IAIABC Foundations Program Educating Next Generation of Workers’ Comp Leaders

November 16, 2015

The International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions (IAIABC) has concluded the first year of its Foundations of Workers’ Compensation Administration Program, and is gearing up to begin the 2016 Program. The IAIABC Foundations Program provides participants from jurisdictional agencies with a comprehensive education in workers’ compensation policy and administration.

Workers’ compensation is an aging industry. A recent IAIABC survey showed that 66 percent of respondents had been in the workers’ compensation industry for more than 15 years, and 62 percent were over the age of 50. The Foundations Program was created to pass on fundamental and institutional knowledge of workers’ compensation to the next generation of industry leaders.

During the 2015 Foundations Program, course instructors shared their expertise and experience on topics such as medical management, dispute resolution, and the claims process through face-to-face, webinar, and online module courses.

André de la Fuente, who completed the 2015 Foundations Program, said, “The Foundations Program highlighted that different state workers’ compensation agencies have different strategies, but are all trying to decrease injuries, illnesses and fatalities, while providing appropriate health and judicial care when necessary. The different perspectives were enlightening.”

The IAIABC would like to congratulate the nine participants who completed the full Foundations Program and earned certificates in 2015:

Jennifer Bertels, Oregon
Mariya Cassin, Colorado
André de la Fuente, Louisiana
Kari Gomes, Colorado
Nikki Gwin, Colorado
William Massey, Rhode Island
Angie McClelland, Nebraska
Lorra O’Banion, Nebraska
Jason Wolfe, Wyoming

The 2016 Foundations Program will continue to promote understanding of workers’ compensation systems around the world, successfully transfer institutional knowledge to new leaders, and promote strong leadership skills. The 2016 program will run from March through June and will offer the 2015 course line up with three additional webinars. Visit www.iaiabc.org/foundations2016 for more details.

Source: IAIABC