Current IEI Trainings

June 4th

10am-11:30am

Virtual Training

Zoom Registration Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/XPf7MExhS-uT5Tj7efiY8w

This interactive training invites participants to reflect on their own “cultural backpack”-the identities, experiences, and assumptions that shape how we engage with others. Within career services, these perspectives can influence how we understand client behavior, assess job readiness, and guide individuals toward employment opportunities. Through guided reflection and applied scenarios, participants will explore how privilege and bias can show up in everyday practice and develop practical strategies to support more culturally responsive, person-centered career services.

Objectives:

• Develop awareness of their cultural identities and lived experiences
• Understand how privilege and systemic factors influence opportunities
• Recognize how assumptions and bias show up in service delivery
• Apply culturally responsive strategies in real client interactions

June 11th

10am-11:30am

Virtual Training

Zoom Registration Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/_UiAdEFuQNipJSrjWE-xcw

This interactive training invites mental health practitioners in career services to reflect on the impact of their work and explore practical ways to support their own well-being. Participants will examine common signs of burnout and emotional fatigue, explore challenges related to professional boundaries, and reframe self-care as an essential and sustainable part of practice. Through guided reflection and real-world scenarios, participants will leave with increased awareness and actionable strategies to maintain their well-being while continuing to provide effective, person-centered support to the individuals they serve.

Objectives:

• Recognize signs of burnout, compassion fatigue, and emotional overload
• Reflect on how your role in career services uniquely impacts well-being
• Identify personal and systemic contributors to stress
• Develop realistic, sustainable self-care strategies to apply

June 18th

10am-11:30am

Virtual Training

Zoom Registration Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/8gCZBNMQQ4eD3-LnV9EEKQ

Overcoming a potential employer’s objections or responding to tough questions can be difficult for job developers. It’s never easy to hear negative responses or a series of unwanted and uncomfortable questions from hiring managers or others in the business community. This call provides support and resources on responding to these negative objections or questions from employers in a positive way. We’ll spend some time practicing responses.

Objectives: 

• Describe the types of negative objections or tough questions employers may ask job developers.
• Identify specific ways to respond to employer objections and tough questions.
• Role play strategies to respond to employer objections and tough questions.

June 24th 

10am-11:30am

Virtual Training

Zoom Registration Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/-i7dVOkgRea-rAA-_-aWuQ

Autistic adults experience disproportionately poor employment outcomes despite increasing recognition of the value of neurodiversity in the workplace. This symposium will present practical and individualized approaches to improving employment experiences and outcomes for autistic workers across a range of settings and support needs.

Objectives:

• Understanding the unique needs of autistic employees in workplace environments
• Conducting vocational assessments to identify preferences and environmental fit
• Using assessment data to address job performance concerns
• Case study highlighting behavioral and environmental supports for an autistic worker.

Collectively, these presentations emphasize person-centered, assessment-driven strategies to promote meaningful and sustainable employment success.

July 8th

10am-11:30am

Virtual Training

Zoom Registration Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/rov5I_QgSP28evx1dKUJug

This session focuses on the “Choose” phase of Supported Education, supporting practitioners in helping students explore and define their educational preferences through a person-centered, strengths-based, and culturally responsive approach. Participants will learn how to engage students in meaningful conversations about their interests, values, prior educational experiences, and goals, while addressing common barriers such as ambivalence, stigma, and past academic challenges. Emphasis will be placed on collaborative exploration and translating student preferences into clear, individualized educational goal directions.

Objectives:

• Identify key principles of the “Choose” phase in Supported Education.
• Use strategies to explore student interests, values, and preferences.
• Support students in developing individualized educational goals.
• Recognize and address common barriers to educational decision-making.

July 15th

10am-11:30am

Virtual Training

Zoom Registration Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/rov5I_QgSP28evx1dKUJug

This session focuses on the “Get” phase of Supported Education, equipping practitioners with practical strategies to support students in accessing and enrolling in educational programs. Participants will learn how to assist with navigating application processes, securing funding, arranging transportation, and preparing for entrance requirements such as interviews. The session emphasizes breaking down complex tasks, supporting self-advocacy, and addressing logistical and systemic barriers to help students successfully transition into their chosen educational programs.

Objectives:

• Describe the purpose and key tasks of the “Get” phase.
• Support students with applications, interviews, and enrollment steps.
• Identify funding and transportation resources for education access.
• Address barriers and support problem-solving during program entry.

 

July 16th

10am-11:30am

Virtual Training

Zoom Registration Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/94720786894?pwd=pXGdm81PTw0wz3K36NQu8BB2yehwKb.1

This webinar will provide a comprehensive overview of the academic accommodations process in post-secondary education for students with mental health conditions. Participants will explore the legal foundations of accommodations and gain a deeper understanding of how functional implications of mental health conditions impact academic performance. Attendees will  identify disability related barriers, assess student needs, and develop intentional, individualized accommodations. Attendees will explore the ongoing nature of the accommodation process and the critical role of disability services and support professionals.

Objectives:

• Understand key laws related to post-secondary academic accommodations.
• Recognize functional implications of mental health conditions affecting student learning. Distinguish essential functions for accommodation development.
• Apply strategies to develop appropriate accommodations.

July 23rd

10am-11:30am

Virtual Training

Zoom Registration Link:https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/eIPGTOlYQyOZGJxPUmxL9g

This interactive training brings real-world career service scenarios to life and gives participants the opportunity to practice how they would respond in the moment. In this fast-paced “lab,” participants will work through common and challenging situations related to client engagement, motivation, and workplace concerns.

Through guided discussion and live decision-making, participants will explore different approaches, reflect on their responses, and build confidence in handling complex situations in their daily work.

Objectives:

• Practice responding to common and challenging situations in career services using real-world scenarios
• Identify effective strategies to address client engagement, motivation, and workplace concerns
• Apply practical communication approaches to navigate complex client interactions
• Build confidence in making timely and thoughtful decisions in their day-to-day work

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

2/10: Part 1
2/17: 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.  

2/24
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. 

3/03
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

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.  

 

3/10
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. 

3/17 & 3/24
10 AM – 11 AM EST
Virtual Training

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.