Experience in Project Development
Our portfolio of online training is both deep and broad. For example, we offer an online asynchronous training for case managers on the Home and Community Based Waiver Assurances that has reached a national online audience of over 100,000 people. Recently funded initiatives include four consecutive grant projects through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Susan Harwood Training Grant program. These online trainings have reached thousands of participants and have achieved strong learning results. Over the last four years we have designed and implemented online workforce training courses for emergency medical services personnel, direct service workers, and long-term care staff on topics such as bloodborne pathogens, biological hazards, ergonomics, workplace violence, personal safety, respiratory hazards, and heat and cold hazards.
Another current initiative is the Capacity Building Center for Tribes. Funded by a grant with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, the Institute has designed a national online Tribal Information Exchange resource and training portal (www.tribalinformationexchange.org) to meet the needs of American Indian and Alaskan Native tribal leaders. Products include online learning modules to support the work of Tribal child welfare programs, including data management, Title IV-E, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and systems change. The Institute collaborates with the Tribal Law and Policy Institute and consultants representing various American Indian Tribes to create interactive online tools and resources for all 566 Tribes in the United States.
In 2015, the USM Cutler Institute received the Quality Training Program Award for Outstanding Training, Education and Leadership in the field of human services for the Maine Direct Services Worker Training Program from the National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA).
Experience in Curriculum Development
Our track record includes curriculum design and delivery in classroom, on-line and blended formats for Child Welfare caseworkers and supervisors, staff and directors in Early Childhood programs, Direct Service Workers in long term services and supports, and eligibility workers adhering to state and federal regulations in public welfare programs.
USM Cutler Institute has a lengthy history of curricula development and revision across a spectrum of human service fields, and has earned a national reputation for excellence in research, policy development, program evaluation, training and technical assistance. We have extensive experience developing online training programs, trainer’s manuals, participant handbooks, and reference materials and tailoring these resources for different audiences and modes of delivery.
The end-users of our products are all adult learners who come to professional development training with a variety of backgrounds, education levels and learning styles. We develop and design curriculum that participants find immediately useful, relevant, respectful of their own experiences and that incorporates case examples and scenarios that connect with the learner and help to reinforce and support transfer of learning to their practice in the field.