Education and Training for Adults

Parents and caregivers with low incomes need education and training opportunities to earn incomes that sustainably support themselves and their family.

As parents’ educational levels and earned credentials increase, a family’s chance of avoiding poverty also increases.

2016 Maine Census data showed working-age Maine adults with some college or an associate degree were 21 percent more likely to be employed than those with a high school degree or less; those with a bachelor's degree were 36 percent more likely to be employed than those with a high school degree or less.
Mainers with a high school degree or less were almost twice as likely to be living below the federal poverty level as those with some college or an associate degree, and more than four times as likely as those with a bachelor’s degree, according to the same census data.
Today only 44% of Mainers hold a credential of value beyond high school.

Increasing the education and training of the working-age population (whether it’s a two-year degree, a trade certification, or a four-year college degree) is essential for the future of Maine’s economy and our workforce. With Maine’s shortage of skilled workers expected to worsen, community leaders, businesses, and policy experts agree there’s an urgent need to grow Maine’s workforce, especially by giving working-age adults access to education and skills trainings. Maine Equal Justice is a leader of the Invest in Tomorrow initiative, a coordinated approach to reducing child poverty that also addresses adult education and training.

Education and training programs

Opportunities for Maine parents and caregivers with low incomes

Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employment Program (ASPIRE)

ASPIRE is a program to help Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants find employment (participation is often a condition of TANF eligibility). The program is currently administered by Fedcap, a Department of Health and Human Services contractor. ASPIRE participants are eligible for an array of education, training and employment services and must receive all support services necessary to participate. A law passed in 2019 will ensure that high school completion and English courses are more accessible to TANF adults.

Parents as Scholars (PaS)

Parents as Scholars is a student aid program that helps low-income parents in two- or four-year college programs by providing access to two- and four-year post-secondary education programs along with support services necessary to participate, like transportation and child care. It was created by the Maine Legislature in 1997 as part our state’s welfare reform plan. PaS is run by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services through the ASPIRE Program. Only parents who are eligible for, but not necessarily receiving, TANF (formerly AFDC) are eligible for PaS. More information about accessing PaS is available on our legal services page.

Higher Opportunity for Pathways to Employment (HOPE)

The HOPE program was enacted by the Maine legislature in 2018 and has begun enrolling students. It provides access to two- and four-year post-secondary educational programs to parents with minor children with incomes below 185% of the federal poverty level ($39,460 for a family of 3); who do not receive TANF and have countable assets equal to or less than $10,000. The program is limited to 500 students at any point in time, and students must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program with at least an average job outlook as determined by the DOL Center for Workforce Research and Information. Four-year programs can be in in health care, technology or engineering. More information is available from the State of Maine’s HOPE website.

Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP)

CSSP is a program of the Maine Department of Labor. It helps Mainers learn new skills by providing them with a free education in programs that lead to certificates or degrees in certain fields. The grant may also pay for other supports while a participant is in training, including childcare, transportation, books, supplies, equipment, and remedial and prerequisite training. The program focuses on high-paying, in-demand jobs in Maine. The program is open to Maine residents? 18 years or older who have a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level. More information is available from the State of Maine’s CSSP website.

allina — Allina Diaz, a Parents as Scholars student and mother of three, testifies in front the legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee in favor of the LIFT and STEP bills.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Services (SNAP E&T)

SNAP E&T is a federal funding source that allows states to provide employment, training and related supportive services to individuals receiving SNAP benefits. These services include skill building activities, training (including post-secondary degrees and credentials), work, or experience that will increase their employability and earnings and reduce their need for SNAP. Support Services are available to SNAP E&T participants including tuition, transportation, childcare, eyecare, dental care, books, supplies, uniforms, tools and car repairs. Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services has also recently expanded its use of SNAP E&T, forming partnerships with the Community College system and community providers to increase the skill levels and employment prospects of SNAP participants.