CFDA Number: 84.129, 84.160, 84.246, 84.263, 84.264
Program Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grants
Program Description
The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program supports academic training grants that are awarded to colleges and universities with undergraduate and graduate programs in the field of rehabilitation. Grantees must direct at least 65 percent of their total project costs to trainee scholarships. The statute requires trainees who receive assistance either to (1) work two years for every year of assistance in public or private nonprofit rehabilitation or related agencies, including professional corporations or professional practice groups that have service arrangements with a state agency, or (2) pay back the assistance they received. Grant recipients under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program are required to build closer relationships between training institutions and state VR agencies, promote careers in VR, identify potential employers who would meet the trainee’s payback requirements, and ensure that data on the employment of students are accurate.
In FY 2020, RSA issued new grant awards to 33 institutions of higher education throughout the United States totaling funded $6,361,294.55. These funds will provide training in rehabilitation counseling for individuals pursuing a master’s degree in VR counseling. With the new awards, the RLTT program will be able to present data on current and projected employment needs and personnel shortages in VR agencies, provide rehabilitation counselors the skills and knowledge to help individuals with disabilities meet current demands and emerging trends in the labor market, and recruit scholars who will complete an academic program, including practicum and internship experiences. The awards under RLTT program will increase the skills of VR counseling scholars so that, upon successful completion of the program, they are prepared to effectively meet the needs and demands of VR participants with disabilities and employers
Eligibility
States and public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations, including Indian tribes and institutions of higher education, are eligible for assistance under the Rehabilitation Training program.