Training and Technical Assistance Needs from the 
704 Center Reports
Fiscal Year 1997 

This review and compilation consisted of two phases.  The first was a review of 229 computer disks containing the individual 704 reports in their entirety.  Through this review the II-C(b) sections were identified and compiled into a single document and omissions and errors that precluded the identification of II-C(b) were noted.  Of the 229 disks reviewed, 99 had no II-C(b) or were unreadable.  A list of these 99 CILs is attached.

The second phase consisted of a review of the 130 II-C(b) sections which were compiled and the categorization of these training and technical assistance needs using the system developed for the review of the 1994 and 1995 reports.  The vast majority of the expressed needs were classifiable under this system, those that did not and were mentioned at least four times are listed later in this report.

Below is a list of the 19 categories and their sub-categories and the number of times each was expressed as a need by the CILs.  Please note that the total for each category is listed opposite the category title and is the sum of the sub-category totals.  General or nonspecific needs are listed as a separate sub-category, e.g. 1.0.

CIL Training and Technical Assistance Needs Categories
 
 

1. Resource Development	78
1.0 resource development-general	47
1.1 grant writing	12
1.2 diversification	4
1.3 for-profit/fee for service	8
1.4 events/campaign	7
2. Advocacy/Leadership Development	89
2.0 advocacy/leadership development-general	26
2.1 community/grassroots organizing	16
2.2 individual empowerment	25
2.3 systems	17
2.4 legislative process	5
3. Applicable Laws	99
3.0 applicable laws-general	28
3.1 ADA	31
3.2 IDEA/transition	7
3.3 Fair Housing Act	5
3.4 Rehab Act	13
3.5 Medicaid/Medicare/PAS/waivers/long term care	5
3.6 Social Security/PASS	5
3.7 interrelationships	5
4. Board of Directors Issues	46
4.0 board of directors issues-general	19
4.1 roles and responsibilities	21
4.2 policy development	2
4.3 recruitment/increasing involvement	4
5. Networking	24
5.1 electronic	14
5.2 among CILs	4
5.3 community	3
6. Independent Living Philosophy	36
7. Outreach to Underserved Populations	54
7.0 outreach to underserved populations-general	15
7.1 ethnic	21
7.2 disability	5
7.3 rural	11
7.4 institutions	2
8. Volunteer Programs	12
9. Assistive Technologies	21
10. Data Collecting/Reporting	26
10.0 data collection/reporting-general	9
10.1 704 reports	10
10.2 dual reporting requirements	0
10.3 case documentation	7
11. Disability Specific Issues/Information/Awareness	29
12. Program Management/Staff Development	82
12.0 program management/staff development-general	29
12.1 peer mentoring	15
12.2 IL skills	6
12.4 time management	14
12.5 team building	9
12.6 conflict management/ADR	9
13. Evaluation	38
13.0 evaluation-general	9
13.1 standards and indicators	2
13.2 consumer satisfaction surveys	8
13.3 community needs assessments	12
13.4 outcome measures	7
14. Marketing and Public Relations	31
14.0 marketing and public relations-general	19
14.1 presentation/workshop skills	7
14.2 community awareness	5
15. Planning/Program Development	27
16. MIS/Computer Skills	38
17. Financial Management	29
17.0 financial management-general	13
17.1 Federal regulations	4
17.2 budgeting	8
17.3 fund accounting	4
18. SILC Roles/relationship to CILs	13
19. Innovative Programs/best Practices	5

Below is a listing of the major categories ranked by frequency of mention.  It is worth noting that while applicable laws was expressed as a need most often , it has the most sub-categories and could not easily be addressed as one training.  The other high ranking needs might be able to be addressed as individual training.   For further insight a list of the top fifteen most often mentioned sub-categories is also provided.
 

Major categories by rank:

     3.    Applicable laws        99
     2.    Advocacy/Leadership Development      89
     1.    Resource Development       78
     7.    Outreach to undeserved populations      54 
     4.    Board of Directors issues       46
   13.    Evaluation         38
   16.    MIS/computer skills        38
     6.    Independent Living philosophy      36
   14.    Marketing and public relations      31
   11.  Disability specific issues/information/awareness    29
   17.     Financial management       29
   15.     Planning/Program development      27
   10.     Data collection/reporting       26
     5.     Networking         24
     9.     Assistive Technologies       21
     8.  Volunteer programs        12
   19.  Innovative programs/best practices        5
   18.  SILC roles/relationship to CILs        1
 

Top 15 sub-categories by rank:
  1.0 resource development-general     47
             16. MIS/computer skills       38
               6.     Independent Living philosophy     36
  3.1     ADA         31
          12.0 program management/staff development-general   29
             11. Disability specific issues/information/awareness **   29
  3.0 applicable laws-general      28
             15.     Planning/Program development     27
            2.0 advocacy/leadership development-general    26
  2.2 individual empowerment      25
  4.1 roles and responsibilities-board     21
  7.1      ethnic outreach       21
  4.0 board of directors issues-general     19
 2.3       systems advocacy       17
 2.1 community/grassroots organizing     16
 

** The most often mentioned disabilities were Traumatic Brain Injury, Psychiatric disability and       dual diagnosis. 
Additional expressed needs are listed below:
 

 1.  Dealing with difficult people      6
 2.  Drug and alcohol abuse prevention     4
 3.  Communication/technical writing skills     4
 4.  Consumer self-employment business plans    4
 5.  Housing /accessibility surveys      4
 

It should be noted that some of the CILs expressed their needs in priority order and this compilation had no way to weight for such prioritization.  Needs were also intermingled between board, staff and consumers.  In some cases each was expressed separately, in some cases they were not.  It was also interesting to note the variance in the way in which Centers arrived at their training and t.a. needs. Some went through a formalized process of gathering input or analysis of needs based on proposed work plan accomplishments while others gave no insight or expressed needs identified by the report author.  This variance  in all likelihood is reflective of the emphasis being placed on training and technical assistance by the Centers as a whole. In light of the large number of CILs that expressed no needs or were unreadable in this regard, one must wonder if training and technical assistance needs are receiving adequate attention in the formulation of plans and objectives by the Centers.  In many cases the II-C(b) section primarily listed training accomplishment and objectives rather than needs when these should have been addressed elsewhere in the report.