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.

This training provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals and other workforce system professionals with an understanding of how borderline personality disorder can impact workplace behavior and performance. Participants will learn to recognize common symptoms and behaviors that may be overserved in the context of work and how borderline personality disorder can influence employment stability and progression, including some of the underlying relational dynamics that come into play in the therapeutic working relationship. Practical tools and light counseling techniques will be introduced to help VR counselors and other practitioners foster engagement through a supportive and psychologically safe environment while maintaining focus on employment goals.

This webinar is intended for employment service professionals (ESP), vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRC), and other workforce system and human service professionals working directly with clients to support employment.

CRC and CVE credits have been approved for this webinar.

This training provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) professionals and other workforce system professionals with an understanding of how PTSD can impact workplace behavior and performance. Participants will learn to recognize symptoms and behaviors that may be overserved in the context of work, and how PTSD can influence employment stability and progression. Strategies and tools will be introduced to help VR counselors and other practitioners foster engagement through a supportive and psychologically safe environment while maintaining focus on employment goals.

This webinar is intended for employment service professionals (ESP), vocational rehabilitation counselors (VRC), and other workforce system and human service professionals working directly with clients to support employment.

CRC credits have been approved for this webinar.

Executive functioning challenges can affect planning, prioritizing, emotional regulation, working memory, and the ability to initiate and complete tasks. These skills are foundational for success at work, at home, and in the community.

Join us for a practical webinar exploring how to strengthen executive functioning skills by reducing cognitive load and building effective organizational and time‑management supports.

In this session, we’ll break down how cognitive load affects the brain’s ability to process information—and why simplifying tasks, reducing distractions, and structuring information increases success. We’ll also explore these concrete strategies:

• Time‑management supports: visual schedules, timers, routines, and task‑chunking
• Organizational tools: templates, checklists, dashboards, and environmental setup
• Working‑memory strategies: external memory aids, labeling, and sequencing supports
• Task initiation and follow‑through techniques: prompts and habit formation
• Emotional and cognitive regulation approaches: pause‑and‑plan strategies and predictability tools

This webinar is for professionals and educators who support people with disabilities in community, education, and employment settings.

Successfully fading and maximizing the use of natural supports in employment is critical to the success of people with disabilities. Join us to learn more about why fading and natural supports are important for people with disabilities, programs that support them, and businesses that hire them.

Through asynchronous and synchronous instruction, you will learn how to identify and use natural supports at the jobsite, when and how to implement systematic instruction and task analysis, and how to build the independence and confidence of the individual in the workplace.

Format:

• Monday, March 30 – Friday, April 10, 2026: Complete the 3-hour online asynchronous training
• Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 9:30–11am ET: Attend the live Zoom session

Registration information:

• Registration is limited to 25 people.
• You will receive the link to sign up for the asynchronous course the week before your session begins.
• You will receive the link for the webinar upon completion of the asynchronous portion of the course.

The training is for people working toward their job coach certificate, as well as anyone providing support services to individuals and students with disabilities.

Questions, contact: Kelly.Wanzer@umb.edu

A person receiving Social Security disability benefits or SSI has likely been told they can't work, or if they do work that they should limit their hours. They may believe they can't work. They may have limited work experience or education. And likely they fear losing their financial and medical safety net if they try to work.

How can a service provider encourage work for a consumer who is living this experience? What is a social service provider to do in this "Employment First" state, especially without experience in employment services?

Join a session to learn what “Work and Benefits Navigation” means, and how you can be an employment champion for your clients and your agency.

As employment support providers, you have a critical role in the employment success of the individuals you serve.  Work and Benefits Navigation training will equip you with information, skills, and resources you need to challenge myths about work and benefits and encourage employment.

Training will be provided by Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) from Maine Medical Center’s Department of Vocational Services. They have many years of experience in assisting people with navigating Social Security’s return-to-work rules, and encouraging them - and those who play a supporting role in their lives - to think about earnings and work in a new way.

There is no cost for DHHS employees or VR Counselors.

Monthly learning opportunities for 2026!

Direct support staff, supervisors, and managers from residential, community, and employment programs can join Zoom calls to learn about strategies, tools, and resources they can use to help people make meaningful community connections, develop valued roles, and learn about and explore employment.

March topic: A Vision for Community Life - strategies for building relationships and community connections.

Sessions will be held on the last Tuesday of the month through November 2026. No registration required.

Join the monthly meeting using this link.

If you require accommodation, such as real time transcription and captioning (CART) or American Sign Language (ASL) or other language interpretation, please contact OADS at April.Keyes@maine.gov at least 2 weeks prior to the session date. You may also contact Lisa.Cline@maine.gov with questions.

Do you work with people with disabilities on career exploration, career planning, job development, and/or job coaching? Would you like to become a 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 hybrid ACRE Employment Specialist Certificate Training.

This training includes a combination of in-person and virtual training sessions. To get your certificate, you must attend all following sessions and complete the required fieldwork assignments:

Format:
Zoom Virtual Live Sessions:
• Tuesday, April 14, 9am–12pm
• Wednesday, April 15, 9am–12pm
• Tuesday, April 28, 9am–12pm
• Wednesday, April 29, 9am–12pm

In-Person Sessions at the University of Maine, Augusta:
• Monday, May 4, 9am-4pm
• Tuesday, May 5, 9am–4pm
• Wednesday, May 6, 9am–4pm

Asynchronous fieldwork assignments will be given after the in-person days and will need to be completed by June 30, 2026.

Space is limited to 20 learners. Questions? Contact Kelly.Wanzer@umb.edu.