Workforce – Nonclinical

Back to Main Page

Purpose and Target Population 

  • Purpose: Build integrated programs in schools that provide opportunities for students in rural Maine to determine their path forward  and to expose them to resources available locally, by building sustainable extended learning opportunity (ELO) programs in schools

  • Target Population: The initial project brought together five high schools in Western Maine from MSAD 44 and 17, RSU 10 and 56; the second project is focused on the Moosehead-Katahdin region 

Planning and Implementation

  • Based on the success of ELO programs in some rural schools, the Northern Forest Center worked with Rural Aspirations Project (RAP) to bring the model to schools in Western Maine with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) program

  • Maine West, a cross-sector partnership facilitated and managed by the Northern Forest Center, helped to network schools together, sharing best practices and opportunities for collaboration, with strong support from school superintendents, which led to seeking funding from the USDOL for the  three-year grant. The Northern Forest Center was the applicant, given its capacity to manage large federal grants and provide administrative infrastructure

  • Based on the success in Western Maine, the Northern Forest Center partnered again with Rural Aspirations Project to secure a three-year grant from the USDOL to support a similar model in four high schools in the Moosehead – Katahdin region through 2027

  • Other nonprofit partners include Maine Outdoor Brands and the Maine Development Foundation; participating schools include Katahdin Midde-High School, Stearns HS, Piscataquis Community Secondary School, and Greenville School, as well as the Katahdin Higher Education Center.

  • The grant components include professional development for the schools, support in developing ELO programs in the schools, salary support for ELO coordinators, outreach, and networking with local businesses that can provide ELOs, which include job shadows, internships, work experiences, and other opportunities

  • Through the grant program in the Moosehead- Katahdin region, partners are working with industry partners to develop  K-16 career pathways in outdoor recreation and forest products

Best Practices  

  • Rural Aspirations Project is a partner in Maine West, and is well-versed in issues related to rural schools in Maine; their ED tracked the success and potential of ELO programs in rural Maine and saw a fit for the schools in Maine West’s region, and again in the Moosehead – Katahdin region

  • RAP is passionate about helping youth obtain good jobs in the region they live in and expanding entrance into the workforce

  • The WORC grant programs are designed to develop sustainable ELO programs in the schools that will live beyond the life of the grant

  • Outcomes being tracked include connections between area businesses, schools, and community leaders, the number of students placed in ELOs, ELO program design, and jobs secured by local students

Challenges and Solutions 

  • Rural Aspirations Project, the nonprofit organization that provides all the professional and ELO program development support, uses a ‘stability base’ model that stresses building stability in schools for the long game; their responsive professional development is a key component in the success of the ELO programs within each school

  • Continuity in leadership, especially among school personnel, is important, and when changes in leadership occur, it takes more time to achieve stability

  • Working with businesses, and building relationships takes considerable time; some industries (such as aspects of the forestry industry) have age limitations

  • Group Extended Learning Opportunities, such as students visiting college campuses, local industries, or training centers have been added to raise awareness of career pathways, academic and research opportunities, and other training programs

Resources and Tools 

Contact 

Career Pathways and Opportunities for Youth in Rural Maine

Western Maine and Katahdin Moosehead Region