A2011-02: Regarding Filling Policy Vacancy at SSB

Adopted In : 2011

Topics : State Services for the Blind

WHEREAS, State Services for the Blind (SSB) has a vacant “lead counselor” position in its Workforce Development unit that it is currently attempting to fill; and

WHEREAS, some of the policy interpretations that have come from the previous incumbent in the position have been incorrect, and have led to misunderstandings that were detrimental to customers; and

WHEREAS, the rehabilitation act and regulations and the SSB Administrative Rule allow rehabilitation counselors the flexibility to work with their customers to make service decisions on an individualized basis; and

WHEREAS, it seems to us that it is the responsibility of SSB managers and supervisors, not field staff, to clarify and interpret policy, and that a better use of field staff would be to help blind people prepare for and secure employment, not add another layer to SSB's bureaucracy; and

WHEREAS, SSB has a comparatively low customer employment rate and comparatively high customer failure rate, indicating that the money currently spent on this position could be better spent on service delivery or hiring competent job development and placement staff; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota in convention assembled this 9th day of October, 2011, in the city of Bloomington, Minnesota, that we call upon the Director of SSB to either eliminate the position and use the money saved for service delivery, or reclassify it and hire a competent job development and placement person, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota call upon the Director of SSB and its Director of Workforce Development to inform the President of the NFB of Minnesota on the actions taken and provide a complete report on it at the next NFB of Minnesota semiannual or annual convention.

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