The Dynamic Trio

All sessions will be at 3:00 - 4:30 Eastern Time

Sessions

1. November 14, 2023 - Case Documentation

Case documentation is more than just a record of activities. Effective case documentation tells a story, the VR client’s story, in a way that conceptualizes the case and descriptively captures the actions taken to move the participant toward reaching their employment and career goals. In this session, participants will understand the purpose and the why of case documentation, recognize the implications of just how we document case information, and explore best practices around case documentation.

Presenters: Steve Upchurch, Tammi Williams, Gretchen Ykema Session 1 Bios

2. December 12, 2023 - Case Management

A VR Counselor’s case management skills directly impact clients’ ability to successfully achieve their employment and career goals. Effective case management requires competence in a broad range of skills including counseling and guidance, communication, problem-solving, case documentation, and time management. Participants in this session will learn about catalysts for case progression, identify strategies for efficient time and resource management, explore communication skills that enhance case management, understand importance of case documentation, and examine critical thinking skills for problem-solving.

Presenters: Steve Upchurch, Tammi Williams, Gretchen Ykema Session 2 Bios

3. January 23, 2024 - Become an Adult Ally: Empowering Youth in Vocational Rehabilitation

This interactive session focuses on what State VR agencies can do to foster youth inclusion by demonstrating that voices are heard and are valued as equal partners with VR professionals. Recommendations that are grounded in the stages of change model will provide strategies and practices to engage with youth.

Explore the inherent power differential that exists within the Youth-Transition Relationship
Explain why shifting the power differential in the transition-relationship to being an “adult ally” empowers youth to be active leaders in their own career development
Provide strategies to support continuous engagement of students and youth

Presenters: DJ Ralston, M.A., Linda Hedenblad, Sandra Miller, M.S., and John Walsh from George Washington University Session 3 Bios

Presenters

Steve Upchurch

Steve Upchurch has served as the Training Director for Indiana Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) since November 2016. Prior to his current role, he served in both counselor and supervisory roles. Steve earned a Master of Arts degree in Education and Human Development from George Washington University and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Indiana chapter of the Association of People for Supported Employment, as a member of the Advisory Council for the Center for Innovative Training in VR, and on the CSAVR DEI&A Professional Network. Steve lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife, son, and their two dogs, and enjoys public speaking and travel.

Tammi Williams

Tammi Williams is the Consultant Manager for Staff Development for Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS). She has served in this role since 2018. During her 16 years with MRS she has served as a counselor and site manager of 4 offices. Tammi earned her Master of Arts in community counseling from Andrew’s University and her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from Michigan State University. A few of her accomplishments at MRS, she worked with her staff development team to create a 7 week hybrid onboarding model, as a counselor and manager she developed Daring to Redefine Empower and Accept Myself (DREAM) psychoeducational support class, a learning center for people testing 5 th grade and below and developed programming that supports post-secondary students in achieving their goals. Tammi resides in Ann Arbor Michigan, has an adult daughter, and enjoys travel and jazz festivals.

Gretchen Ykema

Gretchen (she/her) is a Staff Development Specialist on the Staff Development Quality Assurance Team for Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation. Gretchen has been a Staff Development Specialist since 2016, developing and leading training on a variety of VR related topics, but specializes in training for new employees, policy and guidance, and motivational interviewing. She co-chairs Minnesota VR’s Policy Learning Team and is a member of the Policy Core Team. Previous to her role in Staff Development, Gretchen was a rehabilitation counselor for almost nine years, serving both youth and adults. She earned her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from Minnesota State University – Mankato and her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Winona State University. She resides south of the Twin Cities with her husband and two young children.