IPS: Learning Collaborative
The Wisconsin Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Learning Collaborative brings together people using the IPS model of supported employment across the state to share ideas on how to serve people better.
Meetings
Annual meeting
IPS providers, Tribal nation and county behavioral health providers, counselors associated with the Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, certified peer specialists, and people who want to expand their knowledge, skills, and abilities related to supported employment practices are invited to attend the IPS Wisconsin Annual Meeting.
The primary purpose of the IPS Wisconsin Annual Meeting is to provide a professional development opportunity for the IPS Wisconsin community. It also serves as an opportunity to grow the IPS Wisconsin community by giving agencies interested in using the IPS model of supported employment an opportunity to learn about the benefits of IPS.
2025: West Allis
The 2025 IPS Wisconsin Annual Meeting was held October 7-8 in West Allis.
Attendees who want a certificate of attendance should complete this evaluation form by October 31, 2025.
The materials from this meeting are available for three months. They will be removed from this page January 8, 2026. Download and/or print materials you want to keep.
Materials will be shared here when they are shared for posting with the event organizers.
- Supervisor meeting slide deck (PDF)
- Breakout session 1B slide deck (PDF) - Wisconsin’s mental health continuum of care: psychosocial rehabilitation programs, and the interconnection with employment services
- IPS International Learning Community updates slide deck (PDF)
- IPS Wisconsin Learning Community data and awards ceremony slide deck (PDF)
- Breakout session 2A slide deck (PDF) -The 3 Es: engage, equip, and empower emerging adults to become their best selves
- Breakout session 2B slide deck (PDF) - BEES job developing
- Breakout session 2C slide deck (PDF) - Workforce in Wisconsin: artificial Intelligence in supported employment
- Breakout session 3A slide deck (PDF) - Empowering transitions: the critical role of mental health providers in youth Transition Planning
- Breakout session 3B slide deck (PDF) - Substance use disorder and overdose prevention
- Breakout session 3C slide deck (PDF) - Supports, symptoms, skills
Download or print a copy of the agenda for expense reports (PDF)
IPS partners consortium quarterly meeting
This meeting is open to all employment specialists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, treatment team members, supervisors, and others who currently use or are interested in using the IPS model of supported employment.
The 2025 meetings are scheduled for the dates listed below on Teams from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- January 15 Minutes (PDF)
- April 16 Minutes (PDF)
- July 16 Minutes (PDF)
- October (no meeting due to the annual meeting)
Agenda for the IPS partners consortium quarterly meeting
- IPS Wisconsin updates
- Upcoming events
- New materials and resources
- Quarterly outcomes review
- Site specific updates
- Responses to last session's open floor comments
- Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation updates
- Department of Health Services Division of Care and Treatment Services updates
- IPS International Learning Community updates
- Quarterly outcomes
- New research
- Open floor time for attendees to share concerns, requests, or questions
Join the IPS partners consortium quarterly meeting
Becoming an expert employment specialist (BEES)
This meeting is held to give employment specialists a space to collaborate with each other and share ideas for applying the IPS model of supported employment. It is an opportunity to share job leads and strategies for working with employers and job seekers. Participants also will gain an understanding the how to implement IPS fidelity.
BEES meetings are held the fourth Tuesday every month on Teams from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Join the becoming an expert employment specialist meeting
2025
- October 28: Finding strengths in the midst of barriers
- November 25: Using work history to create a resume
- December 16 (moved due to the holidays): Determining support needs
2026
- January 13: Clinical documentation
- February 10: Using a chart review for more than fidelity
- March 10: Strategies to increase community time
- April 7: Systematic job development, 1st cup - intro statements
- May 12: Systematic job development, 3rd cup and beyond - employer engagement
- June 9: Responding to difficult employer questions and statements
- July 7: How to have boundaries as an employment specialist
- August 11: Finding strengths in the midst of barriers
- September 8: Telling the hard truth to job seekers
- October 13: Determining support needs
- November 10: Crisis planning for work
- December 8: Strategies for assertive engagement
Add the 2026 BEES meetings series to your calendar.
Supervisors
This meeting is held to give vocational agency supervisors, Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation supervisors, and clinical supervisors of programs using the IPS model of supported employment an opportunity to collaborate, share strategies, and strengthen knowledge about IPS fidelity.
This meeting is held the second Wednesday of every other month on Teams from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
IPS foundations training courses
All IPS employment specialists are encouraged to complete the IPS foundations training courses. The classes are recommended for people partnering with IPS providers including clinical teams, vocational rehabilitation providers, employers, and employment support providers.
IPS foundations training courses are offered on Teams from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the following dates in 2025.
IPS 101
This course provides an overview of the eight principles that encompass the spirit of IPS. This course also includes a discussion of the research conducted on the IPS model of supported employment.
Career profiles and individualized plans
This course helps an IPS team think about how to get to know each person to complete the career profile with valuable information. How to use the information in the career profile to complete individualized plans and to conduct systematic job development is covered. This course also includes a discussion about the job development plan and job support plan—and will explore individualized supports based on a job seeker's needs.
Including the family and data and tracking
This course helps staff understand who the family is for each job seeker and the role family members can play in the job seeker’s life. There is a discussion about what to do when family members are not supportive in employment. The course also reviews items and documentations required to achieve good fidelity as well as other tracking opportunities for quality improvement.
Co-occurring disorders and justice involvement
This course helps staff to think about specific strategies that they can use to help people with co-occurring disorders (a substance use disorder and a mental health issue at the same time) and criminal histories. This course also includes a discussion about how to talk about a person's criminal record.
Systematic job development classroom
This course focuses on the Three Cups of Tea Model and the importance of building a relationship with a business based on a job seeker's preferences.
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation partnership for IPS services
This interactive course covers the Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's mission, values, and structure. It also covers the process from referral to initial appointment with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to write the Individualized Plan for Employment. General roles for Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the employment specialist, and consumer also are covered. In addition, participants will learn practical applications of Division of Vocational Rehabilitation technical specifications (tech specs) for the IPS model of supported employment. Participants follow a mock consumer from referral to Division of Vocational Rehabilitation file closure. This course also includes a discussion of the typical reports required at each stage in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation process. Common issues that can come along the way are discussed.
IPS and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation systematic instruction
This interactive session will focus on the concept of systematic instruction, and the ways IPS and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation collaborate to provide systematic instruction to job seekers served by IPS employment specialists. Employment specialists, vocational rehabilitation representatives, case coordinators, and supervisors are invited to attend.
Have you participated in an IPS training hosted by a member of the IPS Wisconsin team? Please share your feedback. Use this online form.
Publications
The Wisconsin IPS Learning Collaborative has created a series of publications designed to help professionals using the IPS model of supported employment. See all the publications.
Information on vocational rehabilitation services
For the technical specifications of the vocational rehabilitation services available under the IPS model of supported employment, visit the Department of Workforce Development's website.
Send questions or concerns about IPS to: DHSDCTSIPS@dhs.wisconsin.gov.