Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Training Programs

Learn more about training programs in Vocational Recovery, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, and Promoting Recovery; and the ways you can be trained in them.

For more information about any of these Training Programs, contact:

Dr. Marianne Farkas
Director of Training and Consultation
Email: psyrehab@bu.edu; phone 617-353-3549

 

Examples of current training programs  are listed below and are available at different levels of intensity – (exposure, experience, expertise). The training is available either in person, online or in blended format.

The three overarching program areas are:


Vocational Recovery

Vocational Recovery training programs are available as introductory/exposure-level training to increase people’s awareness and basic knowledge of the intervention; as experiential training; and as skill development.

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Vocational Peer Support

Vocational Peer Support (VPS) is an approach designed for trained/certified peer support specialists who want to support the vocational aspirations of the people they serve. VPS training involves 10 Modules directed at supporting employment, education, and career goals.

Training options available include: in person (at BU or at your site); and through distance learning tools (e.g., live webinars).

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Vocational Illness Management and Recovery: Wellness at Work

Vocational Illness Management and Recovery (VIMR), is a modification of the evidenced-based Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) curriculum. The VIMR training involves 9 Modules oriented towards helping people with mental health conditions live well and thrive as they choose, get, and keep meaningful employment.

Training options available include: in person (at BU or at your site); and through distance learning tools (e.g., live webinars).

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Job Retention and Development

The  course is designed for those who work as Employment Specialists, Rehabilitation Counselors, Employment Networks, Vocational Peer Specialists and others who assist people in mental health recovery towards successful employment. The course involves 5 Modules which focus on engaging the job seeker, marketing to employers to create job openings, and developing good collaboration with workers and employers to improve job retention.

Training options available include: in person (at BU or at your site); and blended learning (self-paced modules with online discussions).


Psychiatric Rehabilitation

Psychiatric Rehabilitation training programs are available as introductory/exposure level training to increase people’s awareness and basic knowledge of the intervention; as experiential training; and as skill development. Training is also available in becoming a trainer in this content, a supervisor or a program consultant in this content.

Training options available for all Psychiatric Rehabilitation programs below include: in person (at BU or at your site); and live webinars.

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Person-Centered Readiness for Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Assessment and Development

The 5-Module Assessment portion of this training program teaches practitioners how to help people to actively assess their own willingness and preparedness to engage in rehabilitation. The 3-Module Development portion of this training program teaches practitioners who know how to facilitate the assessment process, how to help people to develop their own readiness to engage in rehabilitation.

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Setting a Self-Determined Overall Rehabilitation Goal: Identifying A Valued Role

A self-determined goal motivates individuals to participate in rehabilitation and increases the likelihood that they will achieve their goal. It is a long-term goal (i.e, 6-24 months) that directs all other rehabilitation activities. This 3 Module training teaches practitioners how to assist people in choosing their preferred residential, educational, vocational, and social roles and environments.

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Person-Centered Skill and Support Assessment

Skill and resource assessment helps the person to evaluate the availability and use of their skills and supports, critical to their overall preferred goal. The first 3 Modules teach practitioners how to help define and evaluate the skills needed for people to be successful and satisfied in that overall goal. The second 3 Modules train providers in how to help people define and evaluate the supports or resources they need to be successful and satisfied in their overall goal.

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Developing Critical Skills to Achieve a Role

Developing critical skills includes Direct Skills Teaching as well as Programming Skill Use. These two elements are taught in a 4-Module program that trains practitioners how to involve individuals in comprehensive instructional activities, enabling them to perform skills when they choose to do so.

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Developing Critical Supports to Achieve a Role

Developing critical supports is a process by which people are supported in negotiating for services that they need and desire.  The 4-Module training teaches providers to help people to plan for supports or resources, link to services and to advocate for service improvements.

 


Promoting Recovery

Promoting Recovery training programs are available as introductory/exposure-level training to increase people’s awareness and basic knowledge of the intervention; as experiential training; and as skill development. Training is also available in becoming a supervisor or a consultant in this content.

Training options available for all Promoting Recovery programs below include: in person (at BU or at your site); live webinars; and a pre-recorded, webinar-based course.

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Partnership Skills to Promote Recovery

Developing a real partnership to promote recovery requires shifting the power relationship between the person helping and the person who is on their recovery journey. This 3-Module training, delivered through a pre-recorded webinar series, provides information and exercises to teach those helping how to achieve a recovery-oriented partnership. The training is part of the Recovery Promoting Competencies Toolkit.

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Inspiring Skills to Promote Recovery

Most practitioners never learned how to inspire others in their practice although they are expected to encourage hopefulness all the time. This 3-Module training, delivered through a pre-recorded webinar series, provides information and exercises to teach providers how to inspire people who are struggling with their recovery. The training is part of the Recovery Promoting Competencies Toolkit.

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Teaching Skills to Promote Recovery

Recovery-oriented practice requires shifting to the role of coach, consultant and teacher. This 3-Module training, delivered through a pre-recorded webinar series, provides information and exercises to teach those promoting recovery how to teach information and skills. The training is part of the Recovery Promoting Competencies Toolkit.

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Choosing Skills to Promote Recovery

Recovery-oriented practice also requires helping people to make their own choices, large and small, during their recovery journey. This 3-Module training, delivered through a pre-recorded webinar series, provides information and exercises to teach those promoting recovery how to help individuals make decisions. The training is part of the Recovery Promoting Competencies Toolkit.

National Resources in Training on Employment

Below you will find a curated listing of available online employment training from various organizations. Offerings from these trainings include features such as paid and free content, continuing education units, blended learning, archived trainings from the past, and ongoing trainings into the future.

TitleDescriptionAreas of Focushf:tax:product_and_resource_topics
Peer Supervision

When providing supervision for peer providers, preparation and informed management tactics are vital for the effective provision of peer services to positively impact individuals with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) in the workplace. This training is intended to equip supervisors, with and without lived experience of psychiatric disability, with a solid foundation for peer supervision.

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Peers as Professionals: Workplace Success

This training guides peer support specialists through discussions on ethics, feeling valued in the workplace, teamwork, advocating for the importance of peer support, communication, and maintaining core values. This pre-recorded presentation is valuable for peer providers, peer volunteers, employers, and supervisors.

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Workforce Development: Advocating for Peer Support Specialist Positions

This self-paced training provides education for peer support specialists who want to help expand the presence of the profession in the healthcare field. This recording offers tools to share the importance of peer support and to continue developing the workforce.

peer-support employment-training-categories
Consumers with Lived Experience: Critical Partners in the Mental Health System of Care

This self-paced training course provides education for employers and business leaders on steps to integrating individuals with lived experience into the workforce as peer specialists. Integrating the consumer voice into the workplace provides many benefits, which are discussed by the host along with training, employment law, accommodations, how to increase retention rates, and preventing bias.

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Online IPS Practitioner Skills Course

This course provides education on how to implement Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services to best support individuals with employment goals. This course costs $365 and is an interactive way to learn the ropes of IPS while receiving feedback and having the chance to ask questions. The course can be completed on your schedule, with each module consisting of 30-40 minutes of computer work, real-world implementation throughout the work week, and written reflections.

ips employment-training-categories
Learn How to Apply the 5 Stages of Recovery in IPS Supported Employment

The Illinois Division of Mental Health IPS Trainers discusses the five stages of recovery that can be incorporated into Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employment. Presenters discuss the roles of the Illinois Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) and Certified Recovery Support Specialist with an Employment Endorsement (CRSS-E) in vocational rehabilitation for adults with serious mental health challenges (SMHC).

ips employment-training-categories
Understanding Health Disparities and Equity in IPS Supported Employment

The Illinois IPS Initiative presents a webinar on the stigma that individuals with psychiatric disabilities seeking employment often face, and the role that Individual Placement and Support (IPS) providers play in promoting equity. Discussing cultural competencies, this fifteen-minute webinar is important for educating IPS providers.

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Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for Veterans

This webinar targets employment specialists working or training to work with veterans of the U.S. military entering Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services who are seeking employment. The Illinois Supported Employment Transformation Initiative guides this webinar to support providers working with this population of adults with serious mental health challenges (SMHC).

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Learn How to Offer “Nutrition and Exercise for Wellness and Recovery” (NEW-R) In Your IPS Program

This webinar highlights the Nutrition and Exercise for Wellness and Recovery (NEW-R) program and how it may be implemented into Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services. Further, this recording discusses the role of obesity in mental health recovery as well as the job-seeking process, and how providers may encourage physical health to improve mental health.

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Developing Career Profiles

A career profile is a core element of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) process, and this webinar discusses its importance in supporting individuals’ journey to meaningful employment. This webinar walks providers through the development of a client-centered and culturally competent career profile.

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IPS Fidelity 101

This recording provides an overview of fidelity in Individual Placement and Support (IPS), while also sharing what individuals providing IPS services need to know to prepare for an IPS fidelity review.

ips employment-training-categories
Client Engagement

The Illinois Support Employment Transformation Initiative presents this webinar on engaging clients in Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services. This brief webinar discusses signs of disengagement and the role that motivational interviewing can play in re-engaging clients with their work.

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What is IPS Supported Employment?

The Illinois IPS Initiative presents a webinar on the evidence-based practice of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employment. Discussed are the eight principles of IPS and how they can be implemented in the process of mental health recovery.

ips employment-training-categories
Mind Share Partners

This is a recurring webinar series that gives HR, People, Culture, and D&I leaders an introduction to developing a mental health strategy for their company and an opportunity to learn more about Mind Share Partners. Each webinar will include a 30-minute presentation as well as 15 minutes for Q&A. The content of the presentation will remain consistent over time to support the growing number of organizations that are starting their mental health strategy each quarter.

employers employment-training-categories
Enhancing Skills for Peer Support Providers

Presenters discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the role that educators and employment specialists play in transmitting information on the act to young adults entering postsecondary life. The pair discusses accommodations, existing policies, conversations with employers, and disclosure.

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Supervision of Peers and Other Lived-Experience Professionals

This $15 webinar provides an overview of what to expect when supervising individuals with lived experiences of serious mental health challenges (SMHC) working as peer support specialists. Lived-experience professionals can bring support to addiction counseling, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, and social work settings, and their supervisors must be prepared for their integration into the workplace.

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Straight Talk About the ADA for Special Educators and Employment Specialists

Presenters discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the role that educators and employment specialists play in transmitting information on the act to young adults entering postsecondary life. The pair discusses accommodations, existing policies, conversations with employers, and disclosure.

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Empowering Clients with Mental Health Diagnosis: The Vital Role of Tax Preparation

This webinar highlights financial and mental wellbeing by exploring the impact that free education on tax preparation can have for the financial well-being of adults with serious mental health challenges (SMHC). The National Disability Institute reminds providers in this webinar of the importance of financial wellbeing in recovery.

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REI Network Webinar: Motivational Interviewing

The National Disability Institute delivers this hour-long webinar on the impact that motivational interviewing can have on individuals’ with serious mental health challenges (SMHC) finances. The counseling style of motivational interviewing allows providers to create a safe, non-judgemental, environment through open-ended questioning and the use of positive reinforcements.

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Employing Young Adult Peer Workers

The Learning & Working During the Transition to Adulthood Rehabilitation Research & Training Center provides a toolkit for effectively employing young adult peer providers. The toolkit discusses an overview of young adults in this role, hiring and training, supervision, and ensuring there is a culture of support in place in your organization.

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Going Virtual: How 3 Young Adult Focused Services Pivoted to Virtual Platforms in 2020

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many school and work programs embrace a new virtual space. This 90-minute webinar provides key takeaways from three different programs providing services for young adults with psychiatric disabilities on a virtual platform. Peer coaching and peer supervision at Boston University, Helping Youth on the Path to Employment (HYPE), and the Virtual Best-Practice Guide for Youth and Young Adult Community Mental Health Providers from Thresholds Youth & Young Adult Services are highlighted in this webinar.

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Navigating School and Work With a Serious Mental Health Condition

The Collecting Histories of Education and Employment during Recovery (CHEER) study within The Learning and Working Center focuses on the experiences and challenges of young adults with serious mental health conditions (SMHC). 25-30-year-olds with psychiatric disabilities were interviewed for this study and asked to describe their education, training, and employment histories, with key findings being reported in this webinar. Helpful aspects of school and work such as flexibility and support are identified by presenters and are important for those working with young adults with SMHC to support their educational and career goals.

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Adapting IPS for Young Adults: The Thresholds Study

This webinar provides an overview of the Thresholds Study, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model adaptations, study results, challenges and lessons learned, and future steps to be taken to encourage successful education and employment for young adults with psychiatric disabilities.

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Effective Clinical Supervision for Young Adult Therapeutic Peer Mentors, Part 2

The second installment of this webinar series for supervisors of young adult therapeutic peer mentors elaborates on the skills necessary to be an effective clinical supervisor. Topics highlighted include relational boundaries, building psychological capital, understanding differences between clients and mentors, accommodations in the workplace, how to evaluate success, and the benefits of being a clinical supervisor.

young-adults employment-training-categories
Effective Clinical Supervision for Young Adult Therapeutic Peer Mentors, Part 1

The goal of this webinar is to increase the competency of clinical supervisors of young adult therapeutic peer mentors. Young adult development and recovery, how to engage young adults, how to identify and hire for these roles, and how to support and encourage the success of those you supervise are all primary topics.

young-adults employment-training-categories
Transition Age Youth Launching Realized Dreams (TAYLRD): Employment and Education Supports for Young Adults with Behavioral Health Issues

How does IPS need to be adapted for young adults? This webinar highlights employment and education support for young adults with psychiatric disabilities and differences in support needs from older adults while seeking and maintaining employment. Trends in substance use, functional differences between young and older adults, developing a career focus through human capital, career planning, and life skill development for the workplace are all topics discussed to educate individuals working with young adults with psychiatric disabilities seeking employment.

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Job Accommodations for Persons with Mental Health Conditions Webinar

The Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) share accommodations typically used by individuals with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) and their employers to support workplace success. Sharing qualitative and quantitative research findings, presenters discuss workplace practices that may make an impact on employers.

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Enriching the Vocational Workforce by Involving Peers in the Delivery of IPS-Supported Employment

In this one-hour webinar, the research on IPS-supported employment is discussed and how this evidence-based practice can be integrated to support wellness and employee engagement. Specifically highlighted are the SAMHSA IPS Toolkit and the Physical Wellness for Work resource.

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Managing Mental Health Disabilities in the Workplace Webinar

Employment attorneys discuss applicant and employee rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and share how employers can support employees with psychiatric disabilities. This webinar discusses reasonable accommodations in the workplace, as well as how to appropriately discuss an employee’s mental health.

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The Elephant In the Room: A Discussion About Employees with Psychiatric Disabilities in the Workplace

Educating working individuals with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) on the Americans with Disabilities Act, communicating with employers, bridging gaps between employees and employers, and addressing workplace stigma surrounding psychiatric disabilities are all roles of supported employment professionals. This webinar, delivered by an individual with lived experience of psychiatric disability from Utah State University, discusses supported employment professionals’ role in disability disclosure and reasonable accommodations on the job.

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Mental Health Literacy for Employment Support Professionals

This webinar, produced by Utah State University, provides an overview of mental health literacy and its importance for implementation in the profession of employment support. There is also an introduction to the content covered within the University’s Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy for Employment Support Professionals curriculum.

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SOAR Webinar: Yes, You Can Work! Working While Applying for and Receiving SSA Benefits

This webinar discussion surrounds the SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) TA Center’s Yes You Can Work flyer, which guides providers in their discussions of the benefits of work with those applying for and receiving SSA benefits. SOAR providers also share experiences with implementing SOAR and community employment supports, citing the SSA’s Working While Disabled Pamphlet, Yes, You Can Work! Infographic, and SOAR Employment Conversation Guide.

soar employment-training-categories
Equity in Action: Leveraging SAMHSA SOAR Technical Assistance to Improve Systems

This 2022 SAMHSA SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) TA Center webinar addresses trainings, resources, and tools for increasing equity and reducing implicit biases in SOAR implementation. Presenters discuss how race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, and involvement in the criminal justice system may impact one’s access to SOAR programs and existing tools to promote equitable inclusion in employment and housing services.

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SOAR Webinar: SOARing to Employment with SSA Work Incentives and Benefits Planning

This SAMHSA SOAR TA Center webinar features a SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) provider’s experience delivering community employment support as well as delivering information on SSA work incentives and employment resources. The discussion also surrounds common myths relating to working while going through the SSA benefit process. Employment-related tools and resources, including the 2020 Issue Brief, “SOAR and Employment for SSI/SSDI Beneficiaries” are shared throughout the presentation.

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SOAR Webinar: How Working is Promoting Recovery for People with Mental Illness

Presenters discuss the importance of Peer Support Specialists’ lived experiences in SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) programs to support the recovery process of others with psychiatric disabilities through gaining employment, financial stability, and benefits. Panelists share their experiences working as peer staff to help others develop best practices for implementing Peer Support Services in SOAR programs.

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SOAR Webinar: Peer Support Specialists: A critical Component for SOAR Programs

Presenters discuss the importance of Peer Support Specialists’ lived experiences in SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) programs to support the recovery process of others with psychiatric disabilities through gaining employment, financial stability, and benefits. Panelists share their experiences working as peer staff to help others develop best practices for implementing Peer Support Services in SOAR programs.

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SOAR Webinar: SOAR and Criminal Justice System Implementation

Highlighting the intersection of serious mental health conditions (SMHC), homelessness, and incarceration this webinar discusses the integration of SOAR (SSI/SSDI – Opportunities to Access Resources for successful reentry) programming specifically for those involved in the justice system into service offerings. Presenters express the role of SOAR in increasing post-incarceration success for individuals with psychiatric disabilities reentering their communities.

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SOAR Webinar: Employment Supports and Benefits Planning for SOAR Beneficiaries

This SAMHSA webinar highlights the importance of employment for individuals with serious mental health conditions (SMHC) who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. Highlighting the federal SOAR (SSI/SSDI, Outreach, Access, and Recovery) program, this webinar explores access to SSI/SSDI benefits and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) as steps to recovery and gaining meaningful employment. Presenters discuss strategies for implementing vocational and benefit planning into agency SOAR initiatives.

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