CRP Training
These resources are for Community Rehabilitation Providers who provide assessment, job development/ placement and job coaching to individuals with disabilities through the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and The Department of Health and Human Services. Upcoming Maine Trainings and other events will be posted on the homepage so check back often.
Effective July 1, 2011, all Employment Specialist Certification Training must be Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) Approved.
Employment Specialist Basic Required Training
The courses listed below have been approved as meeting the training requirement to work as an Employment Specialist across systems, i.e. whether services are contracted with the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, OACPD Developmental Services or the Office of Adult Mental Health Services. These courses also meet the requirement for the MHRT/C Vocational Aspects of Disability Course.
Syntiro is the home of the Employment for ME workforce Development System (WDS)for employment specialists and job coaches. Visit the WDS page at Syntiro or
Employment Specialist Certification Web-Based Training Options:
- Virginia Commonwealth University Supported Employment Certificate
- Virginia Commonwealth University Supported Employment for Individuals with Mental Illness (for OAMHS only)
Employment Specialist Certification In Person Training Options:
- New England TACE Center (University of Massachusetts and Assumption College) Innovative Employment Strategies: A Comprehensive Training Series (6 days of in-person training plus an online workshop). More details on the TACE Center site, including a training calendar.
"Grandfathered" Employment Specialist Training (if taken before 8/1/2003):
- The University of Hartford CRP RCEP Certification
- Southern Maine Community College (Maine Medical Center) Employment Specialist Course
- BDL Employment Specialist Course
- Goodwill Employment Specialist Course
"Grandfathered" Employment Specialist Training (if completed before 6/30/11):
- Maine Employment Curriculum Employment Specialist/Job Coach Certifications (2002- June 30, 2011)
- University of Georgia's Job Coach/Employment Specialist certification: http://archive.coe.uga.edu/hsmi/
- Central Maine Community College, Vocational Aspects of Disabilities and Counseling PSY 204 AND Disabilities and Psychosocial Rehabilitation PSY 202 -- Must take BOTH courses to meet the requirement.
- Husson University, Introduction to Rehabilitation PY 335 AND Seminar in Psychology PY 442 -- Must take BOTH courses to meet the requirement.
- Kennebec Valley Community College, Vocational Aspects of Disability MHT 126.
- Kennebec Valley Community College, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program: Introduction to Occupational Therapy & Human Occupation OTS 101, Occupatioinal Therapy Across the Life Span I OTS 102, Interpersonal Skills for the Practicing Allied Health Professional OTS 104, Practice Environments OTS 201 AND Occupational Therapy Across the Life Span II OTS 203 -- Must take ALL FIVE COURSES to meet the requirement.
- Southern Maine Community College, Psychosocial and Vocational Rehabilitation BHHS110 (Effective Spring 2010).
- University of Maine at Augusta, Foundation of Vocational Rehabilitation HUS 236.
- University of Maine at Farmington, Career Counseling PSY 237.
- University of Maine at Farmington, Vocational Counseling & Placement REH 270.
- University of Maine Machias, Vocational Implications of Disability PSYM 326.
- University of Maine Presque Isle, Vocational Aspects of Disability PSY 374.
- University of Southern Maine, Vocational Counseling & Placement in Rehabilitation HCE 615.
Work Support Staff Required Training
Work Support Staff (under contract with OACPD Developmental Services only) are required to either be certified as an Employment Specialist, complete the Direct Support Professional (DSP) Curriculum, or (effective July 1, 2010) complete the Maine College of Direct Support, including the ME Work Support Module. For more information regarding the College of Direct Support
Continuing Education Resources for all Employment Staff
New Continuing Education Requirements for Certified Employment Specialists Effective July 1, 2011: All Certified Employment Specialists must complete 18 hours of employment related training every three years. Some training options are available at the Workforce Development System training site.
Technical Assistance and Continuing Education The TACE Center, Region 1 New England is available to provide technical assistance and continuing education services to state vocational rehabilitation agencies and their partners.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Training events that are developed and designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities, rehabilitation professionals, families, and person's working in business and industry.
Training Resource Network Inc. A website that contains on demand web based trainings, downloadable power-points, books and other resources on the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in their communities.
Upcoming Maine Training Events
Visit www.employmentforme.org News and Events page for a list of upcoming trainings and events.Previous Maine Training Events
November 2010 "Employment for ME Summit: Building on Past Success for the Next Decade," held in Augusta (November 15, 2010), involved two half-day sessions. The morning session of the conference was for the leadership of case management agencies and advocacy organizations. At this session, the new Department of Health & Human Services employment policy was unveiled.
The afternoon session, titled “Providing a Bridge between Policy & Practice,” was for case managers, community integration workers and supervisors.
A resource page including materials from both conferences is posted here
November 2009 "Building Relationships with Business: What You Can Do Now to Prepare for the Economic Turnaround," was held in Lewiston (November 5, 2009) and Orono (November 6, 2009). The facilitator and keynote speaker was David Hoff, of the New England TACE Center and the UMass/Boston Institute for Community Inclusion. A resource page including materials from the conference is posted on http://choices.muskie.usm.maine.edu/new/buildingrelat.html
November 2008 "The Power of Work!" This two-day disability and employment conference was held at the Augusta Civic Center. The keynote speaker, Denise Bissonette, is an inspiring and informative speaker who also spoke in 2006 at the "Future of Maine's Economy" conference. That conference focused on connecting workers — and particularly workers with disabilities — with work that leads to satisfaction and success. For information and resources about Denise.
November 2007 Employment - Making It Work for ME! The focus of these conferences, held in Northern and Southern Maine, was to learn, discuss, and gather resources about employment for people with developmental disabilities. That information was then utilized in the development of the new employment definitions and guidelines for Maine Care Section 21 and Section 29 Developmental Services Waivers. Notes from each session are available by clicking on each location name below.