News from RRTC-EBP-VR

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	January 2013

RRTC-EBP VR Logo Research Practice Participate

What is the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Evidence-Based Practice in Vocational Rehabilitation (RRTC-EBP-VR)?

The RRTC-EBP-VR conducts research and provides practitioners with knowledge and tools for evidence-based vocational rehabilitation practices that will improve employment rates, and quality of employment, for people with disabilities. Our goal is to ensure that new knowledge gained through research ultimately improves the lives of people with disabilities.

We do this through collaboration with key stakeholders, including vocational rehabilitation leadership and practitioners, community partners, rehabilitation educators and researchers, and families and individuals with disabilities.

We are jointly based at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Stout. All RRTC-EBP-VR activities are informed by our stakeholder-based Advisory Councils, research-oriented Scientific Review Committee, and External Advisory Council, whose members are active participants in key organizations.

To learn more, visit our website at www.research2vrpractice.org

What is Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)?

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is "...a clinical decision-making process beginning with formulating clinical questions to ask, determining the best practice, and critically appraising the evidence for validity and applicability to the particular situation." (Chan et al. 2010).

The term "evidence-based practice" gained visibility in the medical industry in the 1990s as managed care organizations sought to reduce costs through the use of practices scientifically proven to be effective. Recently, the Rehabilitation Services Agency (RSA) began encouraging state-federal vocational rehabilitation agencies to use evidence-based practices to increase the effectiveness, and reduce the costs, of providing VR services that improve the employment outcomes of people with disabilities. With public funding of programs receiving increased scrutiny, the need to demonstrate the effective use of public funds has also increased.

As a result, entities such as the RRTC-EBP-VR strive to develop and promote the use of evidence-based practices by vocational rehabilitation professionals.

What level of evidence-based practice do you use? Let us know...

Stay Tuned . . .
In our next issue, learn about

Effective VR Services for Disability Groups at High Risk for Low Employment

How Can I Use Evidence-Based Practices?

Using evidence-based practices in vocational rehabilitation involves:

Asking critical questions, such as "What is the most effective approach to providing services to a consumer with Disability X?" and "What are the benefits and risks associated with this approach?"
Identifying reliable sources of information on evidence-based practices in VR
Evaluating the significance of the evidence on the individual consumer and disability
Using professional expertise and judgment to integrate the evidence into a rehabilitation plan tailored to meet the individualized needs of a consumer

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors Speak

The RRTC-EBP-VR recently completed a study to learn what state vocational rehabilitation counselors need to better integrate evidence-based practices into their rehabilitation plans.

The information gained from this study, as well as ongoing information received from you, drives our research and development of training materials. Learn more...

Check out this promotional video produced by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Evidence-Based Practices in Vocational Rehabilitation (RRTC-EBP-VR) via funding from the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences.

Evidence-Based Practices in Vocational Rehabilitation: A Journey

Technical Assistance and Training

The RRTC-EBP-VR is your resource on evidence-based practices

in vocational rehabilitation.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Effective Vocational Rehabilitation Service Delivery Practices (RRTC-EBP-VR) is established at both the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout under a grant from the Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) grant number PR# H133B100034.