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WATERVILLE — Eight area students recently graduated from Mount St. Joseph Residence and Rehabilitation home in Waterville as certified nursing assistants.
The event celebrated the completion of the collaborative partnerships among Regional School Unit 54 Community & Adult Education, the Augusta, Lewiston and Skowhegan career centers, and Western Maine Community Action.
Candidates completed 80 hours of Work Ready classroom learning of soft skills provided through the academy. Clinical training was included in the on-the-job training at Mount St. Joseph.
The classroom study and clinical training were provided through grant funding, facilitated by the Career Centers, WMCA and the Maine Department of Labor.
The combined curriculum empowers students with the skills and knowledge essential to the specific job field. “This graduation class is not only the result of the students’ dedication but also the best model of train-to-work, where business, education and workforce development collaborate,” explained Patti Saarinen, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act site coordinator for WMCA – Lewiston CareerCenter.
OJT is an incentive-based program providing half of a trainee’s wages during the duration of the program. Students are empowered with the skills and knowledge essential to the specific job field. The integration of education and training is a best-practice model for success.
“Thanks to this partnership program, the students were better prepared, more motivated and committed as they knew what the program would be and what the job would entail,” noted Diane Sinclair, a registered nurse and Mt. St. Joseph’s administrator.
For more information on work-driven/educational partnerships, contact the nearest CareerCenter.
PHOTO: Students, staff and other workforce representatives gather at Mount St. Joseph in Waterville, front row, from left, Vicki Baker, RSU 54 community and adult education career advisor; Monica Millhime, Western Maine Community Action employment and training business specialist; Diane Sinclair, Mount Saint Joseph Residence & Rehabilitation classroom and clinical instructor; students Lisa Labrie-Hawkes, Savannah Higginbotham, Melinda McBreairty, Sierra Preo; and Stephanie Aucoin, Mount St. Joseph classroom and clinical instructor. In back, students Tiffany Howie, Jeremiah Morse, Heather Dudley and Loreda Libby. (Jim Millhime photo.)
