Council On Rehabilitation Education Research Articles

Undergraduate Rehabilitation Education Programs: A Focus on Quality and Ethics as Guiding Principles in Preparing Students for a Diverse Workforce

In the post Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) era, many undergraduate rehabilitation programs find themselves in a predicament with unanswered questions about the future as it relates to ethical and quality programming. In this conceptual manuscript, the authors discuss the direction of undergraduate programs in light of the (July 1, 2017) CORE/CACREP merger. The manuscript provides functional definitions of quality and explores the ethical obligations of undergraduate rehabilitation education programs and faculty. The authors describe how quality and ethics serve as the basis for preparing undergraduate rehabilitation education students for employment. The manuscript also provides implications, strategies, and recommendations for future research that are directed at developing and maintaining quality undergraduate rehabilitation programs.

A Revisited Inquiry: A Survey of the Members of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA)

In recognition of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association’s (ARCA) 60th anniversary and the need to gather and provide data to further inform the rehabilitation counseling (RC) field with recent developments, a replication of the Peterson, Hautamaki, and Hershenson (2006) study that included surveying ARCA members at the time as well as similar studies in the field (Trotter & Kozochowicz, 1970) was completed. Similar questions related to overall membership benefits, motivations, concerns, and future directions for the field were duplicated. In addition, given the recent major changes in the field including the merger between the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) and the new Clinical Rehabilitation Counselor (CLRC) degree were included. Similar to the 50th anniversary survey, the results of the study informed the ARCA leadership in their future strategic planning activities, organizational development, and in better meeting the needs of ARCA members.

Characteristics and Descriptions of Transition Content on Special Education and Rehabilitation Graduate Program Websites

Purpose:This exploratory study advances personnel preparation research through the investigation of the transition content found on the institutional websites of U.S. universities with Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Master’s Level Personnel Preparation grants for transition planning and services (OSEP, 2015) or master’s-level Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)-accredited vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs (2014–2105). Individuals seeking transition training are likely to visit institutional websites given that searching online is typically the first step in exploring educational and training options.Method:A process of systematic website searches, protocol for data extraction, and an iterative content analysis were used. Data profiles were constructed, and the types of offerings were characterized and defined.Results:Twelve universities were associated with the transition offerings of eight OSEP-funded programs (8/23 or 35%) and eight CORE-accredited programs (8/97 or 8%) and their corresponding 22 websites. Four of the 12 universities appeared on both lists.Conclusions:The renewed focus on transition services within the legislation (The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [WIOA], 2014) will no doubt increase the demand for educational preparation and professional development. These findings provide a baseline from which to improve visibility and develop further offerings. Areas for immediate improvement are the accuracy of the program descriptions and the ease of finding details.

A Survey of Military Counseling Content and Curriculum Among Council on Rehabilitation Education- and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs-Accredited Programs

Purpose:To determine the amount, frequency, and type of course content related to military counseling issues in Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)- and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)-accredited master’s-level counselor education programs.Methods:A questionnaire was sent to all CORE- and CACREP-accredited program directors/coordinators (N= 383) via Microsoft Outlook e-mail system. The authors used the 6-item questionnaire to ask participants to report data in the following areas: (a) if their program offered a certificate program, specialty track, concentration, or degree program in military counseling; (b) if not, do they intend to add a stand-alone military counseling course, certificate program, specialty track, or degree program in military counseling; (c) if they currently have plans, how do they intend to deliver such topics within the structure of their curriculum or counselor education program; (d) if coursework already exists, how is it currently structured within their curriculum and counselor education program; and (e) 3 open-end questions requesting course titles; semester hours related to course content, curriculum, and/or concentration, and comments regarding student assignments and/or projects that are military related.Results:Overall, out of 362 programs surveyed, 85 (23.4%) responded. All 85 of survey respondents indicated that they did not have a (a) certificate program, (b) specialty track, or (c) degree program that related to military counseling. Of the 85 programs, 34 schools (4.7%) had developed stand-alone courses that offered military counseling content. More than two-thirds of the 85 programs reported covering military counseling content in various courses across the curriculum.Conclusion:None of the program directors/coordinators in this study indicated they had a specialty track, concentration, or certificate program. Some of the participants indicated they were considering adding additional seminars, courses, and other student experiences that would integrate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for persons that are active-duty personnel and veterans. Overall, the data suggest that there is greater attention and a willingness among counselor educators to infuse military counseling–related coursework. This is promising because it is critical that preprofessionals and professionals alike be introduced to the emerging population of providing rehabilitation counseling services to military personnel, veterans, and their family members.

Can Psychiatric Rehabilitation Be Core to CORE?

Purpose: In this article, we seek to determine whether psychiatric rehabilitation principles and practices have been more fully incorporated into the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) standards, the extent to which they are covered in four rehabilitation counseling “foundations” textbooks, and how they are reflected in the contents of three key journals in rehabilitation counseling.Methods: We conducted a detailed review of literature that has surveyed coordinators of graduate programs accredited by the CORE as well as research that investigates the preparedness of graduates of CORE-accredited rehabilitation counseling programs to deliver services to people with psychiatric disabilities.Results: This review found that psychiatric rehabilitation is only touched upon in the CORE standards, is modestly alluded to in the most commonly used foundational textbooks, and has very few articles about it published annually in rehabilitation journals.Conclusion: Recommendations on methods for increasing psychiatric rehabilitation content in CORE-accredited programs are provided. Specific suggestions are made for resources and activities that can be added to rehabilitation counseling curricula to include psychiatric rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation Counselor Knowledge, Comfort, Approach, and Attitude Toward Sex and Disability

This study examined the effect of rehabilitation counseling students’ age, sex, disability status, geographic location, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, and level of sexuality training on knowledge, comfort, approach, and attitudes toward the sexuality of people with disabilities. Participants were 312 rehabilitation counseling master’s students in Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accredited programs all over the United States. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) analyses demonstrated that Knowledge scores were affected by intensity of training. Other subscale scores indicated that rehabilitation counseling students had generally negative attitudes toward sex and disability and low levels of comfort with approaches from clients. Results demonstrate the importance of rehabilitation counselor educators incorporating the topic of sex and disability in training programs so that graduating students have the knowledge and comfort necessary to discus sex with their clients with disabilities.

Evaluating Curricular Influence on Preparation for Practice, Career Outcomes, and Job Satisfaction: Results From an Alumni Survey of a 40-Year Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program

Alumni of a Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)–accredited graduate rehabilitation counselor education (RCE) program were surveyed to evaluate career outcomes, job satisfaction, licensure and certification rates, client populations served, and RCE program satisfaction and effectiveness. Results indicate a high level of satisfaction with the program and career outcomes and confirm the program’s effectiveness in meeting the education and career needs of its graduates. Information obtained provides valuable insight for other RCE programs that aspire to improve and grow to meet the needs of their students and the field.

Rehabilitation Counselor Professional Identity Development in Master's-Level Training Programs: An Exploratory Study of Potential Influencing Factors

Unifying the field of rehabilitation counseling appears to be a daunting task. Many researchers have investigated this phenomenon and have also written position papers arguing for a specific identity perspective: either as a counseling specialty or as a separate profession. The current study examined beliefs about the field of rehabilitation counseling among trainees and investigated factors that influenced these beliefs. A scale was developed to collect data about perceptions of master's-level students in Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)-accredited training programs. Data were collected from 67 participants in 12 programs. Results indicated that two-thirds of trainees believed that rehabilitation counseling is a counseling specialty. Previous work experience of the trainees was most likely to influence this position.

Increasing Minority Student Enrollment in Counselor Education

Counselor education programs across the country often fail to attract, enroll and graduate students in proportion that reflects the diversity of the nation. As our country's demography changes, the impact of race and ethnicity within the client-counselor relationship is likely to have greater importance and, as such, counselor education programs must ensure a diverse group of students and graduates. Accordingly, counseling programs must recruit, retain and graduate minority students. This article reviews information concerning (a) the increasing diversity within the country and, in particular, student enrollment in post-secondary educational programs; (b) the importance of having a diverse counselor education student body; and (c), a minority student recruitment and retention model currently being used by a Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accredited program.

Rehabilitation Counselor Education Accreditation

This review examines some of the critical factors that influenced the evolution of rehabilitation counselor education accreditation. The article discusses the history and structure of the accreditation process and the activities that have occurred to maintain the relevancy and viability of the process. Major issues that the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) has addressed in recent years are highlighted and examples are provided to illustrate the scope and importance of the accreditation process. Commentary is included to help the reader understand the issues that CORE will be addressing and the directions that may become priorities in the future.

Rehabilitation Counselor Education Accreditation: History, Structure, and Evolution

This review examines some of the critical factors that influenced the evolution of rehabilitation counselor education accreditation. The article discusses the history and structure of the accreditation process and the activities that have occurred to maintain the relevancy and viability of the process. Major issues that the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) has addressed in recent years are highlighted and examples are provided to illustrate the scope and importance of the accreditation process. Commentary is included to help the reader understand the issues that CORE will be addressing and the directions that may become priorities in the future.

CORE Knowledge Domain C.4 Employment and Career Development: Application for Rehabilitation Counselor Educators

The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) CORE revised the standards for rehabilitation counseling master's degree program accreditation in 2004. These standards seek to promote effective rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities in both private and public programs (CORE, 2008). This article focuses on the new CORE standard knowledge domain C: Employment and Career Development and its application for rehabilitation counselor educators. The issues of employment and career development have been major factors in the professional practice of rehabilitation counseling from its inception. As a key knowledge domain in the new CORE standards, competence in this domain is integral to preparation for the CRC exam and essential to incorporate in existing rehabilitation counseling graduate programs.

Meeting CORE Standards in the Research and Program Evaluation Course

Rehabilitation research provides the foundation for effective services to persons with disabilities. As a required course by the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accreditation standards, the research course in the rehabilitation counseling curriculum remains a difficult one for students, as direct application to practice is not readily apparent. This article provides a review of the CORE standards and recommended curriculum design for the research and program evaluation course. The application of evidence-based practice and program evaluation in rehabilitation counseling is discussed.

Training in Vocational Assessment: Preparing Rehabilitation Counselors and Meeting the Requirements of the CORE Standards

Assessment represents a foundational component of rehabilitation counseling services. The revised Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) standards implemented in 2004 resulted in the redesign of the knowledge and outcomes under the Assessment standard. The author reviews the current CORE standard for training in assessment within the context of rehabilitation counselors’ roles as informed consumers of assessment. Further, the author reviews current educational practices and evaluation methods intended to develop competency in assessment. An alternative framework for providing training in assessment is provided.

Medical, Functional, and Environmental Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability: Addressing the C.9 CORE Curriculum Standard

This article provides suggestions for curriculum modifications that may be necessary to meet the new Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) Standard C.9, Medical, Functional, and Environmental Implications of Disability. Specifically addressed are (a) goals and objectives for meeting the new standards, (b) suggestions for new curricular units, (c) teaching strategies to convey new and revised content, (d) methods for assessing outcomes, and (e) primary resources for instructors and students. A discussion of conclusions and future issues is also presented.

Human Growth and Development: Educational and Professional Challenges and Opportunities

The 2004 Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) standards were revised to include Human Growth and Development (HGD) as a knowledge domain. The HGD domain introduces a significant amount of new content to the curriculum, including several topics that have not traditionally appeared in the rehabilitation counselor educational curriculum. Thus, this domain presents both an educational challenge and an educational and professional opportunity. Our purposes in this article are to review the place of HGD in the CORE curriculum and in rehabilitation counseling practice; to describe the HGD knowledge domain and its educational outcomes; and to discuss educational perspectives on this knowledge domain in the preservice curriculum. We propose that the inclusion of the HGD domain provides an opportunity for improving professional practice and for exploring our current and future professional roles.

Prestige of Rehabilitation Counseling Programs: A Comparison of Peer Evaluations and Scholarly Publications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prestige of master's level training programs in rehabilitation counseling as assessed by directors of these programs throughout the United States. Two types of indicators were employed in this investigation. Subjective peer evaluations required respondents to choose the five Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) accredited programs that they considered to be “most prestigious.” Then, respondents were asked to rate each of the five programs selected according to specific scales of program quality. The results were tabulated and compared to an objective indicator. Publication records were considered to indicate program and/or faculty visibility and achievement in research areas. Seventy-seven of the respondents were from programs accredited by CORE and fourteen were from programs that were institutional members of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE) and not CORE accredited at the time of response. The findings of this study provide information from which universities, faculty, students, prospective students and funding sources may assess the standing of a particular program within the rehabilitation education community. This inquiry represents the first of its kind in the field of rehabilitation counseling.

Incorporating Multicultural Counselling and Gender Issues into Rehabilitation Counsellor Education

In today’s rapidly changing society, counsellors need to have knowledge and skills to work effectively with a diverse consumer population. A review of rehabilitation counsellor education programs in the United States applying for CORE (Council on Rehabilitation Education) re-accreditation between 1991–1994 revealed that two-thirds of the programs had content deficits in multicultural and gender issues. Australia and other countries besides the United States have experienced increases in the number of cultural minorities entering the workforce. The role of women in the modern workforce also has undergone significant change. These issues need to be considered by rehabilitation counsellors in all countries. The importance of infusing these content areas in graduate training is addressed. The authors offer suggestions for infusion of cultural and gender issues into rehabilitation counselling curricula.

Accreditation in Rehabilitation Counseling: Historical and Current Context and Process

The early history of the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) is described through discussion of CORE's development, recognition, and foundation research at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. CORE's multi-stakeholder program evaluation process is described. Current trends and issues in accreditation of rehabilitation counselor education are discussed.

The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)

The Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)