The Innovative Guided Rehabilitation Employer Engagement Training (iGREET) created by the Program on Innovative Rehabilitation Training on Employer Engagement (PIRTEE), offers Employer Engagement training opportunities to VR professionals engaged in supporting business customers. Through this training, participants can improve agency services to businesses and enhance employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities served by the VR system. Note: While focusing on VR professionals, the iGREET training is applicable to any agency providing employment services to individuals with disabilities.
The course is comprised of four modules, each containing 3-4 lessons. We offer the iGREET course in two formats:
Online, self-paced course: Participants who register have the option to complete individual modules or the entire course within a 3-month period. We offer CRCs for each module and we will issue a certificate of completion to those who complete the entire course.
Virtual, instructor-facilitated course: The virtual training uses the same curriculum but takes place on Zoom and is delivered classroom style. This format is great for you if you prefer to interact with your fellow participants and the trainers. Stay tuned for next available training.
To access the training schedule and register for upcoming sessions click here.
Descriptions of each module is provided below:
Module 1: Foundations of Employer Engagement
Lesson 1- Understanding the Expectations of WIOA and The Dual-Customer Approach
Highlights:
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Describe the philosophical and legislative evolution of employer engagement within the Vocational Rehabilitation agency, leading to opportunities established within WIOA
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Includes the opportunities available for the Vocational Rehabilitation agency to collaborate as an invaluable workforce and economic development partner
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Discuss how employer engagement (and subsequent economic development) activities better position the agency to facilitate employment for people with disabilities
Lesson 2- Ethical Considerations for Effective Employer Engagement
Highlights:
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Effective employment engagement incorporates the professional code of ethics, including relationship boundaries, confidentiality, promoting equity, etc.
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Incorporating the essential elements of ethics in employer engagement activities
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Review and practice utilizing an ethical decision-making model when providing employer engagement services.
Lesson 3- Language and Communication for Effective Employer Engagement
Highlights:
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Recognizing and effectively utilizing the power of language within employer engagement activities, but also with internal-agency communication and with external partners.
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Understanding the elements of trust, and how those are integrated into effective communication
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Recognizing and understanding additional language and communication considerations, including cultural competence and disability language and etiquette
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Recognizing and understanding the power and necessity of business-friendly language.
Lesson 4- Preparing for, Coordinating, and Initiating Employer Engagement Activities
Highlights:
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Preliminary research before employer contacts: understanding/finding labor market information; employer mapping
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Professionalism in employer engagement: timing, language, listening, impressions
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Initiating employer engagement: elevator pitch, identifying needs, answering questions and concerns.
Module 2: Developing and Maximizing Partnerships for Employer Engagement
Lesson 1- Tapping Into Internal Expertise And Connections
Highlights:
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Understanding the agency’s employer engagement vision, as well as the process for sharing internal information, contacts, and responsibilities
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Identify internal data collection methods and sharing
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Explore internal networking, teams (including NET connection), communication strategies, and areas of expertise.
Lesson 2- Building an Employer Engagement Portfolio
Highlights:
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Providing services to employers includes having a portfolio of services and areas of expertise (consultation) provided by the agency.
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Identify agency-led training and consultation services to be offered, as well as areas that the agency could continue to grow.
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Identify areas of knowledge that employer engagement staff can become knowledgeable, including employment laws and policies, resources, etc.
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Identify agency messaging (marketing) opportunities, as well as areas of messaging expansion (website, publications, partner messaging, NET PSA, etc.)
Lesson 3- Cultivating External Partners
Highlights:
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Identify the variety of external partnerships, including workforce system partners, employer outreach and advocacy organizations, and business organizations that may support employer services.
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Cultivate partnerships that fit the variety of opportunities available within economic development activities
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Recognizing the steps to developing partnerships and how to move along the partnership continuum.
Lesson 4- Leveraging Partnerships
Highlights:
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Identify opportunities to leverage and adapt partnerships to meet and fulfill employer and community goals (includes AJCs, Community Colleges, Community Rehabilitation Providers, trade associations, cultural entities, etc.)
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In leveraging those partnerships, the learner will identify, organize, and promote the expertise and services provided by the various partner agencies for job fairs, work-based learning, employer recognition, sector partnerships, etc.
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Identify characteristics of effective partnerships as strategies to repair relationships, if needed