Maine Youth Resource List
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION PROGRAMS


 


STATE OF MAINE GOVERNOR’S PROGRAMS

<<Return to Top>>

 

Maine Children’s Cabinet

http://www.maine.gov/cabinet

The Cabinet has launched initiatives consistent with the Guiding Principles in PL 785, the Cabinet's vision that children's needs are best met within the context of relationships in the family and community, and its mission to actively collaborate to create and promote coordinated policies and service delivery systems supportive of children, families and communities.


Initiatives of the Maine Children’s Cabinet are summarized below:

Shared Youth Vision Council

http://www.maine.gov/cabinet/syv

The Shared Youth Vision’s Mission is to serve as a catalyst at the state, tribal, regional, and local levels to create, strengthen and promote coordination, communication, and collaboration to support children through critical school-aged development and youth through their healthy and successful transition to higher education and/or meaningful workforce and adult roles and responsibilities.

Communities for Children & Youth

www.maine.gov/cfc.

The goal of the Communities for Children & Youth initiative is to improve the well-being of children in every community and to increase educational attainment and achievement levels of all Maine children.  Communities for Children is a partnership between state government and 61 local communities (representing 221 towns and over 70% of the state’s population) for the purpose of supporting and increasing the prevention of poor outcomes for children, as well as promoting positive child and youth development. The 61 participating "Partner Communities" are each creating a Children’s Leadership Council, made up of key leaders in the community, including youth. These Children’s Leadership Councils are then assessing the realities facing children and youth in their community, developing prevention programs and policies, and tracking the results of their work. The statewide initiative is responsible for helping these communities by providing training, technical assistance, and opportunities for networking with each other.

Keeping Maine's Children and Youth Connected

http://www.maine.gov/education/speced/kmcc/  

This project is an initiative from the Maine Children’s Cabinet.  The intent is to simplify the transition to and from schools so that students experiencing school disruption due to homelessness, foster care placement, correctional facility placement and/or in-patient psychiatric care can stay connected, or re-connect to their educational programs as soon as possible. 

Maine Mentoring Partnership 

http://www.jmg.org/programs/mmp/

Maine Mentoring Partnership (MMP) is an initiative of the Maine Children’s Cabinet now being run by Jobs for Maine Graduates.  The goal of the agency’s work is to provide appropriately recruited, screened, trained and supported mentors for 35,000 Maine children and youth.  The program provides a structured trusting relationship that brings young people together with caring individuals who offer guidance, support and encouragement aimed at developing the competence and character of the mentee.  Through the relationship, the mentor helps the young person develop into a confident, competent and contributing member of society.

Invest Early in Maine

http://www.state-eccs.org/stateplans/plans/maine_plan.pdf

 A Working Plan for Humane Early Childhood Systems 2006

Task Force on Early Childhood  

http://www.maine-eccs.org/index.html

Maine is one of nine states to be awarded a two-year planning grant from the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which gives Maine an opportunity to foster and sustain humane, family-centered, community-rooted, culturally proficient, and strength-based systems to promote the healthy development and safety of all young children.

Maine Youth Suicide Prevention

http://www.maine.gov/suicide/

Implement the comprehensive, statewide approach to prevention of adolescent suicide in accordance with the Governor’s Task Force on Adolescent Suicide.

Coordinated School Health Program

http://www.mainecshp.com/

 "Healthy kids make better students and better students make healthy communities".

Homeless Children & Youth

http://www.maine.gov/education/homeless_ed/nationalresources.htm

Provide early identification and intensive case management and other supports for any homeless youth.

Family Systems Team, Formerly Integrated Case Management

http://www.maine.gov/education/speced/kmcc/planningmodels.htm

To provide Maine families and children with access to services that are planned for, managed, and delivered in a holistic and integrated manner in order to improve their self-sufficiency, safety, economic stability, health, and quality of life.


LCRC, Local Case Resolution Committees
 

http://www.maine.gov/cabinet/LCRC_Regions.htm

Regionally coordinate volunteer professional case review committees that are overseen by the Regional Children's Cabinet that respond to and process individual and group family cases with Pooled Flexible Funds where there is an identified barrier to service.  The goal of the LCRCs is to find an immediate solution for the family whose child/ren are in immediate need, but where the service is not reimbursable.

Maine's Marks for Children, Families and Communities

http://www.mainemarks.org/

To report on indicators tracking the child, family and community well-being outcomes of the Children's Cabinet.

 

The Governor’s Task Force to Engage Maine Youth

*This group completed its report found at the below link.  Maine’s Shared Youth Vision Council is now following up the task force suggestions.
http://www.mainesupportnetwork.org/taskforce/index.htm
The mission of the Governor’s Task Force to Engage Maine Youth isto promote success for all youth by engaging school age youth and their families in educational and/or vocational programming, because there is an increase of youth, ages 16 to 19, who are not in school or working.

Target Population:

  • Youth who experience high mobility
  • Youth in psychiatric facility placements
  • Youth in correctional facility placements
  • Youth in foster care placements
  • Youth attending special purpose schools
  • Youth attending alternative education programs
  • Youth who are not in school or working

 

The task force will make recommendations regarding a collaborative plan identifying strategies to engage Maine’s youth into school and work by June 30, 2007.


MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS
<<Return to Top>>

 

Maine Adult Education Association

http://www.maineadulted.org/

Since education is a lifelong process, it is declared to be the policy of the State to provide and to encourage the growth of educational opportunities for all adults.  Adult High School Diploma programs are central to the mission and tradition of Maine Adult Education, governed by State regulations, but implemented locally under local school board policy and direction.  The program has two components:  Adult High School Diploma and Tests of General Educational Development.  The Maine College Transition program is an initiative under Maine Adult Education that provides high-quality, cost-effective and accessible pathways to post-secondary education for adults.  The three goals of this initiative include:

  1. Helping adults who are studying to earn high school degrees to transition to college.
  2. Providing preparatory support to adults who have a high school degree but are not academically prepared to take college courses,
  3. Providing counseling, mentoring and support services to enable these adults to successfully transition to college and earn degrees.

 

Maine Career and Technical Education

http://www.maine.gov/education/it/index.shtml

The mission of Career and Technical Education, as part of the educational system in Maine, is to ensure that students acquire the high-quality technical skills that will prepare them for post-secondary education and entry into an ever-changing workplace and society and meet the rigorous academic standards of Maine’s Learning Results.

 

Maine Learning Results

http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/

Maine’s Learning Results serve as the focal point for state and local efforts to improve student learning, define professional development needs, update local curriculum and instructional practices, and assess student achievement.  The Learning Results web pages provide information about the rich activity currently underway both in the Department and in schools and educational organizations around the state. 

 

 

Maine State Board of Education

http://www.maine.gov/education/sb/homepage.htm

The Mission of the State Board of Education is to provide statewide leadership by advocating, promoting, and improving education policy and life-long learning for all Maine people, particularly its children. 

 


MAINE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROGRAMS

<<Return to Top>>

 


Maine
Pre-Apprenticeship Program

http://www.maine.gov/labor/apprenticeship/pre_apprenticeship/

Under the Maine Apprenticeship Program, the student is provided customized, systematic training through on-the-job training and related classroom instruction.

Under the Maine Pre-Apprenticeship Program, the student attends school full-time and works part-time.  Upon successful completion of high school and the pre-apprenticeship program, the student will receive a nationally recognized Certificate of Completion of Pre-Apprenticeship.  The student then may transition to working full-time and can be registered in the Maine Apprenticeship Program.

 

Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

http://www.maine.gov/rehab/index.shtml

The Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services provides case management, counseling, referrals, sponsored training and independent living services for people with disabilities.  The Bureau works to bring about full access to employment, independence and community integration for people with disabilities.

 

Maine CareerCenters

http://www.mainecareercenter.com

Services are delivered throughout Maine’s CareerCenters.  The CareerCenter’s provide for the training, education, and employment needs of adults, dislocated workers and youth.  Job seekers and employers are connected through the Centers and on the Maine Job Bank at the above link.

 

 

Maine Conservation Corps

http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/mcc/

The Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) places members all over the state to serve on environmental and conservation projects. Positions range from three month to ten month commitments. Some members serve individually at agencies and nonprofits to address resource issues and educate Maine citizens, and others serve on Field Teams constructing and rehabilitating trails and trail structures.

Penobscot Job Corps Center

http://penobscot.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx

At Penobscot Job Corps, students receive the skills needed to succeed in today’s workforce - at no cost to them or their families!

 

Loring Job Corps Center

http://loring.jobcorps.gov/home.aspx

Job Corps is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive residential, education and job training program for at-risk youth ages 16 through 24.  Job Corps is administered by the Department of Labor.

 

 


OTHER MAINE STATE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS

<<Return to Top>>

 

 

Maine Department of Health and Human Services

http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/teens.shtml

Find services on:

  • Abuse
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Health
  • Independence
  • Insurance
  • Legal Services and Resources
  • Policy
  • Providers
  • Substance Abuse
  • Suicide

 

Maine Department of Corrections

Division of Juvenile Services

http://www.maine.gov/corrections/juvenile

The Division Juvenile Services seeks to promote public safety by ensuring that juvenile under Department of Correction’s jurisdiction are provided with risk-focused intervention, quality treatment, and other services that teach skills and competencies; strengthen prosocial behaviors to reduce the likelihood of re-offending and require accountability to victims and communities.

 


NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATONS

<<Return to Top>>

Great Schools Project

http://www.greatschoolspartnership.org/

The Great Schools Partnership, Inc. is a nonprofit school-support organization committed to redesigning public education to improve the quality of learning for all students. Their focus is not on a single classroom, school, or district, but to work at all levels of the educational system—from the classroom to the statehouse—as they work to shape America's finest secondary schools.

 

Jobs for Maine Graduates

http://www.jmg.org

The Jobs for Maine Graduates (JMG) program was created to help high-school seniors reconnect to school and successfully graduate and transition into the workforce.  JMG is housed in a classroom within a partnering school, and is delivered as a year round course.  JMG’s experiential-based curriculum combines classroom learning with student enrichment activities that help to nurture leadership development, oral and written communication skills, career development skills and community service learning.  JMG helps students acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to be successful in school and to understand the connection between education and opportunities for the future. 

JMG also has three additional programs:

  1. Project Reach—a program for middle schools students that is an experiential-based curriculum that increases motivation and teaches real-world skills necessary for academic and career success.
  2. ACE Homeless Youth Program—this program bridges the connection between high school and homeless students, keeping students connected to the educational process and the opportunities education can provide.
  3. Youth Development Centers—customized program for students detained at the Long Creek Youth Development Center and Mountain View Youth Development Center to help students identify future goals and learn the skills they will need to be successful in achieving these goals.
  4. Maine Mentoring Partnership—connecting mentors with youth and children.

 

Junior Achievement of Maine, Inc
http://maine.ja.org Junior Achievement’s (JA) high school programs help students make informed, intelligent decisions about their future, and foster skills that will be highly useful in the business world.  JA volunteers bring real-life business experience and guidance into the classroom. 

 

Learning Disabilities Association of Maine

http://www.ldame.org

Learning Disabilities Association of Maine is a volunteer, membership organization dedicated to assisting individuals with learning and attention disabilities through advocacy, support and education.

 

Libra Future Fund

www.librafoundation.org

Provides grants to young people, ages 18-29 that reside in Maine at least 8 months per year to promote economic development or create job opportunities in Maine.  Grant criteria also includes that projects should provide the applicant with substantial professional or educational experience.

 

Maine Centers for Women, Work & Community

www.womenworkandcommunity.org

The mission of Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community (WWC) is to improve the economic lives of Maine women and their families by increasing their income, assets, and earning potential and their overall quality of life.


Maine
Children’s Alliance

www.mainechildrensalliance.org

The mission of the Maine Children’s Alliance is to advocate for sound public policies to improve the lives of all Maine’s children, youth and families.

 

Maine Compact for Higher Education

www.collegeforme.com

The Maine Compact for Higher Education is a joint effort of the Maine Development Foundation and the Maine Community Foundation committed to raising educational attainment in Maine.  The compact’s action plan includes five strategies to begin moving Maine toward college attainment:

  1. Create Maine’s Promising Scholarship Program to ensure that no Maine student is denied a college education for financial reasons.
  2. Create the Maine Early College Initiative to encourage students to continue their education beyond high school.
  3. Introduce the Maine College Transition Initiative to help adults earn degrees.
  4. Establish the College for ME Employer Initiative to help employers support the education of their workforce.
  5. Launch a comprehensive College for ME Campaign to change public perception of high education and behaviors toward going to college.

 

Maine Parent Federation

www.mpf.org

The Maine Parent Federation, Inc. (MPF) is a statewide private non-profit organization that provides information, advocacy, education and training to parents and professionals to benefit all children.

 

The Maine Transition Network

www.mainetransition.org

The Maine Committee on Transition supports youth with disabilities in making meaningful choices as they transition to adulthood by promoting collaboration within communities.  They provide information and referral, build capacity within school systems to use student-centered planning, help people make community connections, collaborate with a variety of stakeholders to provide ongoing identified training, and promote youth leadership regionally and statewide.

 

Maine Youth Action Network

www.myan.org

The Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) trains, supports, connects, and advocates for youth organized to effect positive change through school and community-based peer programs. 

 

MELMAC Education Foundation

www.melmacfoundation.org

The MELMAC Education Foundation is committed to supporting high-quality initiatives that serve the purpose of increasing educational opportunities for Maine people.


Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute

http://mitchellinstitute.org

The core mission of the Mitchell Institute is to increase the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine will aspire to, pursue and achieve a college education.

 

Spurwink

www.spurwink.org

Spurwink is a network of professionals providing mental health, educational and residential services for children, adolescents and adults.  Spurwink works individually with clients to develop self-esteem and new skills.

 

Women Unlimited

http://www.womenunlimited.org/

Women Unlimited’s mission is to improve the economic well-being of Maine women, minorities, and displaced workers by providing access to, and support in trade, technical and transportation careers.




MAINE UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE PROGRAMS

<<Return to Top>>

Academ-e
http://www.umaine.edu/academ-e

An early college distance education program designed to offer qualified high school seniors University of Maine courses, using state-of-the-art teaching and learning technologies combined with on-campus experiences.

Early College for ME
http://www.earlycollege.me.edu/

The intent of the program is to create a stronger bridge from high school to Community College for students who have the potential to succeed in higher education, yet have not made plans to enroll in college.  The program design has 3 elements:

  1. Financial support through scholarships
  2. Early exposure to college through early college courses
  3. Support through the admissions and financial aid process and during college

 

Southern Maine Partnership

http://www.usm.maine.edu/smp

The Southern Maine Partnership (SMP) is a school-university collaborator that has linked schools and higher education in support of learning.  The goals of the program are:

  1. Deliver a college-prep curriculum to all students
  2. Refine or create advisory and transition programs to ensure that all students have the support they need to succeed.
  3. Extend early college opportunities to all students.
  4. Provide professional development to strengthen instruction and increase student engagement in the classroom.

The meeting of these goals will lead to ensuring equity, academic rigor, and personalization for each Maine student.