Vocational Rehabilitation Program

Cook Inlet Tribal Council's Vocational Rehabilitation Program helps Alaska Natives and Native
Americans who live in the Cook Inlet Region find employment. CITC's new Vocational Rehabilitation Program is designed to provide culturally relevant services to consumers.

Vocational Rehabilitation can help you:

• Enter the work force.
• Keep current employment.
• Return to work based on your strengths, resources, priorities, abilities, capabilities, interests and informed choices.

What are the requirements for eligibility?
You must meet all of the requirements below:

• You must be an Alaska Native or Native American with a Certificate of Indian Blood.
• You must have a physical or mental disability which results in a substantial impediment to employment .
• You are presumed to benefit in terms of an employment outcome from vocational rehabilitation services.
• You must require Vocational Rehabilitation Services to prepare for, enter, engage in or retain gainful employment.

What happens if I apply?
A review and assessment of existing data relating to your disability will be conducted by the Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. If the records are insufficient, current evaluations will be conducted to help determine eligibility and the scope of vocational rehabilitation services.

If I am eligible, then what?
You and the Vocational Rehabilitation counselor will discuss your abilities and interests. In addition, your needs, transferable skills and other special work skills will be assessed. Following the needs assessment, your employment opportunities will be discussed.

The next step will be the development of an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). You will be given information to make choices regarding what vocational rehabilitation services you will use, who will provide those services and how to obtain them.

What are my responsibilities?
A successful journey requires cooperation between you and the Vocational Rehabilitation team. To overcome barriers to employment, you must have the desire to participate and use other supportive services to complete your vocational rehabilitation plan.

Alaska Natives and Native Americans with disabilities living in Anchorage can obtain vocational rehabilitation services at CITC. Vocational Rehabilitation staff will provide outreach services to the villages of Ninilchik, Salamatof, Seldovia, Tyonek, Chickaloon, Knik, Eklutna and members of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.

A typical Vocational Rehabilitation journey looks like this:

1. Application
2. Assessment
3. Eligibility
4. Individual Plan for Employment
5. Provision of Services
6. Employment
7. Follow along during employment if needed
8. Closure
9. Post employment services

For more information contact:
COOK INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL
3600 San Jeronimo Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508
907-793-3300
Phone (877) 985-5900 (Toll Free)

Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Brochure