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 improve services.
Meetings
Select the title of the meeting to learn more about it and the dates it will be held in 2026.
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.
Information on the 2026 IPS Wisconsin Annual Meeting will be shared here when it is available.
The IPS Partners Consortium Quarterly 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 IPS Partners Consortium Quarterly Meeting is scheduled to be held on the dates listed below on Teams from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- January 21 (first quarter 2026)
- April 15 (second quarter 2026)
- July 15 (third quarter 2026)
- October 21 (fourth quarter 2026)
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.
Add the IPS Partners Consortium Quarterly Meeting to your calendar.
Previous meeting minutes:
Becoming an expert employment specialist (BEES) monthly meetings are 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.
- January 13, 2026: Clinical documentation
- February 10, 2026: Using a chart review for more than fidelity
- March 10, 2026: Strategies to increase community time
- April 7, 2026: Systematic job development, 1st cup - intro statements
- May 12, 2026: Systematic job development, 3rd cup and beyond - employer engagement
- June 9, 2026: Responding to difficult employer questions and statements
- July 7, 2026: How to have boundaries as an employment specialist
- August 11, 2026: Finding strengths in the midst of barriers
- September 8, 2026: Telling the hard truth to job seekers
- October 13, 2026: Determining support needs
- November 10, 2026: Crisis planning for work
- December 8, 2026: Strategies for assertive engagement
The supervisors bi-monthly 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.
The supervisors bi-monthly meeting is held the second Wednesday of every other month on Teams from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Training courses
We offer training courses on IPS foundations and IPS skills building.
Have you participated in an IPS training hosted by a member of the IPS Wisconsin team? Please share your feedback. Use this online form.
IPS foundations
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.
Select the title of the course to learn more about it and the dates it will be offered in 2026.
The IPS 101 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.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- February 16, 2026
- May 18, 2026
- August 17, 2026
- November 16, 2026
The career profiles and individualized plans 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.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- February 19, 2026
- May 21, 2026
- August 20, 2026
- November 19, 2026
Join the career profiles and individualized plans course.
Add the career profiles and individualized plans course to your calendar.
The including the family and data and tracking 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.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- February 23, 2026
- May 25, 2026
- August 24, 2026
- November 23, 2026
Join the including the family and data and tracking course.
Add the including the family and data and tracking course to your calendar.
The co-occurring disorders and justice involvement 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.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- February 26, 2026
- May 28, 2026
- August 27, 2026
- November 24, 2026
Join the co-occurring disorders and justice involvement course.
Add the co-occurring disorders and justice involvement course to your calendar.
The systematic job development classroom 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.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- March 2, 2026
- June 1, 2026
- August 31, 2026
- December 7, 2026
Join the systematic job development classroom course.
Add the systematic job development classroom to your calendar.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation partnership for IPS services 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. 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.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- March 5, 2026
- June 4, 2026
- September 3, 2026
- December 3, 2026
Join the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation partnership for IPS services course.
Add the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation partnership for IPS services course to your calendar.
IPS skills building
All IPS employment specialists are encouraged to complete the IPS skills building training courses. The classes are recommended for people providing IPS services to job seekers.
Select the title of the course to learn more about it and the dates it will be offered in 2026.
The OARS+I for the IPS employment specialist course is based on the OARS+I Practice Profile for IPS Employment Specialists and explores active listening skills and ways of being. These skills include using open questions, affirmation, reflections, summaries, and informing to encourage job seekers to explore their goals.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- March 9, 2026
- June 8, 2026
- September 14, 2026
- December 14, 2026
Join the OARS+I for the IPS employment specialist course.
Add the OARS+I for the IPS employment specialist course to your calendar.
The IPS and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation course focuses 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.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- March 12, 2026
- June 11, 2026
- September 10, 2026
- December 10, 2026
The symptoms, skills, and supports course is designed for IPS employment specialists to develop their familiarity with some of the behavioral health symptoms that job seekers experience. It will be an overview of symptoms and strategies for managing them during the employment process, including how to develop individual job seeker skills. Training will include an opportunity for participants to work together to explore unique ideas for individualized supports.
This course is offered on Teams from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates:
- March 16, 2026
- June 15, 2026
- September 21, 2026
- December 17, 2026
Join the symptoms, skills, and supports course.
Add the symptoms, skills, and support course to your calendar.
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 IPS Wisconsin 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.