IPS: Learning Collaborative
The Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative brings together people using the IPS model across the state to share ideas on how to serve people better.
Stay connected! Join the Wisconsin IPS email list to receive email updates from the IPS Wisconsin team.
Annual conference
The Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative hosts an annual conference. IPS providers, county and tribal behavioral health providers, counselors associated with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, certified peer specialists, and people who want to expand their knowledge, skills, and abilities related to supported employment practices are encouraged to attend.
The primary purpose of the annual conference is to provide a professional development opportunity for the IPS Wisconsin community. It also serves as an opportunity to grow the IPS Wisconsin community by giving agencies interested in offering IPS an opportunity to learn about the benefits of IPS.
The annual conference is sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (Division of Care and Treatment Services), the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (Division of Vocational Rehabilitation) and UW-Madison (Department of Psychiatry).
2023
- Dates: April 19-20
- Location: Hotel Mead & Conference Center, Wisconsin Rapids
- Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day
- Registration fee: $25
Join the Wisconsin IPS email list to receive email updates about the annual conference.
Training courses
The Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative offers many virtual training classes that are open to all IPS agencies in Wisconsin. Please contact us to schedule training if there is not a time scheduled below or the time does not work for you or your team. Training can be conducted in person by request.
Continuing education hours are available to people who complete these training courses. For more information, contact the IPS Wisconsin team.
Have you participated in an IPS training hosted by a member of the IPS Wisconsin team? Please share your feedback. Use this online form.
Upcoming courses
The following courses are the only courses with a regular class schedule.
Becoming an expert employment specialist
This course gives employment specialists time with a state trainer to practice their job development skills. The focus is on the three cups of tea strategies. The goal of this course is to help employment specialists fine tune their elevator speech and increase the effectiveness of their business connections. This course is offered on the third Monday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- February 20, 2023 - OARS+I skills: Code each other- using role play to practice open ended questions
- March 20, 2023 - OARS+I skills: Code each other- using role play to practice affirmations
- April 17, 2023 - OARS+I skills: Code each other- using role play to practice reflections
- May 15, 2023 - OARS+I skills: Code each other- using role play to practice summaries
- June 19, 2023 - OARS+I skills: Code each other- using role play to practice informing
- July 17, 2023 - Addressing exclusionary statements (zero exclusion); practice scenarios with case manager, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation counselor, families, and job seekers themselves
- August 21. 2023 - Working with people with criminal histories; practice the “Have you considered a job?” worksheet
- September 18, 2023 - First cup intro statements
- October 16, 2023 - Second cup questions
- November 20, 2023 - Third cup and ongoing cups: Introducing the job seeker to the employer using advocacy statements focusing on the strengths of job seekers
- December 18, 2023 - Responding to difficult employer questions and statements, discussing disclosure and how and when to talk about symptoms/support needs
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation partnership for IPS services
This interactive course covers the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's (DVR) mission, values, and structure. It also covers the process from referral to initial appointment with the DVR to write the Individualized Plan for Employment. General roles for DVR, the employment specialist, and consumer also are covered. In addition, participants will learn practical applications of DVR technical specifications (tech specs) for IPS. Participants follow a mock consumer from referral to DVR file closure. This course also includes a discussion of the typical reports required at each stage in the DVR process. Common issues that can come along the way are discussed.
No classes are scheduled at this time.
Other courses
The following courses are offered live upon request.
Co-occurring disorders
This course helps staff to think about specific strategies that they can use to help people with co-occurring disorders (substance use disorder and mental health issue).
Good clinical documentation
This course provides information regarding the why’s, what’s, and how’s for best practice in clinical case notes. IPS employment specialists will learn an overview of different case noting techniques and have an opportunity ask questions on how these techniques can apply to specific county requirements.
Including families in the employment process
This course helps staff understand who the family is for each job seeker and the role family members can play in the job seeker’s life. This course also includes a discussion about what to do when family members are not supportive in employment.
Individualized plans
This course helps the team think about how to get to know each person to complete the career profile with valuable information. How to use the information in the career profile to complete individualize plans and to conduct systematic job development is covered. This course also includes a discussion about the job development plan and job support plan.
IPS 101
This course provides an overview of the eight principles that encompass the spirit of IPS. This course also includes a discussion of the research conducted on the IPS model.
IPS data and tracking
This course is for employment specialists and supervisors to review items and documentations required to achieve good fidelity. There is also a review of other tracking opportunities for quality improvement.
Job development - the IPS way
This course focuses on the Three Cups of Tea Model and the importance of building a relationship with businesses based on job seeker’s preferences.
Justice involvement
This course helps staff to think about strategies they can use to help people with criminal histories. This course also includes a discussion about how to talk about a person criminal record.
Motivational interviewing: OARS skills
This course covers the basics of motivational interviewing with focus on open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summary reflections, the OARS skills. Through small group and large group activities and discussions, participants learn strategies that can be used with job seekers throughout the process of finding employment and/or education.
Symptoms or habits? How mental illness can affect employment
This course teaches participants to recognize how a person's mental illness is affecting their employment. This information can be helpful in modifying interventions with insight from the person's clinical team. Watch a recording of this course.
Techniques of engagement
This course provides information through small and large group activities on strategies to keep job seekers, employers, clinical teams, family, and other supports engaged.
Workplace supports: Using systematic instruction
This course provides strategies to support someone once they have obtained employment, including techniques to promote independence and use of natural supports. Participants will also learn techniques for gathering information needed to complete the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's job and task analysis.
Meetings
IPS Wisconsin Executive Steering Committee
IPS Wisconsin Executive Steering Committee advises IPS Wisconsin team in their support and oversight across the state. This meeting is held to work on activities related to the ASPIRE grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and a five-year sustainability plan for IPS in Wisconsin.
This meeting is held the fourth Wednesday every three months from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Employment specialists and vocational rehabilitation counselors
This meeting is held to give IPS employment specialists and vocational rehabilitation counselors around the state an opportunity to collaborate, share strategies, and strengthen knowledge about IPS fidelity and how IPS works with the policies and practices with the Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
This meeting is held the second Wednesday every three months from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Employment specialists
This meeting is held to give IPS employment specialists a space to collaborate with each other and share ideas for great IPS services. It is an opportunity to share job leads, strategies with working with employers and job seekers, and understand the hows and whys to IPS fidelity.
This meeting is held the second Thursday every three months from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
March 9, 2023
• Addressing hygiene and other difficult topics
• Using work history to create a resume
June 8, 2023
Finding strengths in the midst of barriers using the strengths/positive focus worksheet
September 14, 2023
Determining individualized support needs and using a job support plan
December 14, 2023
Building rapport and increasing engagement with employers
Supervisors
This meeting is held to give IPS supervisors an opportunity to collaborate, share strategies, and strengthen knowledge about IPS fidelity.
This meeting is held the second Wednesday of every month from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- February 8, 2023
- (No meeting in April)
- June 14, 2023
- August 9, 2023
- October 12, 2023 (Special date) (This will be an in-person only meeting at the Schmeekle Reserve in Stevens Point.)
- December 13, 2023
Information on vocational rehabilitation services
For the technical specifications of the vocational rehabilitation services available under the IPS model, visit the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's website.