Employment First Massachusetts

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We Believe

  • Everyone can work.
  • Everyone has the right to earn a living wage in a job of their choosing, based on their unique talents, gifts, skills, and interests.
  • Employment is a way for people to achieve their personal dreams of success, respect, control, and choice.
  • Having a job can be an important part of one’s self-identity and value in society today.
  • Everyone should be paid at least minimum wage.
Massachusetts Interagency Transtion Teams

Interested in knowing more about interagency transition teams in Massachusetts? check out the Massachusetts Interagency Transition Teams database, compiled by the MPTE Cross-Systems Collaboration team

Life Course in Action

LifeCourse in Action

Resources to envision and chart a course toward a good life.

MPTE

The Massachusetts Partnership for Transition to Employment (MPTE) is a five-year project to improve labor market participation for youth and young adults served by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS).

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Current Trainings

Wednesday, January 15;
Wednesday, January 22;
2025
9am-12pm EST

Job Coaching and Teaching Strategies (2 sessions)

Supporting individuals to be successful at their jobs is not as easy as it sounds. It requires many skills including, excellent communication, maintaining relationships with multiple team members (including employers), knowledge about accommodations and assistive technology, and effectively assisting individuals with various disabilities to learn and master new tasks. Join us for this interactive virtual 2-session training to learn best practices and strategies needed to support individuals in meeting their employment goals. Topics include: the role of the job coach, natural supports and social inclusion, systematic instruction, job maintenance and self-management techniques, as well as fading and behavioral support strategies.

Participants should attend both sessions to get the most out of this training series. Letters of completion will be provided to those who attend both training sessions.

Location: Zoom (email with training details and zoom link will be sent out the week of the event date)

Register Today!

Online

Cost: FREE


Session 1: September 11
Session 2: October 9
Session 3: November 13
Session 4: December 11
Session 5: January 8
Session 6: Feb 12
Session 7: March 12
Session 8: April 9
Session 9: May 14
Session 10: June 11
Session 11: July 9

12-1 PM EST

LifeCourse in Action: Planning for the Holidays with Charting the LifeCourse

We are excited to welcome back Sonja Haecker who will share how to use CtLC to prepare for the holiday season. The holidays can be a joyous time, but they can also be stressful and overwhelming. Using the LifeCourse Framework can help organize your thoughts and support effective planning in all settings as the winter festivities quickly approach. This session will feature the Planning Trajectory and Life Domain Vision Tools.

Presenter:

Sonja A. Haecker EdD
Executive Vice President
Berkshire County Arc

Register Today!

We will host a LifeCourse in Action workshop on the 2nd Wednesday of each month beginning September 11, 2024 and ending July 9, 2025 at 12:00 noon ET on Zoom

Online

Cost: FREE


Ongoing

Foundations of Community Employment

This course is a great starting point for new staff to gain a solid foundation for their work in the field and for current staff to build on the skills and knowledge they already have. Staff will get an overview of the past and present community employment, understand the social, political, and economic changes leading to the expansion of opportunities for individuals with disabilities and learn how to collaborate with team stakeholders

Please contact Lara Enein at lara.enein@umb.edu with any questions.

Online

Cost: FREE