Current IEI Trainings - Integrated Employment Institute

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.

: Dec 11, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual Training

Registration: 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.
: Dec 17, 2025
10 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Virtual Training

Registration: 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 CLOSED.

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 closed for the 2025-26 cohort.
It will open again August 2026.

: September 16, 2025
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

Attendees 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.
: 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
: October 21, 2025
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

This 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.
: All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

10/28: Part 1
11/4: Part 2

This 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.
: All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

11/18: Part 1
11/25: Part 2

These 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.
: All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

12/2: Part 1
12/9: Part 2

Explore 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.
: All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

Spring 2026: Part 1
Spring 2026: Part 2

Oftentimes, 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.
: Spring 2026
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

As 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.
: All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

Spring 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.
: Spring 2026
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

This 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.
: All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

Spring 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.
: All sessions from 10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

Spring 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