Training Calendar

Recruit, Cultivate and Retain (RCR) is a leadership series designed for mid-level managers working in employment and community inclusion service provider agencies. By joining RCR, you will have the opportunity to develop immediately usable skills for developing your own career and promoting increased job satisfaction for staff you manage. In community with other program managers, we will re-energize, create solutions to complex problems and share expertise.

Goals:

• Learn strategies for recruiting, developing and retaining staff
• Increase your leadership skills as a manager and leader
• Develop a plan for advancing your career
• Hone systems and processes for developing staff into leadership positions
• Connect with other leaders that are managing employment and day services
• Deepen and develop relationships across organizations in your community

For more information and to register go to https://www.gowise.org/home/training/rcr/

UMF students can prepare for a career as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) with access to the University of Maine at Augusta’s Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Technician Certificate (SART).

This UMF/UMA collaboration makes preparing for the CADC exam simpler than ever Take up to 15 credits—of the 30 total required for UMA's SART Certificate—online or in person at UMF With your certificate, you can apply for Maine's Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) license.

If you’d like to help individuals with disabilities explore career options, prepare for careers, and support them by serving as a job coach, UMF’s Employment Specialist (ES) Certificate can help you get there—quickly.

Complete just TWO online courses, one of which is paid for by a grant Our flexible, virtual program helps you earn a nationally recognized certificate while continuing to work full- or part-time With your certificate, you'll be ready to start a new, highly marketable career that you can build on.

These are past recorded webinars. You will have access to all the recordings once you enroll. You can earn 1 hour of professional development if you watch the recording and complete the short quiz.

Here is a list of current topics:

Outcome orientated planning for transition age youth

Using a 30-Day Placement Plan

Developing Work-Based Learning Experiences for Students and Youth

Best Practices in Job Coaching and Supports

Strategies for Developing Job Opportunities in Maine’s Rural and Remote Communities

Technology to Support Employment

Cultural Humility to Improve the Quality of Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Initiatives and Resources for Individuals Considering Self Employment

OADs Self Employment Stories from Rhode Island

Using Progressive Employment

Supporting Challenging Behaviors in the Workplace

Technology Tools on the Job

Best Practices in Social Media

Practicing with Technology Tools

The Art of Disclosure

Creative Strategies for Showcasing Job Seekers: Beyond Traditional Resumes

Supporting Individuals with Complex Needs

Are you using best practices when providing employment services to individuals with disabilities? Are you sharing up-to-date information about services to individuals you case manage, their families, and other team members? Do you want to know more about proven strategies and practices in your new job?

Join us for this training to learn about all the latest advances in supporting individuals to identify their career goals, negotiate and create job opportunities, and provide inclusive and individualized job supports. This process should be about, with, and for the individual. We will also discuss how to incorporate self-determination, informed choice, and dignity of risk into all aspects of your service delivery.

This training is appropriate for educators who support individuals in exploring and trying new jobs, staff who provide employment services, and case managers. Attendees will earn 3 professional development hours.

There is no registration link- see directions below

Registration is now open for the February 2025 START course. Please note, this is the final session the Office of Aging and Disability Services will be sponsoring. Direct Support Professionals and Supervisors/Managers may sign up.

The course consists of six weekly, webinar-style sessions via Zoom (105 minutes each), teaching best practices in providing positive, therapeutic interventions for people with IDD and mental health needs. Each session will demonstrate how the information reviewed can be directly applied in the day-to-day support of people with IDD-MH.

The training dates are:

February 4 - March 11, 2025

Tuesdays 12:30-2:15 pm ET

Registrants must complete either the live courses or watch the videos. All registrants must also complete each weekly survey in order to receive credit for the course.

You can send one email with multiple staff listed for ease of registration.

To register staff, please email OADS.behavioralhealth@maine.gov. Please include the following information:

Registrants’ names

Registrants’ email addresses

Supervisor’s name

Supervisor’s email address

Agency name

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact

oads.behavioralhealth@maine.gov.

A strong Career Planner has skills and abilities that support—working with people one to one, ability to talk with businesses and learn and\ connect people to companies and capture accurate information and develop a detailed written Career Plan while staying organized.

Dates for the full Certificate Series:

February 6, 2:30—4:30pm (Zoom webinar)

February 19—Live Day in Portland at the DHHS, OADS Office/Career Center

(151 Jetport Blvd, Portland 04102) arrive at 8:15 am, class 8:30am—3:30pm

February 20—Back Up Day in the event of a storm

February 27, 2:30—4:30pm (Zoom webinar)

March 6, 2:30—4:30pm (Zoom webinar)

To apply: You must be fully certified as a Work Support Professional or an ACRE Employment Specialist to attend this training. You must attend all sessions to receive the certificate, after completing an evaluation. There will be assigned homework between sessions. Registration is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. For questions, contact: Lisa.D.Sturtevant@maine.gov

Join us for a free, 1-hour webinar to explore how employment professionals can best support people recovering from brain injuries in their pursuit of employment.

Individuals navigating life after brain injury experience a range of complex symptoms and challenges throughout their recovery. They may face changes in cognition, communication, physical ability, mental status, ability to maintain relationships, and many other challenges.

In this webinar, you will:

learn foundational information about brain injury

understand common accommodations to support those recovering from brain injuries

learn how to support changing family dynamics during brain injury recovery

hear about clients who have successfully navigated brain injury and employment

We will share practical resources throughout the presentation.  This webinar is for employment services staff, case managers, and educators who support individuals in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment.  You can receive 1 hour of professional development for your participation.

Presenters:

Patty King, NeuroResource Faciliator, Brain Injury Association of America, Maine

Lara Enein, Program Manager/Training Associate, Institute for Community Inclusion/UMass Boston

Kelly Wanzer, Training Associate, Institute for Community inclusion/UMass Boston

The 2025 BIAA-ME Brain Injury Resource Fair is an opportunity for the Maine brain injury community to explore Maine brain injury resources, services and supports. Maine brain injury survivors, family members/caregivers, professionals and anyone else interested in learning more are welcome to attend, the fair is FREE for all attendees but registration is required. They will also have paper registration forms available at the event.

Attendees may participate in the fair anytime between 12:00-4:00pm, but we recommend giving yourself ample time to visit with exhibitors.

BIAA-ME has both exhibitor and sponsor opportunities available. To learn more go to https://give.biausa.org/event/maine-resource-fair/e652466

Do you work with people with disabilities on career exploration, career planning, job development, and/or job coaching? Would you like to become a Maine Certified Employment Specialist?

You can become a Maine Certified Employment Specialist and get the ACRE National Certificate in Employment Services at the same time with our ACRE Employment Specialist Certificate Training. The ACRE Certificate documents 40 hours of professional development!

This training includes a combination of in-person and virtual training sessions. To get your certificate, you must attend all the sessions listed below, complete the social security online course, and complete the required fieldwork assignments. Space is limited so register today.

Zoom Virtual Live Sessions:

Wednesday, April 9, 9am–12pm

Thursday, April 10, 9am–12pm

Wednesday, April 16, 9am–12pm

Thursday, April 17, 9am–12pm

In-person Sessions at the University of Maine, Augusta:

Wednesday, April 30, 9am–4pm

Thursday, May 1, 9am–4pm

Wednesday, May 7, 9am–4pm

Thursday, May 8, 9am–4pm

You must make any accommodations requests at least three weeks before the training begins.

To learn more about the ACRE Certificate, visit: www.acreducators.org Questions about the training? Contact lara.enein@umb.edu

This state and national-level conference will provide a chance to showcase innovations in delivery of services for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or autism as well as those with conditions such as cerebral palsy, or seizure disorder, or other similar conditions. Registration information coming soon.

This conference will:

• Showcase local and national-level innovations and new thinking
• Explore how to manage change
• Feature a Tech Expo so attendees can see try out and learn about new technologies and resources

Schedule:

• Keynote speakers will be announced in the fall of 2024,
• A call for presentation proposals will be announced in September of 2024
• Conference registration is expected to open in January 2025.
• If you would like to be on the mailing list for potential presenters, vendors, or attendees, please email: HCBS.DHHS@maine.gov

Advocacy Day on the Hill & Employment First Gala:
Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Regular Conference:
Thursday, June 12 - Saturday, June 14, 2025 Grand Hyatt
Washington, DC

The National APSE Conference provides access to top-tier training and networking opportunities to Employment First professionals across the country. Bringing together the very individuals and organizations working toward and impacted by Employment First—people with disabilities and their families, service providers, universities, rehabilitation counselors, as well as, state and federal agency representatives.

Call for Presentations- Due by Feb 28, 2025

In addition to connecting to the conference theme, each session must promote competitive, integrated employment. This year we are particularly interested in hearing about programs and strategies to reach underserved populations and/or that incorporate equity, diversity and inclusion principles. https://apse.org/2025-conference-rfp/