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Training: Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training Program

Initial Training Program Description

The Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training program is based on a comprehensive set of competencies that community partner staff must acquire in order to achieve Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling Certification. The interactive training session is designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of the following:

    • Effectively integrating work incentives counseling services into federal, state, and local employment programs.
    • Conducting outreach to beneficiaries and other community stakeholders.
    • Understanding and communicating the work incentives and support programs available to individuals with disabilities who receive financial supports or services, and the impact of work activity on those benefits.
    • Assisting beneficiaries to understand not only their benefits supports, but also how to utilize work incentives and other tools to assist them to achieve self-sufficiency through work.
    • Providing proper documentation of services, including creating Benefits Summaries and Analyses and Work Incentive Plans.
    • Delivering integrated services that are sensitive to individual needs such as barriers created by disability, language, or culture.
    • Monitoring and improving the quality of services provided to beneficiaries and partnering organizations.

More detailed information on the session content is provided in the Initial Training Course Agenda: Word Version

The Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training is conducted over a five-day period. Individuals will be provided with an extensive Initial Training Manual and reference materials, as well as tools to assist them to continue to learn skills and technical information that are essential to providing effective and efficient services as Community Partner Work Incentives Counselors. Please note: This is an intensive training that will require considerable preparatory reading. Participants must attend and participate in all sessions!

Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training: Eligibility and Registration Priorities

  1. To be eligible to participate, community partner staff must commit to full participation in all components of the Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training and Certification process, including:
      • Pre-Training Orientation Conference Call the week prior to the scheduled training;
      • Participation in Part One of the competency-based Work Incentives Counseling community partner assessment and certification process. Part One of the Work Incentives Counseling Certification process takes place in the 6-week period immediately following completion of the initial training session and involves completing a series of online competency based assessments. The assessment process takes, on average, 25-45 hours of time over the 6-week period. Participants should plan to budget their time accordingly. Successful completion of all assessments during this 6-week period results in Provisional Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling Certification.

    Note: Full Community Partner Work Incentives Counseling Certification involves a two-part assessment process. All partners participating in the initial training session will have the opportunity to complete Part One of the process at this time. Currently, Part Two of the assessment process is not available. However, all partners who are successful in completing the Part One assessments for provisional certification will be notified of the opportunity to complete the Part Two requirements for full certification as these opportunities become available in the coming months. Detailed information on the Part Two assessments and requirements will be included when the notification is sent.

  2. A total of 30 individuals will be approved for participation in each initial training session. Registrants will be confirmed according to the following list of priorities:
      • SSA Demonstration Project staff
      • Staff of organizations or agencies that are an Employment Network
      • Staff of community partner organizations or agencies who are pursuing training and certification in order to provide work incentive counseling services as part of a coordinated state or local network
      • All other community partner staff (Priority given first to partners located in the state, then SSA region where the training is being conducted. All others prioritized based on date of registration.)
  3. There is no registration fee for community partners approved to attend the Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training. All approved participants, however, are responsible for their own travel, lodging and meal expenses.

More detailed information on Community Partner participation in the Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training session is provided in the Community Partner Guidelines document (MS Word).

Important Considerations Related to the Registration Process

All community partners wishing to participate in a Work Incentives Counseling Initial Training session must register online using the links provided for the initial training sessions in the calendar above.

*** PLEASE NOTE: SUBMITTING YOUR ON-LINE REGISTRATION FORM FOR A PARTICULAR INITIAL TRAINING SESSION DOES NOT CONFIRM YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THAT TRAINING SESSION.

Instead, once registration is closed for a particular initial training session, the registration requests will be prioritized and all individuals notified via email as to whether or not their participation in the requested session is confirmed.

Upon confirmation of your registration, you will receive an email message providing detailed information on training session logistics.

Any questions or support needs regarding registration for the CWIC Initial Training sessions can be directed to Julie Schall at 804.827.0741 or [email protected].