DOE - Maine Department of Education

05/02/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 05/02/2024 11:00

How Karen Morin is Helping Career Navigation in Kennebec County

(Pictured: Karen and Adult Education colleagues work with Sam's Club to develop a workforce program.)

Karen Morin, a long-time resident of Kennebec County, has worked in crisis services, corrections, and risk reduction for the military. For a little over a year now, she's been a Career Advancement and Navigation Specialist employed by the Adult Ed hub in Kennebec County. She is one of four "Career Navigators" funded by the Maine Jobs Recovery Plan (MJRP).

MJRP has committed $6 million to Adult Education in Maine to address the workforce development needs of those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The Maine DOE Adult Education Team has been helping eligible adults and employment sectors recover from the pandemic's stresses through various academic and job training supports, including Career Advancement Navigator Specialists.

In Karen's first year as a Career Navigator, she has worked with more than 220 people in Kennebec County to help them move forward in their careers, whatever that may be. Her clients are getting employed, participating in workforce training, improving their resumes and interviewing skills, acquiring English language skills, transitioning fields, and more. She's worked with local unemployed and underemployed people, new Mainers, people coming out of the criminal justice system, and unhoused individuals, among others. She also works with employers and supports them in their hiring needs.

In this photo, Morin and colleagues prepare learners for the process of applying and working at Maine General in their Strengthening Maine Workforce program that provides English classes onsite at Maine General as a part of the employee's work day as well as opportunities for advancement.

"Take the time to listen to someone's story-you can learn a lot about someone from a short conversation. Often, if you can't make a connection with someone in the first ten minutes, you've lost them," said Morin.

She also shared that "talking with people and businesses together reduces the hiring process time between the application and the hiring."

She provides a direct connection to individuals looking for work and businesses looking for employees. Karen meets people where they are in their career journey through her low barrier and personalized services, including meeting up with them at a convenient location. Though she's based in multiple local Adult Education programs (Mid Maine Adult Education, Augusta Adult Education, and Winthrop Adult Education), she meets people virtually, at various community agencies or businesses, at the shelter, or even for support at interviews.

She posts on the website What's Up Waterville, walks into businesses to see what their hiring needs are, and follows job postings on the chamber's website to make qualified candidates more aware of opportunities. COVID-19 exacerbated problems in Maine that have long existed: transportation barriers, childcare availability and affordability, and housing. Having community-embedded, low-barrier services is deeply necessary. Also of great importance is the collaboration of agencies. Karen collaborates with critical partner agencies and organizations such as CareerCenter, Jewish Community Alliance, Catholic Charities, Capitol Area New Mainers Project, and the local Chambers of Commerce.

In this photo a new Mainer participates in a ride along and information interview with local law enforcement.

There are currently only three other Career Navigators in this role in Maine. Karen's colleagues include Kate Points, who serves York County; Frank Spurr, in Androscoggin and Oxford Counties; and Cassie Robichaux, who serves multiple counties, including Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo Counties.

At a listening session for the sustainability of these positions, one community member said, "There should be a Career Navigator in each county in Maine." Collectively they've connected with over 1101 people in their communities. However, funding is currently provided by the Maine Jobs Recovery Program, and the future of this program is uncertain.

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