91传媒 receives nearly $1M grant to boost rehabilitation counseling workforce in Mississippi
Contact: Bethany Shipp
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥91传媒 is meeting a pressing need for more vocational rehabilitation counselors in the Magnolia State with a $942,000 grant from the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration.
Awarded to 91传媒鈥檚 rehabilitation counseling master鈥檚 program in the College of Education, the five-year funding addresses the workforce shortage by supporting recruitment and preparation of future rehabilitation counseling professionals. Ranked No. 24 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, 91传媒鈥檚 program is offered by the Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations.
Zaccheus J. Ahonle, associate professor and principal investigator, said vocational rehabilitation counselors primarily support individuals with disabilities by helping them return to work and retain employment. According to the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, there is a critical shortage of qualified VRCs in the Magnolia State, with a projected need to grow the current workforce by 81% over the next five years鈥攁 trend that mirrors national concerns about recruitment and retention in the field.
鈥淥ne of our goals with this grant is to increase and enhance the workforce capacity in Mississippi so we can better serve more people with disabilities,鈥 Ahonle said. 鈥淭his funding allows us to rapidly expand our enrollment to train the qualified master鈥檚-level VRCs needed to meet that projected 81% growth.鈥
Ahonle is joined by Madeline Castle, assistant professor and coprincipal investigator of the grant, which covers full tuition, fees and stipends for 25 students over a five-year period. For each year of funding received, program participants, or RSA scholars, will agree to work for two years in Mississippi at a state rehabilitation agency or a related agency that offers employment assistance to individuals with disabilities, helping meet urgent workforce needs in the state.
The team will use the funds to strengthen RSA scholar preparation in key areas aligned with federal workforce priorities, including pre-employment transition services, customized employment, and service delivery for individuals with emerging disabilities. It will also expand structured exam preparation and support to help students successfully prepare for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor credential. In addition, the program will coordinate practicum and internship placements statewide in partnership with MDRS and nationally for online learners, monitor student outcomes in alignment with federally defined RSA performance measures, and disseminate project results and resources to inform broader workforce development efforts.
Ahonle knows firsthand the impact of being an RSA scholar, as he was a beneficiary of a similar grant as a student at the University of Texas at Austin.
鈥淭he No. 1 reason I pursued this grant on behalf of Mississippi State is because I saw the benefit of the program in my own life and in my family鈥檚 life,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t allowed me to get into this impactful field, and I want our students to have the opportunity to benefit from a similar program and achieve a degree they otherwise might not have the financial resources to pursue. It鈥檚 been a dream of mine and of the department to secure this grant, and we鈥檙e so grateful we were selected.鈥
Daniel Gadke, associate dean of research and CHEF department head, said, 鈥淭his funding is a testament to the hard work and vision of our rehabilitation counseling faculty. Their commitment to service and innovation ensures that Mississippi State continues to play a leading role in expanding access to quality rehabilitation services throughout our state.鈥
91传媒鈥檚 College of Education, home of the Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations, also includes four additional academic departments, a division of education, one research unit and numerous service units. Learn more at聽.
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