Young Professionals and Leadership Development in Forensic Vocational Rehabilitation: Collaboration With Rehabilitation Counselor Education Programs

The dynamic field of rehabilitation counseling (RC) is continuing to grow with new and expanding educational programs, opportunities for state licensure, and rewarding career paths. The recent CORE/CACREP accreditation merger has had a significant impact on RC educational programs. The need in the labor market for forensic rehabilitation experts has continued to expand. These shifts have created opportunities for those ofus with professional experience in the field of RC to collaborate, share information, and provide emerging RC professionals with the education and resources they need to thrive professionally. This paper discusses CORE/CACREP merger history, current CACREP curriculum standards as they relate to RC educational programs, and recommendations for professional advocacy.