Benefits to Work Training Description:

This Benefits to Work training will build on 7 prerequisite modules building on the Michigan specific www.mi.db101.org website to access content, calculate projections, and remain a resource to strengthen basic benefits to work knowledge. The in-person 2-day training event will be an interactive opportunity to reinforce lessons in the 7 modules, heighten clarity, and help individuals recognize their informational role and also when and how to effectively refer individuals to a state-wide network of benefits planners. Your presenter will be a nationally recognized benefits to work trainer with over 20 years field experience, as well as, a “go to” resource specialist for SSA, Virginia Commonwealth University, and numerous organizations across the U.S.

Objectives - Participants will be able to:

·  Provide basic information about Federal and State benefits programs (SSI, SSDI, Medicaid, Medicare) and work incentives

·  Promote accurate and encouraging messages about benefits and work

·  Comfortably debunk prevalent benefit myths

·  Use www.MI.DB101.org to support individuals to explore benefits and work opportunities, including accessing/sharing site content and using all basic benefits and work incentives calculators and “try-its”

·  Utilize benefits planning decision guide to determine when to provide benefits guidance and when to refer to a Benefits Planner or CWIC for additional support

Who Should Attend:

This training is intended for serious practitioners of benefits to work in the field. It is intended to provide a strong, solid foundation for basic benefits planning and to help practitioners learn how to network and when to refer individuals to benefits planners responsible for such work everyday.

Presenter will be either Molly Sullivan or Beth Keeton:

Beth Keeton is Chief Operating Officer of Griffin-Hammis Associates and the Executive Director of The Center for Social Capital. For the last 20 years, Beth has provided training and technical assistance on employment-related projects throughout the country, specializing in customized employment, self-employment, public benefits and work incentives. On these projects, she works closely with Community Rehabilitation Providers (CRPs) to address benefits concerns, increase work incentives utilization, and embed benefits-related planning and supports into their employment services. She co-created Fast PASS, a series of trainings and workshops designed to support CRPs with identifying PASS candidates and completing/submitting PASS applications. Beth also worked extensively with Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities to develop the SSA Electronic Toolkit (SET), which included both a narrative manual on SSA Benefits and Work Incentives as well as series of integrated spreadsheets to run basic benefits analysis. Beth serves as a course instructor for the VCU- WIPA National Training and Data Center and co-created the online Financial and Benefits Navigator curriculum for the state of Alaska. She is currently working closely with the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency on a statewide project to provide benefits and work incentives training and technical assistance to GVRA counselors and employment providers and to support GVRA’s network of CWIC trained counselors to increase PASS utilization. Beth co-wrote Navigating Government Benefits & Employment: A Guidebook for Veterans with Disabilities and co-authored the recently released revised edition of Making Self-Employment Work for People with Disabilities.

For 20 years, Molly Sullivan has been assisting people with disabilities pursue wage and self-employment. She has worked in direct service and program management for both non-profit and government agencies. For the last decade she has also provided training and technical assistance under numerous innovative projects at the local, state, and national level including the Social Security funded WIPA National Training and Data Center, state Medicaid Infrastructure Grants, and state Disability Employment Initiatives.

Evaluation: There will be an opportunity for each participant to complete an evaluation of the training and the instructor.
If you have any issues with the way in which this training was conducted or other problems, you may note that on your evaluation of the training or you may contact MACMHB at 517-374-6848 or through our website at www.macmhb.org for resolution.

Certificate Awarded: Upon successful completion of both the 7 on-line modules and the two-day training event you will receive your certificate of participation.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, through the Michigan Association of CMH Boards,

has provided funding for this initiative through Federal Community Mental Health Block Grant.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Attendees are responsible for making their own overnight reservations.
Hotel Information
Muskegon:
Holiday Inn Muskegon Harbor – 939 3rd St, Muskegon, MI 49440
Rate: $75 plus taxes; to receive this special rate, call (231) 722-0100 and use this group code: MACMHB
Lansing:
Fairfield Inn by Marriott – East Lansing/Okemos - 2335 Woodlake Drive, Okemos, MI 48864
Rate: $75 plus taxes; to receive this special rate, call (517) 347-1000 and use this group code: MACMHB
Oakland:
Marriott Auburn Hills – 3600 Centerpoint Pkwy, Pontiac, MI 48341
Rate: $75 plus taxes; to receive this special rate, call (248) 253-9800 and use this group code: MACMHB
Southgate:
Holiday Inn - Southgate, 17201 Northline Rd., Southgate, MI 48195. Phone: 734-283-4400
Rate: $75 plus taxes for State Employees (must provide state id) to receive this special rate, call (734)283-4400 and use this group code: MACMHB.
Must book prior to April 3.
Traverse City:
Information pending on training dates
Gaylord:
Information pending on training dates
Benefits to Work Trainings
Conference Registration Form (Attention: Anne)
All Dates/Locations: Registration: 8:30am-9:00am Training: 9:00am – 4:00pm Daily
(Must satisfactorily complete all 7 on-line benefits to work training modules prior to attending both in-person training days and satisfactory completion of exit field test to receive completion certificate!)
REGISTRATION FEE: $ (139.00)**
The registration fee includes all 7 online learning modules, two days of in-person training, as well as continental breakfast, lunch and breaks during the in-person training event. This fee must be received before you will be able to gain access to the online modules for this training. Once you have registered and paid, you will receive log in information for the online learning modules. Payment will NOT be accepted at the door.
3 EASY WAYS TO REGISTER
ON LINE:
www.macmhb.org / BY FAX:
(517) 374-1053 / BY MAIL:
MACMHB, 426 S. Walnut St., Lansing, MI 48933

Registration Fees: Beginning in 2017, payment will be required prior to attendance. Payment only available in advance or by arrangement with MACMHB: Credit Card, check or exact cash.

NOTE: Purchase orders are not considered payment. All no shows will be invoiced the full registration amount.

We must receive payment before you will gain access to the online modules for this training.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received in writing at least 10 business days prior to the conference for a full refund less a $25 administrative fee. If cancellation is received less than 10 business days prior to the training, no refund will be given and the full charge will be incurred. We are unable to accept substitutions with this training due to the training module requirements.

Severe Weather Policy: Trainings will take place as scheduled and we will not be able to refund training fees.

In the event of severe weather, please check the www.macmhb.org website for scheduling delays and event updates.

Please Check the Benefits Training You Plan to Attend:

o April 10 & 11, 2017 – HealthWest – Muskegon, MI

o April 12 & 13, 2017 – MACMHB – Lansing, MI

o May 1 & 2, 2017 – Oakland CMH – Oakland, MI

o May 4 & 5, 2017 – Center for Excellence – Southfield, MI

o June TBD 2017 – Traverse City, MI

o June TBD 2017 – Gaylord, MI

Name as Printed on Badge: Title:

Agency/Company:

Address: City, St, Zip:

Phone: Fax:

Email Address:


Special Needs: If You Have Special Dietary Or Physical Needs, Please Specify:

Arrangements for special needs will be honored for those written requests received 10 business days prior to the conference. Clearly state your specific needs for mobility assistance, interpreters, etc. Attempts for on-site requests will be made.

In Case Of Emergency During Conference, Please Contact:

Daytime Phone: Evening Phone:

Billing Address if Different Than Above (Contact):

Address: City, St, Zip:

PAYMENT METHOD: Questions? Call MACMHB (517) 374-6848
o Check Enclosed (payable to MACMHB); o MACMHB uses PayPal to process all credit card payments. If you are paying by credit card you must pay through PayPal. A PayPal account is not required. Go to www.macmhb.org; click on “Services,” click on “Make a Payment,” then follow the prompts to complete the process. No on-site credit card payments will be accepted.