Cora recently completed the Families Forward industry OnRamps in Information Technology (IT) and Healthcare and resumed her degree in Information Technology at Central Maine Community College. She told staff that the OnRamp programs and their encouragement had renewed her motivation for completing her degree.
Erin had been enrolled with the Opportunity Center in Lewiston since 2107. She is a single parent of six children who has been working over the last few years to complete her high school credential. This month she passed two remaining tests and submitted a final essay to earn her HiSET. She will graduate in June, and she has applied to start community college next fall.
Suzy attended orientation with Fedcap in Houlton in late 2017. When she first arrived, she had recently lost a job due to her children’s medical needs. Suzy engaged in career development classes and completed a vocational assessment which indicated her potential for college level studies. Staff encouraged her and she was accepted into the associate degree program in Liberal Studies with a focus in Psychology through the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Due to children’s medical concerns, Suzy initially attended part-time and with new supports in place for her children, she was eventually able to take a full-course load. Staff assisted her with enrolling in the Parents as Scholars so Suzy could solely focus her studies. Suzy excelled in her classes and made the Dean’s list for several semesters. This month, Suzy completed her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Liberal Arts and an MHRTC Certification. Staff assisted Suzy with obtaining the fingerprinting she needed so she could obtain an Education Technician position and earn income while she pursues her master’s degree in Psychology.
This month when Joanne and Mitch attended their scheduled appointment with their Career Specialist in Farmington, they appeared stressed and reported multiple challenges including limited funds to pay their phone bill, internet bill and transportation. They told staff they only had enough funds to attend their appointment but did not have enough gas for their car to return home. Farmington staff quickly contacted Western Maine Community Action which provided a gas card for so Joanne and Mitch could get home that day. Staff also provided them with referrals to local foodbanks and resources to assist them with paying their phone bill and access low-cost internet service.
When Sharon enrolled with the Ellsworth Opportunity Center, she was caring for her husband who had Alzheimer’s Disease. When her husband became increasingly abusive, she eventually left the relationship and filed for divorce. Sharon is now attending classes full-time at University of Maine at Augusta to get a degree in counseling and help others who have experienced domestic abuse.
When Ashley started working with Families Forward in 2017, she was raising a young child and struggling with outstanding student loans, which hindered her ability to complete her education. After working with staff step by step for many years on a plan to resolve her challenges, this month Ashley graduated from Washington County Community College with an associate degree in Medical Assisting. Ashley is soon expecting another child and staff has helped get repairs to her car so she can start a job search when she completes her maternity leave.
Danica and her husband moved to Maine with their five children so her husband could pursue an employment opportunity. Unfortunately, the opportunity did not work out and the family needed to apply for TANF benefits. Danica told staff that one of her children has a rare medical condition and they require 24-hour care. Despite these challenges, Danica participated in career development seminars and worked with her Career Specialist to explore educational opportunities for careers in healthcare. During one of the seminars, Danica was introduced to the CVS Pharmacy Technician program and staff assisted her with enrolling in the program. When she finished classes, Danica will have the opportunity to complete the Maine Pharmacy Technician Board Examination and receive a credential.
“Before I had my children, I was waitressing at my family’s local restaurant. My story from there is not a pleasant one, between medical and mental health issues, I became a stay-at-home parent. For the next ten years I would lose two of the most important people in my life while I struggled with substance use disorder. I moved to Maine in 2016 to change my way of living, unfortunately that didn’t happen right away. I spiraled further into my addiction when my child was taken and put into the custody of the State and the unimaginable happened. My child was diagnosed with brain cancer. That was all it took for me to start making the changes that needed to be made. After three years of sobriety, I decided it was time to get back to work and began to work with the Fedcap. They helped guide me on my educational journey and provided work supports for me to succeed. As I write this, I am graduating from Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) with High Honors and have a solid career plan. The program at Fedcap not only helped my family financially but it helped me to regain confidence in myself and my abilities.”
When Mandy enrolled in Families Forward, she was caring for an infant and took a few months to care for her young child. When she returned, Mandy engaged in career development classes and completed a vocational assessment which indicated her potential for college level studies. Fall of 2020, Mandy was accepted at Northern Maine Community College as a full-time student for an associate degree in Network Administration and Cybersecurity. Staff also assisted her with enrolling in the Parents as Scholars (PaS) program. Mandy told staff that she exceeded her own expectations as she achieved high grades and consistently made the Dean’s List. This month, Mandy completed her degree with the goal of gaining employment with Northern Maine Medical Center’s Information Technology (IT) Department.
When Lia enrolled recently in Families Forward, she told Brewer staff that she was interested in healthcare administration. She already had associate degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems and needed a position that could accommodate her physical needs related to fibromyalgia. Staff referred her to healthcare training programs and Lia found a free medical coding program offered by Practice Management Institute and Washington County Community College. Staff referred Lia to Give IT, Get IT so she could get a computer and start her studies.
