Employment Services Certificate Program

Darla Wilkerson, Director of the Employment Services Program, will be the primary instructor and mentor.

Four courses comprise the program and are targeted to job developers, job coaches, employment specialists, transition personnel, state agency personnel, and newly hired middle managers. The courses are:

1. Orientation to Employment Services (introductory material, not a full course)
2. Employment Services
3. Employment Services Online
4. Advanced Employment Services Simulation
5. Workplace Supports

Below are details about each of these courses. See our training calendar link to register for upcoming sessions.

Orientation to Employment Services - self-study

Designed as a self-study guide and a prerequisite to Employment Services, this course provides a brief history of employment services traditional practices versus current best practices, values that drive employment services delivery as well as concepts of universal language. This course does not need separate registration; it is a pre-class self-study for Employment Services. You can download it below in either a PDF file (with illustrations) or a text-only Richtext file.

• PDF version of the Orientation to Employment Services
• Text-Only version of the Orientation to Employment Services

Employment Services

Designed as an introductory course, this two-day event provides strategies so community employment providers can implement best practices in employment services and increase employment outcomes for persons with disabilities. Course content is based on the 13 nationally recognized competencies. An online self-study, Orientation to Employment Services, is required before participation in the course. Information on accessing the self-study will be provided after registration in Employment Services.

Credit Hours

This course offers 20 credit hours toward the National ACRE Core Certificate after the completion of a post-training field assignment, 14 contact hours toward CEC, and 14 credit hours for CRCs

Outcomes:

• Certificate in Employment Services after the completion of post-training assignment
• Understanding of introductory employment services concepts and strategies
• Knowledge of successful job matching

Topics will include:

• Person Centered Career Planning Process
• Marketing and Getting to Know your Customers
• Job Development Strategies
• Facilitating and Nurturing Natural Supports
• Measuring Customer Satisfaction
• Finding Professional Resources

Employment Services Online Course

Six-week course (requiring approximately 4-5 hours per week)

A comprehensive introductory course for all employment services personnel who provide employment supports for people with disabilities. This course can also provide a refresher for experienced employment services personnel about current best practices and strategies. Course content is based on the 13 competencies for direct support personnel.

Outcomes:

• Understanding of introductory employment services concepts and ideas
• Solid base of employment services knowledge from which the individual can add successful work experience and additional training opportunities
• Completion of Certificate in Employment Services

Topics will include:

• Values and principles of integrated employment services
• Marketing to all customers
• Career Planning (getting to know the person)
• Person driven Career Development
• Providing on-the-job support
• Problem solving
• Customer Satisfaction

AESS: Advanced Employment Services Simulation

During this three-and-a-half-day training, participants experience a simulation of the work environment found in a community rehabilitation program. Using a team approach, the participants will learn by doing as they face challenges similar to those involved with providing supports for people with disabilities. All participants must complete a self-study questionnaire before they arrive at the training. Employment Services or its equivalent is a prerequisite to this training.

Credit Hours

This course offers 25 credit hours toward the National ACRE Core Certificate, 25 contact hours toward CEC, and 25 credit hours for CRCs

Outcomes:

• Experience in teamwork, risk-taking and creative problem solving
• Knowledge and skills in employment services (including career planning and job development/marketing)
• Building relationships with business community
• Completion certificate in Advanced Employment Services

Topics will include:

• Values of quality employment services delivery
• Person-Centered Career Planning
• Marketing and getting to know your customers
• Public relations
• Interagency cooperation
• Job Search/Development strategies
• Creating a good job match
• Community Relationship building
• Negotiating with employers and other customers
• Facilitating, Identifying, and providing supports
• Effective Communication
• Problem Solving

Workplace Supports

Workplace Supports is an advanced training for Employment Personnel supporting employees on the job. This course is designed using the 13 competences for employment personnel and provides content at a level 4 and 5 for experienced staff. The Employment Services 2 day training or On-line course is a pre-requisite to this course.

There is much bantering on the subject of “natural supports” vs. paid job coach supports, and whether the presence of job coaches in the workplace hinders or
enhances employment efforts. As employment providers we are faced with many challenges when assisting people to obtain and maintain employment.

Credit Hours

This course offers 10 credit hours toward the National ACRE Professional Certificate and 10 contact hours toward CEC, CRCs

Outcomes:

• Certificate in Workplace Support after attending the 1.5 day training
• Understanding of advanced workplace support strategies and concepts

Knowledge of Topics will include:

Supports are key to successful employment experiences this course will examine the facilitation of “natural supports” and strategies job coaches can be using to provide the best possible support system. Those strategies will include but not limited to;

• Facilitation of “Natural Supports” – how to get co-workers and family members involved
• Systematic Instruction/Teaching Strategies – how to identify different learning styles and teaching tools (know when, where, how, what of using them.)
• Developing the exit plan – how do I get myself out of a coaching situation when I’m no longer needed
• Documentation – task analysis and other tools

Those attending should agree that all people, regardless of life circumstances, need support systems in order to be successful.

Last updated February 25, 2008
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