our seminars

Our seminars are designed for mental health, rehabilitation and recovery services staff working in rehabilitation and clinical services. It will also be of interest to consumers and other providers, including housing staff, case managers, and clinicians, who are working to break down the numerous barriers preventing people with mental illness from participating more fully in their communities through employment.

The New York Work Exchange aims to provide seminar participants with practical, skill-oriented training. Our curriculum is designed to address the knowledge and critical skills needed by providers, peers, and advocates in their efforts to help people with mental illness acquire and sustain meaningful work. Training opportunities are interactive and include experiential exercises and concrete strategies for application.

Events are held at the New York Work Exchange offices. Contact Deborah Short at (212) 742-1122 x235 or dshort@nyworkexchange.org to register.

[See programs listed below, or you can download the Professional Seminars Winter/Spring 2005 schedule in PDF format].

How to Integrate Cognitive Remediation into Existing Clinical and Rehabilitation Services
February 17, 2005 9am – 4pm, $20

This workshop will present the initial findings from an innovative research project that integrated a cognitive training program within four supported employment programs in NYC. Participants will learn about the link between cognitive skills and work outcomes and the challenges identified in implementing cognitive remediation. Reports from the field will be provided from project participants and will include a discussion on: client interest, engagement and outcomes; cognitive remediation specialist qualifications; employment specialist and cognitive personnel roles; and the integration of cognitive and work services.

Presenter: Dr. Susan McGurk, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine

An Inclusive Workforce: Working with Consumers as Colleagues
March 17, 2005 9am – 1pm, $20

In this session, a panel of mental health and private sector employers, consumer staff, and others will discuss how to promote and maintain a workforce that is committed to the hiring and integration of consumer staff. Panelists will discuss various issues related to recruitment, hiring, supervision and support. Attendees will learn about different organizational approaches to promoting successful consumer involvement and the challenges for both employers and consumer employees.

Understanding Benefits: Everything you always Wanted to Know about Entitlements for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities
June 28, 29, 30, 2005 Three full days: 9am - 4pm, $105 (includes 2005 manual)

This training is designed to clarify and break down the complicated world of entitlements into user-friendly information necessary to provide expert benefits counseling. It will provide information about how employment affects federal disability benefits (SSI, SSDI, Medicare and Medicaid) and how to use federal work incentives to promote career development. Issues covered will include eligibility determination, overpayments, new legislative changes, subsidies, IRWE’s and Plans for Achieving Self Support. This training will be useful for those who are new to benefits counseling, or experts.

Presenter: Edwin J. Lopez-Soto, Esq.