mentoring the mentors: a mentor counselor’s guide to supervising counselor interns in the field...

Mentoring the Mentors: A Mentor Counselor’s Guide to Supervising Counselor Interns

in the Field

Sheila R. Hoover, M.A., CRCRSA 5th National SCD Training Forum

Baltimore, Maryland August 24,2010

Or perhaps, a better title:

Goals today

• Why internship?• A brief history of Oregon VR’s internship

experiences• Factors that influenced the creation of the

Mentor’s Guide • The process used to develop the Guide• How it’s used• Future directions

Why should VR host internships?

• Essential in the VR “Food Chain” – CORE accreditation requirements– RSA & RCE/RCD program requirements– Hiring agencies’ experience requirements

• Essential in the development of the VR field– New applicants for vacancies– Practical experience for students– Reduces recruit/hire/train/terminate/recruit cycle

Why should VR host internships?

• Essential to VR staff development– Challenges staff to stay current with practices– Can increase diversity in offices– Gives line staff an opportunity to try supervision

• Beneficial to VR consumers– Served with fresh perspective on disability issues– Can assist in outreach to disability groups– Brings cutting edge information to share in service

SOME OREGON VR HISTORY…

• Prior to 2003– Hit or miss, no formal outreach or networking– No consistency from site to site– Data collection and analysis not possible

• 2003-2007– New position created in OVRS Administration’s

Field Services Unit– “Hey, it’d be great if you would do some outreach

with the graduate programs…”

OVRS woke up one day and…

Developing an internship program

• Survey of former interns on staff• Begin formal outreach to local RCE programs– Western Oregon University (General & RCD)– Portland State University (General)– Western Washington University (General)

• Work closely with faculty to review CORE standards for practicum and internship

• Begin collecting a library of RCE programs’ internship manuals

Seeking structure• Centralized coordination• “Sharing the wealth”

statewide• Tools and processes– Internship application– Internship webpage– Administrator’s Stipend

program• CRC credit for

credentialed staff • Avoiding staff burnout

Creating best practices

Old system• One mentor VRC• Branch Manager is initial

contact• Support staff role ignored• No evaluation• Hit or miss experience• No credit provided for

supervision• Less career investment by

interns

New system• Multiple mentors• Internship Coordinator is

initial contact• Support staff role important• Intern and Mentors do eval• More consistent experience• CRC credits awarded for

supervision• Interns more invested in VR

as a potential employer

But there was still something missing…

BACK TO THE BOOKS…

Figuring it out

• Manuals all addressed university requirements

• Internship agreements addressed academic issues

• VR field staff were unclear on agency’s expectations

Filling the need• A guide FOR

VR professionals written BY VR professionals

• Practical, easy to use references and forms

• Suggested activities and milestones for students

• Clear explanation of role for practicum versus internship

Filling the need

• Review data – Internship program establishment research– Interviews of current and recent interns– Interviews of current and recent mentor

counselors– Input of management team and Exec staff

• Pay attention to “wish I knew that” and “wish I would have…” statements to foster guide development

Creating a new perspective

• Guide approach rather than manual– Suggestions– Flexibility

• Debunk some strongly held myths – Interns are file clerks– Support staff have no

role in internships– Observation is key

Promote active learning

Guide contents

• Mentor’s role• Practicum v. Internship • Becoming a mentor (step by step process)• Being an effective mentor• Connecting students and consumers• Month by month suggestions for activities and

assignments throughout the internship period

A companion to university guides

• Supplements information for students found in university guides

• Assists faculty (especially new faculty) to understand the VR setting

• Gives a more consistent internship experience to the students

• Includes reference materials for both VR staff and interns to use during supervision

Kicking off internship season

• Meet in small or large groups– OVRS Internship

coordinator– Intern– Mentor Counselor(s)– Branch Manager– Faculty Supervisor

(if available)

Kicking off internship season

• Review the Guide– Roles– Myths– Expectations– Timelines

• Teambuilding and problem solving activities– Small groups by site– “What if…” scenarios

After the internship

• Intern evaluation• Mentor evaluation• Review of data at Administrative level• Program/process improvement

activities• CRC credit to mentors if requested

Looking ahead

Possible improvements

Administrative changes• Create electronic evaluation• Maximize use of social

media for internship recruitment

• Increase access to career ladder throughout organization

• More effective recruitment of potential staff members at all levels

Scope of program• Increased outreach to

RCE/D programs outside Oregon

• Broader spread of placements statewide

• Outreach to undergraduate programs in human services

• Mentor guide focused on support staff internships

Recent interns’ feedback

• Supervision was a team approach that allowed me to learn from various seasoned counselors in a supportive yet challenging setting--eventually allowing me to build my own caseload--then seamlessly transition into a VR counselor position after graduation.

• The internship experience helped me to shape the philosophy I use as I work with clients. I was able to observe all of the counselors in the office and I learned that there is no "one way" to do VR work.

Recent interns’ feedback

• The senior counselors provided good guidance and patient training to allow me to "see the bigger picture" of VR work. Their support was instrumental in allowing me to integrate "book learning" into practices that will serve the clients for years to come.

• I would say that OVRS provides one of the better internship experiences available to graduate students in Oregon.

Thank you for participating!Sheila R. Hoover, M.A., CRCState Coordinator for Deaf/HOH ServicesState of Oregon Office of VR Services500 Summer Street NE, E-87Salem, OR 97360

(503) 945-6255 Voice(503) 470-6740 Video

sheila.r.hoover@state.or.us