UTPA Department of Rehabilitation

NEWSLETTER
Spring 2013

REHAB

Greetings from Interim Chair Bruce Reed

Greetings to all from the very active Department of Rehabilitation I wish to thank Ms. Belinda Rivas, our undergraduate coordinator, for getting this edition of our newsletter off the ground! We plan on regularly publishing them again to help keep our alumni and other interested people connected to the department. Another key purpose of the newsletter is to help highlight successful graduates, employed in various settings, who contribute greatly to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. Hopefully, you will recognize some of them. Hope to hear back from many of you!

New Faculty Members

MR. ANTONIO AGUIRRE
is a clinical instructor in the Department of Rehabilitation. He earned his master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from UTPA and is currently working toward his Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling. Before returning to school for his Ph.D., Mr. Aguirre was a special populations counselor in the Harlingen school district. He is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, a Certified School Counselor and a Certified Special Education Teacher in the state of Texas. His professional interests include multicultural issues in rehabilitation, bilingual counseling issues, and training qualified bachelors level rehabilitation practitioners. DR. ABDOULAYE DIALLO is an assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation. He earned his master's degree in professional counseling and in religion from Liberty University and his doctorate in rehabilitation counseling from Michigan State University. His current areas of research interest include attitudes toward persons with disabilities, multicultural counseling, religion/ spirituality and health, employment for persons with disabilities, pedagogue, and depression.

In this issue:
Greetings from the Interim Chair
Dr. Bruce Reed

New Faculty Programs Alumni: Where are they now? Projects

UTPA Department of Rehabilitation

Undergraduate Program
The Rehabilitation Undergraduate Program is working toward becoming accredited by the Council on Rehabilitative Education (CORE) who is the accrediting body for undergraduate programs in rehabilitation education in the United States. The program has dedicated itself to continue to meet and exceed the standards put forth by CORE. It has always been the goal of the department to promote effective delivery of rehabilitative services to individuals with disabilities by promoting and fostering review and improvement of our undergraduate program through internal and external evaluations. Graduates from this program enter into a variety of service oriented occupations such as Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors for the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, local school districts and child protective agencies. A high percentage of the students in this concentration have been accepted into the master's program here in the department.

Master's Program
Hello everyone, I am Dr. Charlene Blankenship, the new Coordinator of the Master of Rehabilitation Counseling Program. As many of you know, the MRC program has grown to a size of nearly 100 current students. Our program continues to be accredited by CORE, and we continue to be among the top 20 programs in the country. During the Spring 2013 semester, we will be establishing a Mentor Program for current students. The plan is to link current students with alumni that are working in the area the current student wants to enter upon graduation. This program invites alumni to share their professional experiences and helps MRC students develop a network of professional contacts. Both alumni and current students will receive training on the mentor/ mentee relationship. I will be asking for volunteers at a later date, please keep the opportunity in mind. We have recently established a listserv for all MRC students, current and former. The intent is to post job openings and other information relevant to all. To join the listserv send a blank e-mail to MRC_ ALUMNI-subscriberequest@listserv.utpa.edu. The list is also advertised on UTPAs directory at https://listserv.utpa.edu. We hope everyone will join the listserv.

Addictions Track
The concentration in Addiction Studies is designed to prepare students interested in working in the field of substance abuse counseling. The Addiction Studies program was developed with the intention of providing students with a basic foundation to become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC) in a state (Department of State Health Services) approved major. Courses cover all levels of drug abuse, prevention, treatment and clinical application of working with individuals with a substance abuse disorder. In response to the need of qualified, culturally competent counselors in the state of Texas and throughout the nation, students are prepared to work with a variety of special population groups; including Native Americans. The goal of the addiction concentrations program will be to offer this degree fully online in order to meet this need and reach students from across the nation interested in working with this population and other special population groups," said Fidencio Mercado, clinical instructor.

Ph.D. Program
We want to welcome Dr. Jerome Fischer the new Ph.D. program coordinator. Our program is aimed at assisting students to be professors, leaders and researchers in rehabilitation counseling," said Dr. Fischer. There are currently 28 Ph.D. students in the program and the program is looking to admit eight to 15 students a year. Through the program doctoral students have the option to receive scholarships and graduate assistantships. Our first graduate earned their Ph.D. in December 2012.

Deaf Concentration
There is a great shortage of professionals in the public vocational rehabilitation sector who understands American Sign Language and Deaf culture. This program prepares undergraduate rehabilitation students to work with this population and understand the unique audiological, psychological and assistive technology needs of this group.

UTPA Department of Rehabilitation

Projects
Community Rehabilitation Program Job Placement Services (CRP)
CRP is a community-based program that assists eligible people with disabilities to define a suitable employment goal and become employed in collaboration with the Department of Assistive Rehabilitative Services. The project which started off as a grant is now self-sufficient said Keely Smith, job placement specialist. Keely reports she currently works with two area managers, who cover Cameron, Starr, and Hidalgo counties, and 14 DARS Rehabilitation Vocational Counselors. To date, CRP has placed 37 individuals in competitive employment. The program is also working with high school transition students to assist them in transitioning from high school to college and work. CRP has several projects in the works that address community needs and the needs of people with disabilities. CRP is currently working on establishing a job club and employer workshop, and has been recently approved for Vocational Adjustment Training (VAT).

Project HIRE
The University of Texas-Pan American has joined forces with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), South Texas College (STC) and other state agencies to help students with disabilities receive job training and obtain employment. Under the grant, UTPA will provide educational coaches to the students, who are between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. The University will also help the students, once they complete STC, with finding jobs if they have not already found employment. Partners in the project also include Workforce Solutions, Access Granted Technology Services, Communication Access Ability Group of South Texas, DARS Division for Blind Services, and a 12-member Project Advisory Committee from the local disability, business, and education community. The project has three full-time coaches and one part-time coach, who during Summer 2012 assisted students in preparing for college. All selected students were successfully enrolled with STC and are currently on track," said Maria Morin, program coordinator/lead educational coach. Project Hire will be accepting new prospective student applications in early Spring 2013 to prepare students for Fall 2013 enrollment.

Center for Hispanic Resources in Rehabilitation

Center for Hispanic Resources in Rehabilitation This is a 3-year project funded through the Capacity Building at Traditionally Underserved Institutions initiative led by John Heiden, CHRR Project Coordinator. The overall goal of capacity building is to develop more professionals in the field of rehabilitation from underrepresented populations, as severe shortages exist of bilingual-bicultural rehabilitation professionals. The Center for Hispanic Resources in Rehabilitation (CHRR) has been created to provide technical assistance to Hispanic Serving Institutions of higher education nationwide to develop academic undergraduate/graduate programs and as well as grant writing assistance at NO COST to the institution. Services are funded via the Grant Project.

UTPA Department of Rehabilitation

Where Are They Now?

JONATHAN DE LUNA
Jonathan De Luna graduated magna cum laude from UTPA with a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitative Services in May 2008 and received a masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling in May 2011. Jonathan is a vocational counselor with the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) in Texas City. "In the beginning, I was extremely nervous with my job description because I had no idea that there was such a profession that would require a complete understanding of all the education I received at UTPA. Without the education I was provided and a little patience, I do not feel I would have been able to sustain this employment position. I am now in full control of my case load and doing extremely well. In fact, my manager has become so confident in my abilities as a VR counselor that he has requested me to assist in various offices where help may be needed. It has been roughly one and a half years since my graduation and I can safely say that Ive found a position that complements every fabric of my education received at UTPAs Rehabilitation Counseling program. I plan to continue advancing in my position with hopes to one day become a licensed professional counselor and progress in the field of rehabilitation." Department of Veterans Affairs for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment division at the Atlanta Regional Office, based out of Columbus, Georgia. In August 2012, I was transferred to the Houston Regional Office. My education through the UTPA rehab master's program has helped me tremendously and I utilize a great deal of the knowledge I gained from the courses in Case Management, Vocational Assessment, Psychosocial Aspects of Disability, and Job Placement and Medical Aspects. The rehab program really gave me a solid foundation to stand on while pursuing my dream of working for the VA. With the help of all my professors and the education I have received, I have realized that dream.''

VANESSA ZEPEDA

Vanessa Zepeda graduated from UTPA with a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitative Services with a concentration in Deaf Studies in May 2009 and received a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling in May 2011. As of June 2011, Vanessa has worked as a Regional Counselor for the Deaf in the DARSDRS McAllen Unit. "With my master's I was fortunate enough to transition directly into DARS-DRS. Being able to serve the Deaf community is absolutely rewarding and a dream come true. With DARS-DRS, VAIL, and Valley I Can support, I have been able to establish the very first Job Club for the Deaf. I have also taken on other responsibilities to assist my colleagues with legalities with the DARS-DRS policy and process for Applications, Planning, and Closures regarding consumers who utilize manual communication as their native language. I have also hosted American Sign Language tutorials for McAllen DARS-DRS staff. Many thanks to the UTPA Rehab staff for all the support and knowledge you have given me!''

PETE CASTANEDA

Pete Castaneda graduated with a bachelor's in Rehabilitative Services in December 2008 and earned his Master in Rehabilitation Counseling in December 2010. Pete is a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Division. He has been employed there since November 2011. "After graduating from the masters program I began working for the Texas Veterans Commission as an Employment Specialist for the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program. In November of 2011 I was hired as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the United States

UTPA Department of Rehabilitation

Where Are They Now?

VICTORIA SCARBROUGH
Victoria Scarbrough graduated summa cum laude from UTPA with a bachelor's in Rehabilitative Services in December 2011. She has worked as a level II counselor with Allen Outreach, Inc. in Oakdale, La. since January 3, 2012. I am registered with the Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority as a level II counselor in training. Currently, I am working toward my credential as an LAC (Licensed Addictions Counselor) in the state of Louisiana. Also, I'm an active member of the Louisiana Counseling Association LCA Division-LAAOC Louisiana Association of Addictions and Offenders Counselors. Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Science in Prevention Science (MPS) from the University of Oklahoma. Upon graduation, I will be eligible to sit for the IC & RC Licensed Prevention Professional (LPP) credential.

JANETT ROBLES

Janett Robles received a bachelor's degree in Rehabilitative Services with a Deaf Concentration in May 2011. Janett is now an educational coach with UTPAs College of Health Sciences and Human Service Project HIRE. "Throughout Fall 2011 I started to work for the (RSD) Regional School for the Deaf in McAllen as a substitute interpreter and teacher for the Deaf students. After I graduated, my work with RSD still continued. However, in May 2012 I was hired by UTPA as a educational coach/counselor specialist for a grant named Project HIRE (Helping Individuals Reach Employment). Finally, I'm a grad student at UTPA and currently in my second semester studying for a master's in rehabilitation counseling.

MEL GARCIA

Mel Garcia graduated in December 2009 from UTPA with a bachelor's in Rehabilitative Services and then received a Master of Rehabilitation Counseling in May 2011. Mel is currently a case manager at Region One ESC. During my undergraduate internship I got a job offer with an early childhood intervention program and I stayed for three and a half years. I recently resigned and now work for Region One ESC at Edinburg as a case manager. I also work for PRN as an intake coordinator at the DHR behavioral center. I can truly say I enjoy what I do (almost) everyday During my graduate studies I realized that I wanted to do case management, but the counseling aspect has helped me interact with families every day and patients in crisis. I have my CRC and I am planning to apply for the LPC and CCM exams in the near future.

UTPA Department of Rehabilitation

Note from the Editor Belinda Rivas
I would like to thank the students, faculty, and staff who contributed to this Fall 2012 newsletter despite their busy schedules. The Department of Rehabilitation undergraduate program takes great pride in its Fiscal Year 2012 graduation rate. The program graduated 155 students with Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitative Services degrees compared to 59 graduates in FY 2008. The Department of Rehabilitation Undergraduate Program continues to dedicate itself to assisting in the achievement of UTPAs goal to provide students a quality education that they complete in a timely fashion.

The University of Texas Pan American Department of Rehabilitation 1201 W. University Drive, HSHSW 1.266 Edinburg, Texas 78539 rehabservic@utpa.edu (956) 665-7036