RTC: Rural researchers surveyed 571 U.S. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to learn about linkages between Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and SBDCs that could enhance self-employment outcomes for people with disabilities. 346 of 527 deliverable surveys were returned for a 64% response rate. The resulting data show a positive relationship between the presence of informal and/or formal agreements and SBDCs’ experience providing self-employment services for people with disabilities. VR-SBDC coordination could expand the outcomes of both agencies, reduce fragmentation between agencies, and capitalize on the strengths of each program

Arnold, Nancy, Ph.D.

Ipsen, Catherine, M.A.

Rural Institute, University of Montana

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Employment Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities 6-2002 Developing Collaborative Relationships to Enhance Self-Employment Services for People with Disabilities Nancy Arnold Ph.D. University of Montana - Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities Catherine Ipsen M.A. University of Montana - Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities University of Montana Rural Institute scholarworks-reports@mso.umt.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/ruralinst_employment  Part of the Labor Economics Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Arnold, Nancy Ph.D.; Ipsen, Catherine M.A.; and Rural Institute, University of Montana, "Developing Collaborative Relationships to Enhance Self-Employment Services for People with Disabilities" (2002). Employment. 10. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/ruralinst_employment/10 This Practice Guidelines is brought to you for free and open access by the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Employment by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu. Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services 1Rural Practice GuidelinesResearch and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation ServicesThe University of Montana Rural Institute June 2002Developing Collaborative Relationships to Enhance Self-EmploymentServices for People with DisabilitiesRTC: Rural researchers surveyed 571 U.S.Small Business Development Centers(SBDCs) to learn about linkages betweenVocational Rehabilitation (VR) and SBDCs thatcould enhance self-employment outcomes forpeople with disabilities.  346 of 527 deliverablesurveys were returned for a 64% response rate. The resulting data show a positive relationshipbetween the presence of informal and/or formalagreements and SBDCs’ experience providingself-employment services for people withdisabilities.  VR-SBDC coordination could expandthe outcomes of both agencies, reducefragmentation between agencies, and capitalizeon the strengths of each program.  The primary recommendation from the LinkagesSurvey is that SBDCs and VR agencies developinteragency agreements.  Successfulcollaboration begins with agency commitment,trust building, and involvement of all relevantstakeholders.  By following the recommendedsteps to collaboration, agencies can expect tolearn from one another in terms of businessdevelopment and disability issues to moreeffectively meet the needs of people withdisabilities in self-employment.  Perhaps themost important component of successfulcollaboration is full representation of those whowill be affected (Axner & Berkowitz, 2002;Melaville & Blank, 1991), including agency,program, and front-line staff; and people withdisabilities who have received or are receivingself-employment services.  Broad-basedrepresentation adds legitimacy and relevance tothe decision making process. We recommend three steps to building SBDC/VRcollaborations. The informational stage includesfocus group meetings in which self-employmentstakeholders describe their roles in the process,including the  services offered, reportingrequirements, performance indicators, and gapsin services.  Focus group comments are thefoundation for the action stage whereinteragency discussions focus on internal andexternal roles that may improve the continuum ofself-employment services for people withdisabilities.  Discussion  includes identification ofagency roles and responsibilities anddevelopment of internal protocol or policychanges to legitimize interagency decisions.  Thefinal implementation stage is a writteninteragency Memorandum of Agreement orUnderstanding (MOA/MOU) that describes therole of each in the collaborative process. Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services2Interagency CollaborationInteragency collaboration starts with trust building and involvement of relevantplayers. Focus groups lay the foundation for this development or learning stage. A focus group facilitator objectively records and transcribes focus groupcomments for distribution and discussion.Phase 1:  Focus GroupsFocus groups are a forum in which stakeholders share information about their agencies and identifyhow future agency coordination may develop.  Focus groups should include a broad base of agencypersonnel who represent the scope and types of services provided at each agency.  The followingquestions provide a framework for focus group discussion:1.  What do you know about each other’s programs and services?2.  If you’ve worked together professionally, how did you learn about the other’s agency?3.  What services does each agency provide?4.  For SBDC stakeholders: Including accessibility considerations, what would be required for youto work effectively with people with disabilities?5.  What will facilitate the relationship between a client with disabilities and the Small BusinessDevelopment Center stakeholder? 6.  What do you see as the “consumer’s role?”7.  Do you encounter “turfism” in the process of providing services to people with disabilities?8.  If formal or informal interagency collaboration is requested of stakeholders (across the twomajor entities) what policies and/or procedures could facilitate this?9.  From the SBDC perspective: Prior to VR making a referral, what should be done to prepare theclient for SBDC services?  10.  From the SBDC perspective: What assistance do you need to effectively work with a personwith disabilities (in terms of training, technical assistance, or support)?11.  From the VR perspective: What do you need from the SBDC to facilitate coordination ofservices and optimal client support?Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services 3   Phase 2: Building Interagency CollaborationThe focus group facilitator organizes discussion comments into emerging issues or themes. Focusgroup discussions are recorded and transcribed so that key personnel can prioritize next steps andbegin to assimilate the information presented.  The following steps can help set the stage forcontinued interagency discussions.Step 1: Record all focus group discussions and highlight relevant or emerging themes.Step 2: Distribute focus group transcriptions so stakeholders can confirm content for completenessand accuracy.Step 3: Organize focus group transcript according to major topics and produce a short report withmost important information.Step 4: Circulate report to additional agency personnel for comment, additional ideas, or pertinentdiscussion topics.Step 5: Prioritize specific areas to address in future interagency discussions.  Identify internal andexternal agency roles that facilitate self-employment services for people with disabilities.Step 6: Confirm internal and external agency priorities.Step 7: Using priority areas as the basis for discussion, conduct interagency meetings to identifyroles, responsibilities, and expectations. Step 8: Write action plans specifying realistic time-lines and responsible parties to begin concretedevelopment of protocol/policy changes that address priority areas.Step 9: To address issues of legitimacy, circulate protocol/policy strategies for internal feedback.Step 10: Continue Steps 6, 7, and 8 until interagency strategy areas have adequate support,address the needs of both agencies, and ultimately meet the needs of people withdisabilities.Step 11: Formalize protocol/policy within agency procedures to establish new processes.Step 12: Develop a Memorandum of Agreement or Memorandum of UnderstandingStep 13: Review new strategies to determine if intended outcomes and processes are working withinthe VR/SBDC systems.Step 14: Conduct periodic interagency discussions to address any agency concerns and to work onother possible areas for collaboration.Research and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services4Phase 3: Formalized AgreementsWhen agreements or collaboration have been established, agencies may wish to formalize theunderstanding in a binding document, such as a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) or aMemorandum of Understanding (MOU).MOA A memorandum of agreement defines general conditions of agreement between two or moreparties.  In this type of agreement, what one party does depends on what the other party does(e.g. one part agrees to do X if the other party completes Y).MOU A memorandum of understanding defines an understanding between two or more parties.  Thistype of agreement defines what each party plans to do. However, each party’s actions areindependent of those of the other party.As the term “memorandum” implies, the MOA or MOU is a brief document – a simply-written, legallybinding agreement between two or more parties.  The document usually defines the purpose, scope(area of the agreement), understandings and agreements.  It has an effective date, and is signed bythe parties involved.[[[      Over time, building trust may promote new opportunities for [[[discussion, coordination, and growthReferencesAxner, M., & Berkowitz, B. (2002). Community toolbox: Promoting coordination, cooperativeagreements, and collaborative agreements amongagencies. Retrieved 4/23/02:http://ctb.lsi.ukans.edu/tools/en/sub_section_main_1229.htmMelaville, A., & Blank, M. (1991). What isTakes: Structuring Interagency Partnerships toConnect Children and Families withComprehensive Services. Washington, DC:Education and Human Services Consortium.For further reading:  Ipsen, C., & Arnold, N.  (2002). Vocational Rehabilitation and Small BusinessDevelopment Center linkages: Research Progress Report #15.  Missoula, MT: The University ofMontana Rural Institute.For more information, contact:Nancy Arnold, Ph.D. nancy@selway.umt.edu or Catherine Ipsen, M.A. ipsen@selway.umt.eduResearch and Training Center on Rural Rehabilitation Services, The University of Montana Rural InstituteA Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Services52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812-7056(888)268-2743 toll-free; (406) 243-5467 V/TT; (406) 243-2349 (fax)muarid@selway.umt.edu    http://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/rtcruralThis research is supported by grant #H133B70017-01, National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research, U.S.Dept. of Education. Opinions expressed reflect those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the funding agency.These guidelines were prepared by Catherine Ipsen & Nancy Arnold  © RTC: Rural 2002

Developing Collaborative Relationships to Enhance Self-Employment Services for People with Disabilities

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Developing Collaborative Relationships to Enhance Self-Employment Services for People with Disabilities

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