Our very first virtual roadshow stop is Maine. We would like to highlight the Finance Authority of Maine- FAME. FAME helps FAME helps the people of Maine to make their education and business dreams a reality.
For adults that want to pursue postsecondary education or training, the cost can be a barrier. Maine's FAME program offers resources, workshops, and support to help adults access many different types of financial aid to help reduce the cost barrier of pursuing higher education.
FAME also works with correctional facilities to help individuals behind the walls understand the resources that are available to them to pursue postsecondary education and training.
I'm excited to have FAME College Access Counselor, Maria MacDougal join in this conversation to tell us more about how FAME has helped adult learners. I met Maria at a Correctional Education Association conference a few years ago and had the pleasure of hearing her speak about how financial aid is like a quilt and how everyone's quilt is different. I also learned a lot in her presentation about how to help adults that may have started school and never finished, but defaulted on debt, and were struggling to get back to finishing postsecondary education.
Comments
Hi all, I'm so happy FAME is featured here. Our organization works hard to make sure ALL Mainers have access to post-secondary education and training, and I am happy to be a part of it.
FAME specializes in all things college access and financial education, focusing especially on financial aid. We house a vast collection of FAFSA resources, host in-person and virtual FAFSA help sessions, offer assistance to New Mainers and support learners of all ages as they look to achieve their postsecondary goals.
I sit on the Board of the Maine Prisoner Re-Entry Network, a vast group of Mainers statewide who assist folks in recovery and reentry. My support, as Chrissie mentioned, comes in the form of support for returning to college, managing student loans, future planning, and financial counseling. We assist students behind AND beyond the walls. We added this content to our website to assist folks considering education after incarceration and we are working on additional content for those who are currently incarcerated (and their case workers/advocates). In addition to justice-involved work, my specialty area focuses on adult learners, whether starting education for the first time or picking up where they left off.
If you would like more information, including slide decks, financial aid resources, etc. please feel free to email me at mmacdougal@famemaine.com and/or find me on LinkedIn.