INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT IN THE REHABILITATION FIELD - A STUDY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROJECT (CAP) DURING ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION

• NCJ Number: 42820
• Author(s): A LIPSON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 31 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE INTERACTIONS OF THE PERSONNEL OF THE MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION COMMISSION (MRC) AND THE CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROJECT IS CITED AS A MAJOR PROBLEM HINDERING GOAL ACHIEVEMENT.

Abstract

THE CLIENT ASSISTANCE PROJECT WAS WRITTEN INTO THE 1973 REHABILITATION ACT TO PROVIDE A STRUCTURE FOR BRIDGING THE COMMUNICATION GAP BETWEEN USERS AND PROVIDERS OF REHABILITATION SERVICES. CLIENT ASSISTANCE WORKERS WERE VIEWED AS CLIENT ADVOCATES WHO WOULD PROVIDE SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION FOR CIENTS WITH PROBLEMS IN THEIR USE OF REHABILITATION SERVICES. THESE WORKERS WERE NOT INTENDED AS COUNSELORS OR COUNSELOR SUPPLEMENTS. BARRIERS TO GOAL ACHIEVEMENT IDENTIFIED IN THIS STUDY WERE: LACK OF ROLE CLARITY; PROBLEMS IN ADVERTISING AND INTERPRETING 'CAP' FUNCTIONS TO CLIENTS; INADEQUATE COMMUNICATION AND FEEDBACK MECHANISMS; AND A LACK OF SUFFICIENTLY DEFINED INSTITUTIONAL ADVOCACY ROLE. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVED EFFECTIVENESS WERE AS FOLLOWS: IMPROVED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN 'CAP' AND 'MRC'; IMPROVED ROLE CLARITY; STRENGTHENED OUTREACH METHODS; DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTITUTIONAL ADVOCACY ROLE; MORE PARTICIPATION BY 'MRC' STAFF TO MINIMIZE RESISTANCE; AND PROMOTION OF A COALITION-TYPE OF STRATEGY AMONG 'CAP' CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVES, AND 'MRC' REPRESENTATIVES....RCB