Jack - Hi Juan, how are things?
Juan - Pretty good.
Jack - How are things working out at the Independent Living Center? You're working there part-time now, right?
Juan - Yes, and things are great. It's kind of nice, you know, I get to help people and talk to them about how to arrange the things they need. I'm really enjoying it.
Jack - Are you working mostly with people there, or do they have you traveling around town as well?
Juan - Oh, a little of both. Most days I work with some of the people still in the Rehab Center, but I'm also helping several people who are already in the community. One is adjusting OK, but the other is still kind of in denial and I'm trying to help him work things out some. So I try to stop in and see them a couple days a week, too.
Jack - Well, you look good. You look like you're enjoying working here and things are going well.
Juan - Yeah, things are going well. And I'm really excited about starting school in the fall so I can, you know, learn to help people even more - especially kids. That's what I'd really like to be doing.
Jack - Then let's get you started down that road. Now, when we met last month, we moved you up to Status 10 - which means we are in the planning stage and ready to start creating your IWRP (Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan). The first thing we typically do is decide what sort of career you want to pursue. And from what you've told me, you already have a pretty good idea about that, right?
Juan - Yeah, I want to work with kids as, like, a counselor for juvenile delinquents and maybe kids with disabilities and such.
Jack - OK. But we need to get a little more specific. We use a book called the DOT, for Dictionary of Occupational Titles. It lists all kinds of jobs and their specific requirements, both in terms of "essential functions" (like the ADA law talks about) and in terms of educational requirements. So we need to figure out which ones of these, specifically, you are trying for...
Here's what I think we should do. We sometimes use a testing procedure called "Self-Directed Search". You answer some questions about the kinds of things you like to do, the kinds of skills you have, the kinds of jobs that you like or don't like, and that sort of thing. Then they compare your answers to answers from lots of other people, in lots of different jobs, and give you some possible career options that you might enjoy.
It's a tool to help you think about what you want to do and about possibilities you might have overlooked. Say, for instance, I had someone who really wanted to be a mechanic because he really liked engines. The Self-Directed Search might show that, for example, he didn't like working on his own, though, which a mechanic has to do. But, given that he likes tools and working with people, it might suggest that he'd be happy, say working in a hardware store. Or in something very different, like being a radio station engineer.
So why don't we take a few minutes right now and have Deana, one of our staff here, help you go through the Self-Directed Search. It should only take about thirty minutes. Have you got time for that?
Juan - Sure, I can do that. Right now?
Jack - Yeah. Let me go check with her and make sure she has time, and we'll get you all set up for it.
Jack - OK, Juan, how did that go?
Juan - Good. It was very interesting. It was kind of fun to learn about all the different occupations and things.
Jack - Did any of them sound like something you'd like to explore?
Juan - No, not really. I pretty much know what I want to do. Ever since I was a kid, I've just wanted to help people, especially children - help them deal with things and improve themselves. Deana and I talked about being a lawyer or something. But I really want to be a social worker. I think that's the best way to help children.
Jack - Well let's think about that. I don't see anything wrong with you being a social worker, but... When we go to create your IWRP and write a career goal for you, we have to look at what training it will take to get there. For a job as a social worker, that means a master's degree. And, like I said, there is no problem with that, except that it means getting two degrees - the basic undergraduate degree and then a Master's of Social Work (MSW) - and that probably means a total of 7 years of school. And there isn't any reason you can't do that - I want to be real clear about that. But, at this point, you haven't tried college yet, so we don't know what you may like or dislike about it. You may love it, and three more years of school after you finish your undergraduate degree may be great. Or you may hate it and four years is all you want to put up with. That's simply an area of weakness for you right now - lack of academic experience. And if we put down "social worker" as your goal, we are saying that you are going to do all that schooling.
But if, on this initial IWRP, we put down "caseworker" as your initial goal, that only requires a four-year, basic liberal arts degree. At that point, you can work as a caseworker doing social work type things. And if you still want to go for a master's degree and be a social worker, we can develop another IWRP to finish out your education. So putting down caseworker as your objective does not mean you can't be a social worker. It doesn't even change the time it would take. It just gives us a more intermediate goal to shoot for. Does that make sense?
Juan - I think so. So, if I did that... I mean, six years - that's a long time. So maybe this would be better for now. But I could still work with kids, even if I was a caseworker? I mean, what do they do?
Jack - Caseworkers work in lots of different agencies helping people. In some ways, they do what you are already doing at the Independent Living Center - they meet with people who need help, gather information about them, help them find the services they are eligible for, keep track of the forms and documents involved, and that sort of thing. They might work in an office, or out in the community, and they just help coordinate between provider agencies and clients.
Juan - Well, that sounds like it could work too. Or I could go on to be a social worker.
Jack - Yes. But, even before we do much else, we need to sort of test out the idea of you being a caseworker. One way to do that is an "informational interview" - where you go meet with someone who is doing that job already and ask them about it - What is it like? What do you do on a typical day? What things are a problem, or are difficult, about this job? Because all jobs have some parts of them that aren't much fun, so you want to know that, too. So, let's put that on the list of client responsibilities for this IWRP. This will be what we call a Counseling and Guidance IWRP - it's all the things you need to do to get ready to start school. Once you get to that point, we will write up an amendment to the IWRP.
So, you will need to set up a meeting with a case worker, probably someone in the Division of Youth would be closest to what you want to do.
Juan - OK
Jack - The other thing we need to make sure of is the GED. You took that, what, about a week ago?
Juan - Yeah. And they said it would probably be a few weeks before I got the results.
Jack - OK, so that's underway already.
You will also need to meet with a couple of people at the University. First you need to meet with an academic advisor. That's not hard. You just need to call up the Arts and Sciences Department and ask for an appointment to talk to someone about the courses you would take.
The University also has a Disability Access Office - people who make sure people with disabilities get the accommodations they need, under the ADA law. Hank Baker is a good person over there for you to meet with. He can talk about the different options you have available if any problems come up. They have maps of wheelchair ramps and elevators, special computers, and even people to help you take tests if you need it.
Juan - Really? Because that was one problem I had on the GED - those little circles really slowed me down. I could fill them in, but it was kind of hard. So they have folks who can do that for me?
Jack - Yep. And Hank is a real nice guy - you'll enjoy talking to him. So you need to set up meetings with those three people - a caseworker, an advisor, and Hank. Deana can get you those phone numbers if you need them.
There are also some financial things we will need to take care of. We've already got your financial information from your application form, but you'll need to fill out a scholarship application for a Pell Grant before we can do the cost worksheet to help fund your schooling. That form will also act as an application to several other types of scholarships. This is just so we can say that you've applied for any other financial support you might be eligible for, before VR steps in to fund things. You'll also need to get your application sent in to the University pretty fast, since school starts in about five weeks I think. That's something the academic advisor can probably help you with, but be sure to mention it when you call.
Juan - OK.
Jack - So you're going to be kind of busy the next couple of weeks. Do you think you can handle all of that?
Juan - Sure, I think so. Those three interviews, the financial aid application, and the school application, right?
Jack - Right. Call me and let me know how the interviews go. Meanwhile, I'll get the IWRP drawn up and ready for you to sign, and we'll go from there. OK?
Juan - OK.
Jack - Once you get started on this, I think you'll enjoy it. And once we get things all set for you to enroll, we'll meet again. Let me know if there is anything else you need.
Juan - All right. Thanks.
Name of Client: Juan Martinez
Contact with Juan
Contact made: [_] Home [X] Office [_] Phone [_] Other
Date: 7/15/97
Met with client to discuss plans for the counseling and guidance IWRP. He is working part time at the Independent Living Center, and wants to go to college to get a degree to prepare for a career in human services. Juan went through a Self-Directed Search, but stayed with his first idea of being a social worker. We discussed the amount of school that would require and his lack of experience with college. We decided that caseworker would be a better vocational goal for now, but he may want to continue for an MSW later on. He has taken the GED, so that should act as verification of academic potential. He has not been in school for 15 years, so documentation will need to be supplied.
Juan is going to meet with a caseworker for an informational interview, with an academic advisor, and with Hank Baker at the Disabilities Access Office, to prepare for school. He also will submit his application for admissions to the University and apply for a Pell Grant.
Write no-cost guidance and training IWRP to cover interviews. Check on Juan's GED scores.
Signed: Jack Greene
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