Current IEI Trainings
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IEI Trainings are designed for mental health, behavioral health, vocational rehabilitation service providers, and mental health consumers. A wide range of topics from basic skills to advanced practice are available each season and are taught by experienced IEI staff.
Currently, our trainings are being offered through Zoom unless otherwise specified.
Our trainings are split into prevocational and career services. These interactive trainings give you the tools to facilitate preparatory activities for use with individuals or in a group setting. Activities include breakout rooms, polls, and group discussions. All participants are expected to engage.
There is no fee required for these trainings, however pre-registration is required. Registered participants will be notified in advance of any changes or cancellations via email or phone.
You can view the training offerings below. Offerings are updated seasonally.
NOTE: If a training has less than 3 attendees present, it will be canceled.
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About Accommodations
IEI is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment. If you need accommodations to participate in our events or services, please contact us at least four weeks in advance.
Automated or AI note-taking bots require prior approval; unauthorized use is prohibited to protect attendee privacy.
For inquiries or accommodation requests, please contact us at iei@shp.rutgers.edu
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Career Services Trainings:
These interactive trainings are designed for practitioners working in vocational services and other rehabilitation and behavioral health settings to improve career services outcomes. This series also includes trainings that cover topics and resources for employee and student wellness.
Currently these trainings are free to anyone, but in the future, there may be a cost to attend if you are out of the state of New Jersey.
IEI trainings may be eligible for most professional license and certification post approval continuing education credits. Please follow up with your specific license or certification body for additional information. A fee may apply for your specific credential.
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Sept 11, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual Training
Registration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/k73V21tJT4-fbMx6J2salg#/registration
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is an online database of hundreds of different occupations and their specific characteristics and other relevant information. This session will introduce participants to O*NET Online as a powerful and free tool for career exploration, job analysis, and skill identification, empowering the individuals they support to make informed career decisions and enhance their job search strategies.
Objectives:
- Utilize O*NET Interest Profiler to identify career pathways
- Extract and apply key occupational data for career exploration and job search
- Navigate O*NET proficiently to research occupations
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Sept 17, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/Fd9oqtPXSmiow0PoJEwOlA#/registration
To provide participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to effectively integrate value inventories into their career services, helping clients identify their core work values and align them with meaningful career paths.
Objectives:
- Differentiate between personal and work values and articulate their impact on career satisfaction
- Select and administer appropriate value inventories for diverse client needs
- Interpret and apply value inventory results to guide career exploration and strategy.
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Sept 24, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/9pqiEw0BSR-xtlJVpZLKKA#/registration
According to a 2024 Harmony Healthcare national survey on college students and mental health, 79% of students reported struggling with procrastination on assignments and schoolwork. In this 90-minute webinar, Supported Education (SEd) practitioners will learn evidence-based strategies for effectively addressing student procrastination. Participants will develop SEd interventions, including implementing behavioral activation techniques and application of motivational interviewing communication skills to enhance student engagement and follow-through.
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Part 1: 10/1
Part 2: 10/8
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/clRU-_3ERfKzhL6OHa-qvQ#/registration
This two-part series addresses Motivational Interviewing (MI) in career services settings. Specifically, this training will include an overview of MI and the stages of change model as well as demonstration and practice of skills and strategies to implement MI in your work. We will also review different approaches to match your interventions to job seekers’ stage of change. This series will be informational and interactive with particular attention paid to practicing MI skills in the second session.
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Oct 15, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/K-aWBglyS567Y-9DDHPrAQ#/registration
To equip participants with practical knowledge and tools from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) for effectively understanding, requesting, and implementing reasonable accommodations, thereby fostering inclusive and supportive workplaces. Workplace accommodations can take on many forms, including a flexible schedule, noise canceling headsets, and fidget devices, and can improve employees’ success on the job. This session reviews JAN as a practical resource for both providers and job seekers.
Objectives:
- Identify and locate key resources on the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) website
- Apply JAN’s guidance to brainstorm and discuss practical accommodation solutions
- Articulate the steps of the interactive process and advocate for accommodation
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Oct 23, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/ehhuimegSJyW79h0M7RbIQ#/registration
Many of us, at some point in our lives, decide what type of information to share and how much to disclose to others. We may not formally sit down and consider this decision, but we nevertheless weigh the pros and cons of what we would want our colleagues, fellow students, or others to know about us. This type of disclosure decision-making is often described as developing a plan for managing personal information (PMPI). A PMPI includes the agreed-upon language of how the person wishes to describe their mental health condition and any potential support needs.
This strengths-based approach to disclosure decision-making equips the individual with the necessary information to make an informed choice when considering managing their personal information
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Nov 6, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration:
https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/MgPkrDVSSA2EMFlNm1dqqw#/registrationTo provide participants with essential knowledge and practical strategies for creating accurate, compliant, and timely documentation that meets the specific requirements of DVRS and DDD, ensuring efficient payment for services rendered.
Objectives:
- Identify the critical elements required for compliant and billable documentation for DVRS and DDD services
- Recognize and avoid common documentation errors that lead to payment denials and audit flags
- Implement practical strategies for efficient, accurate, and defensible documentation
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Nov 12, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/1q7cymyRSruZ97kiWUh31A#/registration
Are your participant satisfaction surveys truly capturing what matters most in Supported Employment (SE) and Supported Education (SEd) programs?
Organizations that actively incorporate participant feedback are consistently linked to higher service quality, stronger engagement, and improved outcomes. Effective program evaluation starts with asking the right questions and using the responses to drive meaningful program change. This two-part interactive series introduces foundational survey design alongside principles from implementation science to ensure feedback is meaningfully integrated into practice.
This training focuses on designing surveys aligned with best practices to assess the satisfaction and experiences of people engaged in SE/SEd services. Part two takes place on 11/19 and we recommend registering for both sessions.
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Nov 19, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/wYhxuqMsT7-13BbSfc-WMA#/registration
This is part two of the 11/12 training and explores how to interpret results, engage teams, and embed data use into ongoing quality improvement. Participants will gain practical tools to build a feedback system that strengthens your work and the experience of people engaged in career services programs.
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Dec 4, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/_uZbSNy3ScOw6pbfuIWztQ#/registration
To equip participants with practical strategies and a compassionate framework for providing effective post-employment support, fostering job retention, and preventing vocational setbacks for individuals with mental health conditions.
Objectives:
- Understand the critical importance of post-employment support.
- Identify key challenges for individuals with mental health conditions in the workplace
- Learn to create individualized workplace support plans.
- Develop strategies for early intervention and crisis response.
- Explore long-term strategies for job retention and career growth.
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Dec 11, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/hQIGSK7jS4-fGEnlWDTgRQ#/registration
Are you struggling with job development activities? Do you not know where to begin when it comes to identifying and approaching employers? This interactive webinar will explore the basics of job development, such as creating effective marketing materials, introducing your employment services in a professional and businesslike manner, and contacting potential employers. Attendees will have the opportunity to apply job development techniques in real-world scenarios.
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Dec 17, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual TrainingRegistration: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/eBjY5R4GSJi-WzP-h_7UEQ#/registration
Many employment specialists find it challenging to move from online job searches to real-world employer connections. This session will focus on leveraging LinkedIn as a tool for initiating employer contact, building relationships, and securing in-person meetings with employers. Participants will learn how to build their LinkedIn presence to enhance their job development efforts. Additionally, the session will use vignettes, examples, and activities to build confidence in using LinkedIn to support job seekers’ employment goals. Attendees will leave with strategies to integrate LinkedIn into their broader job development efforts.
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Prevocational Services Professional Development:
This series is designed for NJ practitioners working in supported employment, supported education, vocational services, partial care/partial hospitalization, and other behavioral health and rehabilitation settings. The focus is on preparatory activities designed for use with individuals or in group settings. The series starts in the Fall and continues through the Spring of each year.
Completion of all modules in the Prevocational Series will result in a Certificate of Completion, which is required for mental health agencies by The Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) and Medicaid.
NOTE: The Pre-Voc trainings are for New Jersey providers ONLY. Please do not register for these if you are from out of state. If you have questions, email us: iei@shp.rutgers.edu
Registration for the Pre-Voc Series Group is OPEN.
NOTE: ONLY register for this series if you are a NJ practitioner!
This is a 12 session, 24 training hour series from September to April. You will receive a certificate of completion when you complete all sessions. This certificate is required for mental health agencies in NJ to ensure staff competency.
Registration is currently open for the 2025-26 cohort.
You can register here.
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September 16, 2025
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual TrainingAttendees will examine the importance of recovery, explore the relationship of work and recovery, and identify empowerment strategies that promote work and careers. Additionally, attendees will learn information to counter common myths about work and mental illness and describe the benefits and barriers of returning to work.
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All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training
The S1 communication series is inclusive of skills that are essential to know for the remainder of the series; it’s important for attendees not to miss a part.9/23: Part 1 – Relationship Building & Engagement
9/30: Part 2 – Active Listening & Reflecting
10/7: Part 3 – Readiness Development
10/14: Part 4 – Putting it all Together; Skills Application
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October 21, 2025
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual TrainingThis session focuses on assisting job seekers with developing career goals and objectives. We’ll review the importance of developing goals that are consistent with job seekers’ interests, preferences, and career-related values as well as identifying the elements of SMART goals. Additionally, we’ll practice developing SMART goals. Please come prepared with a goal in mind, either your own or a job seeker’s, so that we can apply SMART goal planning during the call. We will also review strategies to include consumers as an integral part of identifying the information that should be included in the overall recovery and career goal planning.
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All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training10/28: Part 1
11/4: Part 2This two-part session will explore employment development from a career-oriented perspective in order to assist people in achieving productive job matches. It will include approaches to facilitate the process for people who are determining their values, interests, preferences, and in increasing their knowledge of the work world.
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All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training11/18: Part 1
11/25: Part 2These workshops will look at supports from two perspectives. First, participants will learn why family members are invaluable resources and how they can engage family members through the vocational process. Second, you will learn about community resources that are available to assist people with mental illness overcome barriers to work.
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All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training12/2: Part 1
12/9: Part 2Explore employment for persons who experience both a mental illness and substance use disorders. These sessions will review the impact of alcohol and drugs on psychosocial functioning. Strategies for working with individuals with co-occurring disorders who are seeking employment will be reviewed.
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All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual TrainingSpring 2026: Part 1
Spring 2026: Part 2Oftentimes, consumers are unsure about returning to work because of concerns regarding the impact of work on Social Security and other entitlements. This training provides an overview of the definition of disability according to SSA guidelines and distinguishes between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In addition, trainees will examine how work may impact SSDI and SSI recipients’ benefits and the resources available to support job seekers in understanding work incentives and Social Security planning.
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Spring 2026
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual TrainingAs employment specialists and job developers, we provide assistance in the job search while also supporting individuals in learning and using key job seeking skills, such as completing applications, resume writing, interviewing and locating employers. This session will provide resources and strategies to support job seekers’ self-directed job searches. Discussions will clarify the employment specialist’s role in supporting independent job searches as well the tools to promote job seekers’ engagement in the job development process.
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All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual TrainingSpring 2026
These trainings provide an overview of the six dimensions of wellness and discusses strategies to maintain health in each dimension. We will introduce the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) as a self-directed recovery tool that is created by an individual to pursue their path to recovery as well as discuss other relapse prevention strategies that can be utilized to increase employment success.
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Spring 2026
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual TrainingThis session will explore the common goals that clinical and vocational providers share, review the role of clinical staff in the return-to-work process, and discuss approaches to increase collaboration between employment programs and clinical staff.
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All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual TrainingSpring 2026
This training will examine the benefits and challenges of offering employment support groups, provide information on how to start a group, and offer tips on making the groups effective and interesting for participants.
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All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual TrainingSpring 2026
This training will examine how skills groups differ from support and other types of groups (e.g., psycho-education, mutual self-help). Learn group leadership skills for successful employment skills groups as well as the steps for teaching skills in effective and interesting groups.
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If you are unable to attend our regular training series due to work conflicts, we offer the following options:
- Joining Your Team Meetings: Our trainers can join team meetings at your organization and present on a scheduled topic.
- Monthly Professional Development Seminar: These can be scheduled monthly or as-needed. You have the option to choose one of our offered topics or work with IEI to create something custom for your organization.
- Lunch & Learn: Get some skill and professional development in during your lunch hour. For more information on any of these options, email us at iei@shp.rutgers.edu