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

The Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Technician (SART) program is a collaborative training initiative offered by the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) Mental Health & Human Services Program and the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) Rehabilitation and Human Services Program.

The online 10-course SART Certificate Program provides students with the necessary coursework to meet the education requirements for entry-level licensure in substance use disorder treatment in Maine. Whether you’re interested in becoming a substance use treatment counselor, pursuing a degree in a related field, or looking to enhance your existing qualifications, the SART certificate offers a comprehensive educational foundation.

Earn 1 hour of professional development by watching the recordings and completing the short quiz.

Current topics include:

• 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
• 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
• Supporting Individuals with Brain Injuries to Meet their Employment Goals

Self-determination, informed choice, and dignity of risk are integral components of effective and authentic person-centered employment planning for job seekers with intellectual disabilities. This free online course will include strategies and resources on how to support the development and inclusion of these components in employment services for people with disabilities.

The course will be available 24/7 during the months of September and October so you can log in at your convenience and complete the work. The course has 2 hours’ worth of content, and you will receive a letter of completion which can be used for educator professional credits and employment staff professional development hours. Questions about this training should be sent to kelly.wanzer@umb.edu.

This course is appropriate for educators, employment specialists, career planners and job coaches who assists individuals with disabilities to find and maintain jobs in the community.

During this webinar, Disability Rights Maine advocates will share information about employment rights, including asking for accommodations at work, employment laws and rules, and navigating potential employment discrimination. It also shares tips and tracks for how people with disabilities can use advocacy in their workplace.

This presentation will share resources that you could use to find or maintain work.

Disability Rights Maine will provide an overview of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services, explain the rights that people with disabilities have when working with VR, and share potential advocacy strategies that you can use in accessing VR services.

Asking for an accommodation in high school can be different than asking for an accommodation in college, trade school or other continuing education settings. This presentation explains the process and potential advocacy strategies you could use to ask for an accommodation as you continue your education.

The Autism Society of Maine's Autism Fall Conference will feature Keynote Speaker Haley Moss, who is the first openly Autistic lawyer in Florida and author of four books that help guide neurodivergent individuals. The conference will also include break-out sessions and resource vendors.

Join us for this unique, instructor-supported, 40-hour online training course to become a Certified Employment Specialist and earn your ACRE certificate. The courses and fieldwork are available online 24/7 and there are no in-person meetings required. Log in and complete the work at your convenience!

You will also attend three mandatory live webinars on Zoom to enhance your online learning experience and network with other professionals. Instructors are available via email and during the live webinars to answer your questions and provide support.

Complete the required courses through the College of Employment Services by December 31, 2025. Submit fieldwork assignments in an easy-to-navigate learning management system by February 11, 2026.

When are the mandatory webinars?
• Monday, November 3, 2025, 10–11 am — Orientation Webinar
• Monday, December 15, 2025, 10–11am — Fieldwork Discussion
• Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 10–11am — Implementing ACRE Best Practices

Traumatic brain injury may result in a decrease in community integration, including meaningful employment, social participation, home management, and leisure pursuits. In this evidence-based clinical webinar, Dr. Steven Wheeler will explore factors impacting successful and satisfying community participation and identify person-centered intervention approaches to support functional independence. Emphasis will be placed on the role of executive cognitive functions in TBI recovery.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify factors that impact successful and satisfying community participation following TBI.
2. Apply functional approaches to address recovery challenges related to executive cognitive functions.
3. Discuss family-centered approaches to support long-term outcomes.