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Catherine
Marshall, Ph.D., CRC and Mikel Johnson, M.S.
“Encouragement
from the family builds the confidence and determination in the one
who is seeking the help. If the life-line is not strong, the steps
that have to be taken seem hopeless and not worth the effort and
work it takes to reach the end result which is why you start this
to begin with.”
–survey respondent
Introduction
Over the past decade, the rehabilitation literature has consistently
called for rehabilitation counselors to utilize the family as a
resource to enhance the possibility of successful rehabilitation
outcomes for people with disabilities. The purpose of this research
was to identify the extent to which American Indian vocational rehabilitation
projects: (a) provide services to family members when necessary
to insure successful vocational rehabilitation outcomes, and (b)
utilize the family, as well as other natural support systems, to
provide comprehensive rehabilitation services to transitional age
adolescents and adults with disabilities.
Results
The research project was conducted as a mailed survey, with telephone
follow-up as needed. The population surveyed included staff members
from the 22 tribal vocational rehabilitation (VR) projects in
existence at the time of the research in 1994. Of the 22 projects,
the directors of 18 (82%) agreed to participate. Of those directors
who agreed to participate, 10 (56%) completed a directors survey.
In addition, 36 project staff,
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including 11
directors, completed a staff survey. The majority [n=9 (90%)] of
the directors strongly agreed/agreed that they encouraged staff
to involve the family in all aspects of the rehabilitation process.
While only 4 (40%) strongly agreed/agreed that they had provided
opportunities for staff to participate in training related to family
issues in the past, 80% strongly agreed that they would support
opportunities for staff members to attend any such future training.
Of those persons responding to the staff survey, the majority (83%)
were American Indian or Alaska Native. Staff were equally divided
between males and females, with an average age of 38. A large majority
(83%) had worked in the rehabilitation profession for five years
or less. Of the 11 directors responding to the staff survey, the
majority were male (64%) and were also American Indian.
The top three
services in which direct services staff reported involving families
included transportation services, home visitation, and information
about the disabling condition. Less frequently provided services
included advocacy for family members, family counseling, multiple-family
support groups, and respite care services.
The top three barriers to family involvement as identified by direct
service staff and directors included lack of family transportation,
lack of family knowledge about the VR process, and lack of time.
Suggestions for overcoming barriers to family involvement in the
rehabilitation process focused on education for both rehabilitation
staff and family members. Respondents suggested training: (a) for
families in order to create greater understanding of the requirements
and expectations of the rehabilitation process, (b) for informing
families of services that might be provided to the family to support
the rehabilitation of the family members/rehabilitation client,
and (c) for informing staff as to the resources that a counselor
can provide to family members. Participant responses to the survey
highlighted four areas of follow-up information/training needed.
Director 11 (31%) Support/Other 3 (8%) Direct Services 22 (61%)
Categories of Respondents to Staff Survey (N=36)
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