Training Opportunities

Read about these topics on this page:

• Basic Competency and Advanced Training Programs for WorkWORLD
• WorkWORLD State or Regional Training Programs
• How to be a Sponsor for Local Training Near Where You Live

For additional information, to indicate your interest, or to sign up for future training, contact Jim Troxell, Network Developer at ESI, at jltroxel@vcu.edu or call 804-828-1992.

Basic Competency and Advanced Training Programs
for WorkWORLD^TM Users

Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Business

Using WorkWORLD^TM software as the cornerstone of the training program, we will discuss emerging developments with Knowledge Based Decision Support software and how it can be used to promote self-determination and help people with disabilities achieve independence and greater net income.

WorkWORLD includes comprehensive information and calculations for various Federal and State disability and poverty benefit programs, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Section 8 Housing programs, the Food Stamps program, and others. It automates the computation of benefits, and takes into account the complex interaction of income, benefit programs, and work incentives.

We will accommodate both beginning and advanced users of WorkWORLD by working with participants in different learning environments and preparing a variety of unique discussions and exercises. Beginning and advanced users will also have the opportunity to interact during the program.

Participants will learn the operational features of WorkWORLD and work with individual case profiles in the software. They will have hands-on practice entering cases, and will discuss effective strategies for using work incentives to achieve better net income and greater self-sufficiency. The software's Help/Information system will be used to explore the primary programs and policies that affect people with disabilities who receive SSI/DI, and support from other Federally-administered social benefit programs. We will discuss how WorkWORLD helps individuals and advocates develop practical plans to manage benefits wisely while taking advantage of work incentives and work opportunities. We will also discuss how WorkWORLD helps individuals and organizations meet the goals of the Ticket to Work program.

Those who are more experienced with using WorkWORLD will focus on expanding their depth of understanding of the software and will explore cases with more complex policy and program interactions. We will discuss successful approaches for promoting the adoption of decision support technology among agencies that provide benefits and employment planning support services. Additionally, we will discuss the value of establishing a "Decision Support Facilitator (DSF)" in each State to help steer initiatives to make WorkWORLD most useful to consumers and providers.

Certificates and CEU's will be offered to every participant who completes a training program.

To review registration details and to access a registration form, see http://www.bus.vcu.edu/esi/training/details.html

WorkWORLD Knowledge Based Decision Support Software
State or Regional Training Programs

Employment Support Institute (ESI) trainers are available to travel to locations around the country to provide one or two-day WorkWORLD training seminars through sponsored programs. We will coordinate arrangements with a local sponsoring organization to ensure that the training agenda is developed with specific audience interests in mind. We offer one-day basic competency training to provide an introduction to WorkWORLD so that new users gain confidence with using the software. Participants will have hands-on practice entering cases and will discuss effective strategies for using work incentives to achieve better net income and greater self-sufficiency. The agenda includes:

• An overview of Knowledge Based Decision Support and how it applies to social policy affecting people with disabilities
• An overview of basic functions and features of WorkWORLD
• Methods for collecting current situation data for WorkWORLD cases
• How to use the software for detailed benefits analysis
• How to use the software to develop practical plans leading to greater self-sufficiency (meeting Ticket to Work goals)
• How to use the WorkWORLD Help/Information system to learn about SSI and SSDI work incentives, Housing, Food Stamps, and other Federally-administered social benefit programs and policies

Two-day training programs can be arranged for more extensive case practice using the software and/or to include planning discussions about how WorkWORLD can be customized to meet local needs and interests. We will also discuss successful methods for establishing interagency partnerships for using WorkWORLD. We will discuss the value of establishing a "Decision Support Facilitator (DSF)" in each State to help steer initiatives to make WorkWORLD most useful to both consumers and providers.

Certificates and CEU's will be offered to every participant who completes a training program.

How to be a Sponsor for Local Training

We are looking for training sponsors in local communities who have access to sites with a computer training lab or with meeting space suitable for a trainer and groups of trainees to use laptops and a projection screen. Sponsors may also provide tuition subsidy support to individuals who want to attend WorkWORLD training.

If you and/or others you know would be willing to travel to a central location serviced by a major airport, please send an email to Jim Troxell, Network Developer at ESI, at jltroxel@vcu.edu indicating that you would be willing to pay the registration fee to attend a comprehensive two-day WorkWORLD training program. In your email, please designate the general area you would be willing to travel to for training [for example, anywhere within 50 miles of Chicago or anywhere in the Washington D.C./Baltimore metro area]. We will add you to a list of prospective local training groups and we will work with contacts in the local area to establish sponsorship of training catered to the participants' skill level. We will contact you to try to arrange a date so that you and others living near you who have indicated interest would be able to attend.

If you and others you know would be able to travel to a location in the Maryland, Virginia, or Washington D.C. area, we can arrange a one-day program at a sponsor site. In your email, please indicate your willingness to pay the registration fee to attend a one-day WorkWORLD training program. We will maintain a list of prospective trainees, and when a sufficient number of people have expressed interest, we will arrange a mutually convenient date for the program.

If you are able to come to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, we can arrange for a free two-hour demonstration of WorkWORLD software. Please send us an email at the address below indicating that you would be interested in attending a demonstration. When enough interest is shown, we will contact you with a date and details about the demonstration.

If you are interested in helping us arrange a training program in your state or region, please contact Jim Troxell, Network Developer at ESI, at jltroxel@vcu.edu or call 804-828-1992.

Additional Training Information

Read an overview of the training program.

See registration details of upcoming training programs.

Register for upcoming training programs.