High School Equivalency Program
Apply to HEP

Maine HEP Program

c/o Syntiro
11 South Road
Readfield, ME 04355
(207) 200-3113
1 (866) 291-0004 (toll free)

 



 

Maine High School Equivalency Program (HEP)

Find photos of yourself from the Maine Blueberry Festival 2011

 

Pictures from the
36th Annual Machias Blueberry Festival
August 20-21, 2011


>>Click here to find a picture of yourself!

 

 

We need your help!

Through the Maine HEP grant we are looking for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and loggers as they earn their GED. We need help getting the word out to eligible participants. >>Go to Referral Form now.

 

Some of the services provided are:

  • Linkages to adult education programs
  • Transportation & childcare reimbursement
  • Tutoring
  • Links to health and social services
  • A stipend of $100/week to cover personal expenses while attending GED classes
  • Books and school supplies

We’re looking for people who have done at least 75 days of farm or logging  work over the last 24 months.
 
Examples of qualifying farm work are blueberries, potatoes, dairy, poultry, tipping and logging. For logging, qualifying work includes: planting, trimming, de-limbing, and harvesting. As long as it’s not processing (working in a paper mill, chipping factory etc) it counts!
 
Immediate family members of the seasonal worker can participate. This includes: a spouse, a parent, step-parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, or anyone with guardianship, any person who claims the individual as a dependent on a Federal income tax return for either of the previous two years, or resides in the same household as the individual, supports that individual financially, and is a relative of that individual.
 
Please don’t hesitate to call to see if an activity counts. Anyone who qualifies for Migrant Education Programs and people who participate in the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) are automatically eligible.

 

Visit the Referral Form page to submit referrals to the program.

 

Email or call Program Director Debbie Gilmer: gilmer@maine.edu, 
207-866-4007 or Regional Facilitator, Maria Millard: maria@syntiro.org, 
207-735-7198 with questions or for more information.

 

If you would like copies of our brochure, available in both English and Spanish, or any 8.5x14" posters with tear off contact information to hang locally let us know.

 

Thanks so much for your help! 

 

--The Maine HEP Team

 

 

The Maine High School Equivalency Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education, and administered by Syntiro (www.syntiro.org), is a five-year project to help migratory and seasonal farmworkers and their immediate family members, who are 16 years of age or older and not currently enrolled in school, to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma (GED) and subsequently gain employment or begin postsecondary education or training. The Maine HEP program is working in five regions of the state (Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington/Hancock, Kennebec/Somerset, and Portland) in partnership with the Maine Migrant Education program; adult education; and community, and social service, providers.

 

Project Director: Debbie Gilmer gilmer@maine.edu