Application of the KVI-R to Assess and Compare Training Needs for Private and Public State-Federal Rehabilitation Counselors

Abstract

BackgroundThe KVI-R was developed by a team of researchers in collaboration with the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) as a measurement instrument to assess training needs of rehabilitation counselors. The KVI-R includes 92 items measured on two dimensions: importance to the rehabilitation counseling field and degree of preparedness to work in that area.ObjectiveThe objective for this study was to assess and compare training needs reported by private sector and public sector rehabilitation counselors via the KVI-R.MethodsParticipant data for this study was compiled from two previous studies examining rehabilitation counselors working the public sector and a second study examining the private sector. A sample of 442 public sector rehabilitation counselors were recruited from the state-federal Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies within the federal Mid-Atlantic Region III (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV). A sample of 423 private sector rehabilitation counselors across the United States were recruited through the George Washington University's Forensic Rehabilitation Counseling Certificate Program marketing email list for a total sample of N = 865 Participants responded to two pre- and post- survey questions along with the Knowledge Validation Inventory–Revised (KVI-R) instrument which is used to measure training needs of rehabilitation professionals.FindingsThere were no statistically significant differences shown between the two groups' overall training need or for any KVI-R domain specific need. Both groups indicated that time spent in training was unnecessarily emphasized in areas of group counseling practices and interventions, group counseling theories, and historical philosophical foundations of rehabilitation counseling. Comparing qualitative responses between rehabilitation counselors in the private and the public sector, there were several areas of differences in reported training needs. Those who worked in the public sector reported significantly higher perceived benefits from further training for persons with disabilities (p = .001). Additionally, demographic differences were found between overall years practicing, with private sector counselors having about twice the clinical experience on average compared to the public sector counselors. In addition, private sector counselors had significantly more professional credentials compared to public sector rehabilitation counselors.