In This Issue

Fall/Winter 2005
Volume 1 • Issue 2

Professors Receive
Allan Meyers Award

Director’s Corner

UM Students Receive
National Award

Center Updates Acronym

Prevention Center
of Excellence

$2.9M Reading Program Grant

Director Named
AUCD President

New Leadership for CAC

Search Tool Facilitates
Access to MEC Training

Grant to Increase Access
to Volunteer Opportunities

Intervention Methods
Subject of Conference

Screening Instrument
Under Development

Co-Instructional Model
Developed by CCIDS

Center Staff Star in
New Video

Guest Column:
CAC Member Tours
South Africa

Brain Research Informs
Best Practice

Partnership for EC
Health Formed

Presentations & Publications

CenterPoint Home

New Search Tool Facilitates Access to MEC Training

In expanded number of Maine Employment Curriculum (MEC) training opportunities and a new, searchable, on-line database of scheduled trainings is enhancing the capacity of professional employment specialists and job coaches to provide comprehensive, person-centered job supports for Maine residents with disabilities in communities throughout the state. Completion of the MEC training, say program organizers, improves the ability of employment professionals to work cooperatively with local employers to identify job openings and provide employment supports in natural workplace settings.

The MEC training project originated in 2000 to support community rehabilitation providers’ efforts to promote meaningful work options for individuals with disabilities by ensuring job coaches and employment specialists receive training in best practice employment supports. The comprehensive curriculum, developed through a collaboration of the Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies (CCIDS) with the Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral and Developmental Services, and the Maine Department of Labor’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, instructs employment professionals in ways to identify better matches between employees and employers, and increase the placement success rate in supported work environments. The 14-module curriculum also provides instruction in effective teaching methods and tools for adult learners.

“Most individuals with disabilities want to work, and can work, in real jobs in their community with proper supports,” said Christine Robinson, Best Practices coordinator for the Office of Adult Mental Health Services. “The Maine Employment Curriculum provides a foundation of knowledge and skills that reflect best practice in supported employment services. As more and more job coaches and employment specialists are trained in this curriculum, our clients can count on high quality, effective supported employment services statewide.”

The MEC provides two “strands” of training for employment professionals, job coaches and employment specialists. The job coach strand provides training for individuals who specialize in providing on-site supports and skill building for employees. “A job coach is the person who goes into the place of employment to learn the job and conduct a task analysis in order to train and work with the person who will ultimately fill the job,” said Janet May, coordinator of Transition and Adults at CCIDS. The employment specialist networks with business and community leaders to develop and identify employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

“Completing the employment specialist or job coach strand of the curriculum meets training requirements for several certifications within Maine DHHS and Bureau of Rehabilitation Services,” said May. Additionally, MEC training leaders are located throughout Maine and training opportunities reflect this geographic diversity.

“It is as common to find training being provided in South Paris or Houlton as it is in Bangor or Portland,” said May, and the new, searchable, on-line database hosted by CCIDS, allows for fast, easy retrieval of trainings scheduled around the state. Individuals seeking training can now search by module number, geographic region, or date. The search page, along with regional information, can be found on-line at: http://cciserver.ums.maine.edu/mecsearch/mecsearch.aspx.

“We’re really pleased that all 14 MEC modules will be offered at least three times a year in each region,” said May, making the training more available than ever before.

Since inception of the MEC, more than 125 individuals have received either job coach or employment specialist certification. Since 2003, MEC leaders have taught approximately 400 training modules and CCIDS has utilized technology to provide a complete version of Module 1 on-line. In addition, community rehabilitation providers report increased employee retention, a higher quality workforce, and easier recruitment of well-trained employment support staff. For more information about the Maine Employment Curriculum Implementation Project, visit www.ccids.umaine.edu/projects/mec/default.htm

— Janet May
Kimberly Sawtelle
Kathy Son