.  Continuing to offer favorable pay and benefits as well as supporting their continuing education needs will allow VR&E to remain an employer of choice.  Again, anecdotally, we understand that contractors were being offered less than desirable rates for contract work under the NAS contracts.  VR&E must be funded in a manner that will allow them to support competitive wages for contractors, whether directly or indirectly through choice of vendors.   Another opportunity for improvement that has been expressed anecdotally is with respect to the streamlining of paperwork so as to eliminate duplicative reporting and tracking.  Doing so will allow employees and contractors to focus their efforts on providing quality and timely services resulting in optimal outcomes for veterans and for VR&E.

Concluding Remarks

Given the increasing demand for services for the many deserving veterans, CRCC fully supports the continuing need for the VR&E programs, their continued development and funding, and the advancement of hiring standards to recognize CRCs in both paid staff positions and for contracted work where rehabilitation counseling services are provided to individuals with disabilities.  The population of veterans is not only increasing but the severity of disabilities is also increasing.  It is important that quality services be provided by those who are uniquely qualified to provide them–Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.

Madam Chairwoman, this concludes my written testimony.  I would be pleased to respond to questions from you or any of the other members of the Subcommittee.