Vocational Rehabilitation
The Washington State Rehabilitation Council’s primary policy partnership is with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. We have a constructive and engaged relationship with the Division and its leadership. Here are some of the ways the Council collaborates or shares information with the Senior Leadership Team and Field Staff of the Division:
- The Council has appointed representation from DVR Administration and the field among our membership;
- The Council collaborates with DVR in surveying the customer base to assess satisfaction with services and also in a comprehensive needs assessment;
- The Council participates in the development of the State Plan required by the Rehabilitation Services Administration by: garnering public comment on proposed goals and priorities, providing comment on proposed goals and priorities, and by completing a section of the plan that includes the recommendations made by the Council to the Division. The Division then has an opportunity to comment on its response to those recommendations.
- When federal monitors assess DVR’s performance, the Council is consulted to offer feedback about the status and strength of our partnership;
- The Council tracks the Division’s performance on Standards and Indicators developed by the Rehabilitation Services Administration and uses DVR’s internal data to identify and understand systemic performance issues;
- DVR staff are frequently invited to present to our Council at quarterly meetings;
- Each quarter the Council invites a practicing VRC from a local office to discuss his or her approach to providing Rehabilitation Counseling;
- The Council provides input on changes proposed to the Division’s internal Customer Service Manual and on proposed rule making initiated by the Division.
Links to Primary and Additional Vocational Rehabilitation Partners
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
DVR believes employment contributes to a person’s ability to live independently and everyone has a right to work. Our mission is to empower people with disabilities to achieve a greater quality of life by obtaining and maintaining employment.
www.dshs.wa.gov/dvr
The Department of Services for the Blind
The Department of Services for the Blind provides services to promote the inclusion, independence, and economic vitality for people with visual disabilities.
www.dsb.wa.gov
The Seven Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Programs Operating in the State of Washington
The Rehabilitation Services Administration provides five-year grants to seven sovereign Tribal Nations located within Washington State borders, to provide Vocational Rehabilitation services in a culturally specific manner to eligible tribal members with disabilities. Below please find the contact information for each Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Director or Program Manager
Barbara Churchill, Program Manager
Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
P.O. Box 536
Oakville 98568
360-709-1633
Fax 360-273-5236
Email: bchurchill@chehalistribe.org
Sharey Cleveland, Acting Program Manager
Colville Confederated Tribes
Vocational Rehabilitation Program
509-634-2723 toll-free 1 888 881-7684 x 2723
FAX: 509-634-2297
Email: sharey.Cleveland@colvilletribes.com
Carol Cordova, Project
Director
South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency
3104 S.E. Old Olympic Highway
Shelton, WA 98584
(360) 462-3230 (800) 924-3984 FAX: (360) 432-8457
Email: cordova@spipa.org
Edna D. Harper, Director
Lummi Vocational Rehabilitation Program
2559 Lummi View Drive
Bellingham, WA 98226
Ph: (360) 384-7120 FAX: (360) 384-7119
Email: ednah@lummi-nsn.gov
Nancy Holland, Project Director
Samish Vocational Rehabilitation Program
PO Box 217
Anacortes, WA 98221
Ph: (360) 293-6404 Ext. 127 FAX (360) 293-9654
Email: nholland@samishtribe.nsn.us
Jana M. Finkbonner, Director
North Intertribal Vocational Rehabilitation
3205 Northwest Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 671-7626 (360) 733-3061: Fax
Email: janaf.nivrp@yahoo.com
Jerry Corpus,Director
Yakama Nation Vocational Rehabilitation
P.O. Box 151
Toppenish, WA 98948
Ph: (509) 865-5121 Ext. 6015 FAX: (509) 865-7942
Email: jerryc@yakama.com
Shari Hughes, Project Director
Cowlitz Indian Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation
1055 9th Ave.
PO Box 2429
Longview, WA 98632
Ph: (360) 575-6220 FAX: (360) 577-5690
Email: shughes.health@cowlitz.org
