Human Services and Education Job Fair at WCCC Yields Opportunities

May 22, 2017

Several local businesses and organizations attended a human services and education-oriented job fair held at Washington County Community College. Each of the businesses presented students and the public with opportunities and positions that are now open for applications. The job fair was organized by the students and faculty of the Education and Human Services programs.

Among the organizations attending was Next Step Domestic Violence Project. Next Step is currently seeking a shelter advocate to assist guests at its Washington County shelter. It is also actively looking for volunteers and interns for its 24-7 emergency hotline, to serve as court advocates, to offer child care services, or to assist with community events. Representing Next Step was Cheyenne Robinson, who shared that the organization has recently reached its goal in the sponsoring of 1,000 lights in Washington County for its Shine a Light project. Every light represents a survivor of domestic violence; the lights will be lit in Ellsworth and in Calais in October. The project is seeking additional sponsorships to reach another 1,000 lights. Lights can be sponsored for $10 each. To reach Next Step to inquire about opportunities or to sponsor a light, call 1-800-315-5579.

Also in the field of human services is AMHC, which has a residential and crisis unit in Calais in addition to offering other services. The crisis unit is a short-term facility for children while the residential unit enables a longer term stay. AMHC focuses on working as an inter-collaborative team with other organizations to provide as much stability as possible to children and to adults who are experiencing a crisis. AMHC is looking for various full-time and per diem positions in its units. It offers a flexible schedule and many of its per diem positions are filled by college students who are presently seeking a degree. No degree is required to work in the residential unit while a college degree of any kind is sufficient to work in the crisis unit. To reach the Calais office, call 207-454-0775.

Care and Comfort, an organization that provides home health care and mental health services, is currently seeking a community support worker. Community support workers work with clients (adults and children) either in their home or in a community setting to provide them with support as needed and to monitor their condition as required. Representing Care and Comfort was Shane Renshaw – who expressed that in the past three years he recalls hiring three former students from WCCC – all of which were excellent hires. He said that the college’s focus on skills and information lent very well to being successful at Care and Comfort. For more information, visit www.careandcomfort.com.

On the education side of the job fair was Child and Family Opportunities, which operates a location next to the WCCC campus. “We’re always looking for teachers and assistant teachers,” expressed Pat Pcolar, Human Resources Manager. “We’ve had a long relationship with WCCC.” Students have worked as substitutes and taken internships, and several have stayed after graduating to become teachers. Pcolar notes that Head Start recently changed its requirements to allow those with an associate’s degree to become teachers rather than limiting them to assistant teachers. To contact Pcolar, call 667-2212, ext. 222.

Woodland High School and Elementary School were present to express their need for a number of positions, including Ed Tech II and Ed Tech III, preschool teachers, substitutes, custodians, and bus drivers. Substitutes with no degrees are paid $60 a day and those with a degree are paid $70 a day. A representative from the school said that the need for a bus driver is dire, explaining that students have had to double up on busses on a few occasions when one of the regular drivers is sick. To request an application or with questions, call the Woodland town office at 427-6913.

Human Services program director Liz Sullivan said that she was pleased with the fair and that it attracted a “steady stream of students.” Students that attended shared that they did find positions that were interesting to them while other said they would be doing more research before making commitments.