IPS: Learning Collaborative
The Wisconsin Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Learning Collaborative brings together people using the IPS model of supported employment across the state to share ideas on how to serve people better.
Meetings
Annual meeting: October 7-8, 2025
IPS providers, Tribal nation and county behavioral health providers, counselors associated with the 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 invited to attend the annual IPS meeting.
The primary purpose of the annual meeting 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 using the IPS model of supported employment an opportunity to learn about the benefits of IPS.
This is an in person only event.
Registration is required. There is no registration fee for this event. Registration will open soon.
Agenda
October 7, 2025
8:00 a.m. - IPS Supervisor Meeting
12:00 p.m. - Lunch for supervisors (on your own)
+ registration
1:00 p.m. - Welcome from IPS Wisconsin team
1:30 p.m. - Break
1:45 p.m. - Breakout session #1
3:00 p.m. - Break
3:15 p.m. - IPS listening session
4:30 p.m. - End of day
October 8, 2025
8:30 a.m. - Registration
9:00 a.m. - Welcome from DHS and DWD
9:30 a.m. - IPS Wisconsin and International Learning Community updates
10:00 a.m. - Award ceremony
10:30 a.m. - Break
10:45 a.m. - Keynote presentation, Dennis Radoff on IPS and Harm Reduction Intersection
11:45 a.m. - Lunch (on your own)
1:15 p.m. - Breakout session #2
2:30 p.m. - Break
2:45 p.m. - Breakout session #3
4:00 p.m. - End of day
Location
Summit Place
West Allis
Lodging
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Home2 Suites by Hilton Milwaukee West in West Allis for $114 per night.
Send questions or concerns about the annual IPS meeting to dhsdctsips@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
IPS partners consortium quarterly meeting
This meeting is open to all employment specialists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, treatment team members, supervisors, and others who currently use or are interested in using the IPS model of supported employment.
The 2025 meetings are scheduled for the dates listed below on Teams from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- January 15 Minutes (PDF)
- April 16 Minutes (PDF)
- July 16
- October (no meeting due to the annual meeting)
Agenda
- IPS Wisconsin updates
- Upcoming events
- New materials and resources
- Quarterly outcomes review
- Site specific updates
- Responses to last session's open floor comments
- Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation updates
- Department of Health Services Division of Care and Treatment Services updates
- IPS International Learning Community updates
- Quarterly outcomes
- New research
- Open floor time for attendees to share concerns, requests, or questions
Join the IPS partners consortium quarterly meeting
Becoming an expert employment specialist
This meeting is held to give employment specialists a space to collaborate with each other and share ideas for applying the IPS model of supported employment. It is an opportunity to share job leads and strategies for working with employers and job seekers. Participants also will gain an understanding the how to implement IPS fidelity.
The 2025 meetings are held the fourth Tuesday every month on Teams from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- July 22: Systematic job development, second cup: questions
- August 26: Systematic job development, third cup and beyond: employer engagement
- September 23: Responding to difficult employer questions and statements
- October 28: Finding strengths in the midst of barriers
- November 25: Using work history to create a resume
- December 16 (moved due to the holidays): Determining support needs
Join the becoming an expert employment specialist meeting
Supervisors
This meeting is held to give vocational agency supervisors, Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation supervisors, and clinical supervisors of programs using the IPS model of supported employment an opportunity to collaborate, share strategies, and strengthen knowledge about IPS fidelity.
This meeting is held the second Wednesday of every other month on Teams from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
IPS foundations training courses
All IPS employment specialists are encouraged to complete the IPS foundations training courses. The classes are recommended for people partnering with IPS providers including clinical teams, vocational rehabilitation providers, employers, and employment support providers.
IPS foundations training courses are offered on Teams from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the following dates in 2025.
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 of supported employment.
Career profiles and individualized plans
This course helps an IPS 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 individualized plans and to conduct systematic job development is covered. This course also includes a discussion about the job development plan and job support plan—and will explore individualized supports based on a job seeker's needs.
Including the family and data and tracking
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. There is a discussion about what to do when family members are not supportive in employment. The course also reviews items and documentations required to achieve good fidelity as well as other tracking opportunities for quality improvement.
Co-occurring disorders and justice involvement
This course helps staff to think about specific strategies that they can use to help people with co-occurring disorders (a substance use disorder and a mental health issue at the same time) and criminal histories. This course also includes a discussion about how to talk about a person's criminal record.
Systematic job development classroom
This course focuses on the Three Cups of Tea Model and the importance of building a relationship with a business based on a job seeker's preferences.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation partnership for IPS services
This interactive course covers the Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's mission, values, and structure. It also covers the process from referral to initial appointment with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to write the Individualized Plan for Employment. General roles for Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the employment specialist, and consumer also are covered. In addition, participants will learn practical applications of Division of Vocational Rehabilitation technical specifications (tech specs) for the IPS model of supported employment. Participants follow a mock consumer from referral to Division of Vocational Rehabilitation file closure. This course also includes a discussion of the typical reports required at each stage in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation process. Common issues that can come along the way are discussed.
Have you participated in an IPS training hosted by a member of the IPS Wisconsin team? Please share your feedback. Use this online form.
Publications
The Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative has created a series of publications designed to help professionals using the IPS model of supported employment. See all the publications.
Information on vocational rehabilitation services
For the technical specifications of the vocational rehabilitation services available under the IPS model of supported employment, visit the Department of Workforce Development's website.
Send questions or concerns about IPS to: dhsdctsips@dhs.wisconsin.gov.