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.

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 when and how to:
• identify and use natural supports at the jobsite
• implement systematic instruction and task analysis
• build the independence and confidence of the individual in the workplace

Who should attend this training?
People working toward their job coach certificate and anyone providing support services to individuals and students with disabilities should attend this training.

Format:

Monday, August 3 – Friday, August 14, 2026: Complete the 3-hour online asynchronous training

Wednesday, August 19, 2026, from 9:30–11:30am ET: Attend the live Zoom session

Registration is limited to 40 learners.

Questions? Email Kelly.Wanzer@umb.edu

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.

August Topic: Skills for Life—teaching people practical skills that promote learning

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.

Join us for this webinar to explore how artificial intelligences (AI) can enhance employment services.
This session will provide practical tools and strategies for professionals, including:
• A beginner’s guide to using AI
• Guidelines around privacy and ethical use of AI
• Common uses of AI in employment services for people with disabilities
• Techniques for refining prompts to achieve more precise results
• Creative use of AI for job matching, crafting cover letters, optimizing resume keywords, etc.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how AI can transform your approach to supporting individuals seeking employment.

Questions? Email Kelly.Wanzer@umb.edu.

This webinar is appropriate for any staff or educators who are assisting individuals to find or maintain competitive employment. Earn 1 hour of professional development credits.

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.

September Topic: Inclusion Through Technology—using assistive technology to live a more independent
life

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.

You can become a Career Planner! Learn the skills you need to work with people one-on-one, engage with businesses to connect people to companies, capture and organize accurate information, and develop written career plans.

This training includes three (3) webinars that are each 2 hours long, and one in-person day in Augusta.

Certificate Series Schedule:

• Thursday, November 5, 9–11am (Zoom Webinar #1)
• Thursday, November 12, 8:30am–3:30pm (In-Person Meeting in Augusta)
• Thursday, November 19, 9–11am (Zoom Webinar #2)
• Thursday, December 3, 9–11am (Zoom Webinar #3)

The 1-day, in-person meeting will be at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Aging and Disability Services on 41 Anthony Avenue in Augusta, ME. Please arrive at 8:15am.

Course Requirements:
• You must be fully certified as a Work Support Professional or an ACRE Employment Specialist to attend this training.
• You must attend all sessions and complete an evaluation to receive the certificate.
• You must complete assigned homework between sessions.
• The course will be limited to the first 20 enrollees.

Registration is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. For questions, contact: Lisa.D.Sturtevant@maine.gov.