Baystate Health
Baystate Health
55 Pratt Street
Springfield, MA 01107
Program Description:
BSEP is a comprehensive career pathway program designed to increase opportunities in a health care setting for Springfield students typically underrepresented in the health related professions. The program currently provides over 145 Springfield students with services that include; school-year and summer enrichment courses, health career development, job shadowing, mentoring, internships upon graduation, and limited paid employment (WIOA).
Service Provider Website: www.baystatehealth.org
Program Contact: Peter Blain
Contact Email: peter.blain@baystatehealth.org
Services Provided to: In-School Youth
How are services provided: Mostly In-Person
Program Service Elements:
Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and dropout prevention, Alternative secondary school services or dropout recovery services, Paid and unpaid work experiences, Occupational skills training, Education offered concurrently with workforce preparation for a specific occupation, Leadership development opportunities, Supportive services, Adult mentoring, Follow-up services, Comprehensive guidance and counseling, Financial literacy education, Entrepreneurial skills, Services that provide labor market services training, Post-secondary preparation and transition activities
Holyoke Public Schools
Holyoke Public Schools
500 Beech Street
Holyoke, MA 01104
Program Description:
HPS WIOA Youth Program works to identify students’ interests, secure internship and job shadow opportunities across public, non-profit, and private sectors, and provide hands-on experiences that build work readiness and deepen career exploration.
To counteract dropout risks, Opportunity Academy functions as a critical alternative pathway for students who have faced academic or social challenges in traditional schools. It provides competency-based, project-focused education tied closely to the WIOA program, emphasizing internships and apprenticeships to prepare students for post-secondary success.
All participants maintain a WBLP or ISS, documenting their activities and progress, which is regularly reviewed and updated in collaboration with employers. This process reinforces the connection between academic achievement and workplace competencies.
High school juniors and seniors (ages 16-21) engaged in WIOA-funded paid work experiences or internships will receive monthly stipend payments, replacing the previous quarterly payment structure. Youth are compensated at the state’s minimum wage for up to 15 hours per week during the summer months. For work experiences combining education and employment, stipends will also be provided monthly to support consistent engagement.
Service Provider Website: www.hps.holyoke.ma.us
Program Contact: Julia (Jules) Gills
Contact Email: jgillis@hps.holyoke.ma.us
Services Provided to: In-School Youth
How are services provided: Mostly In-Person
Program Service Elements:
Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and dropout prevention, Alternative secondary school services or dropout recovery services, Paid and unpaid work experiences, Occupational skills training, Education offered concurrently with workforce preparation for a specific occupation, Leadership development opportunities, Supportive services, Adult mentoring, Follow-up services, Comprehensive guidance and counseling, Financial literacy education, Entrepreneurial skills, Services that provide labor market services training, Post-secondary preparation and transition activities
New North Citizens Council
New North Citizens Council
2455 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01107
Program Description:
New North Citizen’s Council, Inc’s WIOA OSY Program in partnership with our YouthBuild program will provide outreach, recruitment, case management, hands on training in construction and allied health, education in preparation for the Hi-Set, post-participation follow-up services and related services for economically disadvantaged out of school youth in Hampden County: Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke.
NNCC will dually enroll out-of-school youth into NNCC’s YouthBuild program and WIOA Out of School Program which consist of academic classes preparing students for the Hi-Set in addition to vocational training.: The YouthBuild program is centered around the effective integration of education, construction skills training, and other occupational skills training in healthcare.
NNCC will partner with Springfield Technical Community College for Allied Health Students who will complete their Hi-Set with NNCC and then obtain their Hi-Set at STCC, while all construction students will receive both their Hi-Set and construction at NNCC’s Youth Services Center which has been outfitted with a construction shop and several classrooms for training.
Service Provider Website: www.newnorthcc.org
Program Contact: Isaiah Delmoral (Out-Of-School Youth), Gloria Rivera (In-School Youth)
Contact Email: idelmoral@newnorthcc.org, grivera@newnorthcc.org
Services Provided to: Out-Of-School Youth, In-School Youth
How are services provided: Mostly In-Person
Program Service Elements:
Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and dropout prevention, Alternative secondary school services or dropout recovery services, Paid and unpaid work experiences, Occupational skills training, Education offered concurrently with workforce preparation for a specific occupation, Leadership development opportunities, Supportive services, Adult mentoring, Follow-up services, Comprehensive guidance and counseling, Financial literacy education, Entrepreneurial skills, Services that provide labor market services training, Post-secondary preparation and transition activities
Pathfinder Regional High School
Pathfinder Regional High School
240 Sykes Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Program Description:
Pathfinder Tech will provide structured work experience for 24 youth, beginning July 7, 2025, and continuing through August 15, 2024, with each participant committing to complete a minimum of sixty hours. These experiences are carefully designed to integrate academic and occupational learning through the use of Massachusetts Work-Based Learning Plans (WBLPs), which serve as both planning and assessment tools.
Each student’s placement will be thoughtfully matched to their CTE program, career interests, or O*Net career profile results to ensure alignment with long-term goals. The WBLPs are developed collaboratively by the project coordinator, employer, and participant, and take into account each student’s IEP, ISS, and Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP), where applicable.
Service Provider Website: www.pathfindertech.org
Program Contact: Cheryl Sawicki
Contact Email: sawicki@pathfindertech.org
Services Provided to: In-School Youth
How are services provided: Mostly In-Person
Program Service Elements:
Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and dropout prevention, Alternative secondary school services or dropout recovery services, Paid and unpaid work experiences, Occupational skills training, Education offered concurrently with workforce preparation for a specific occupation, Leadership development opportunities, Supportive services, Adult mentoring, Follow-up services, Comprehensive guidance and counseling, Financial literacy education, Entrepreneurial skills, Services that provide labor market services training, Post-secondary preparation and transition activities
Square One
Square One
1095 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01103
Program Description:
Square One Learn and Earn Program anticipates accepting 90 enrollments to the program between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. Staff will work in partnership with the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board to accept WIOA participants seeking HiSET preparation placements, employment and skills training, career pathway planning, support services and follow-up activities from other community programs. The Square One Learn and Earn Program will predominantly serve youth from Springfield and Holyoke.
Service Provider Website: www.startesatsquareone.org
Program Contact: Melissa Blissett
Contact Email: mblissett@startatsquareone.org
Services Provided to: Out-Of-School Youth
How are services provided: Mostly In-Person
Program Service Elements:
Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and dropout prevention, Alternative secondary school services or dropout recovery services, Paid and unpaid work experiences, Occupational skills training, Education offered concurrently with workforce preparation for a specific occupation, Leadership development opportunities, Supportive services, Adult mentoring, Follow-up services, Comprehensive guidance and counseling, Financial literacy education, Entrepreneurial skills, Services that provide labor market services training, Post-secondary preparation and transition activities
Valley Opportunity Council
Valley Opportunity Council
35 Mt. Carmel Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Program Description:
Students in the WIOA program will have dedicated Youth Case Managers who will provide support, including orientation, Individual Support Service Plan completion, and career exploration activities. Weekly workshops, guest speakers, service projects, field trips, and work placements will enhance career readiness. The program will guide students towards individual goals such as HSE attainment, enrollment in certificate programs or post-secondary education, and employment in various career pathways, using a "gradual release" model of support.
Service Provider Website: www.valleyopp.com
Program Contact: Nadeem Sikandar
Contact Email: nsikandar@valleyopp.com
Services Provided to: Out-Of-School Youth
How are services provided: Mostly In-Person
Program Service Elements:
Tutoring, study skills training, instruction, and dropout prevention, Alternative secondary school services or dropout recovery services, Paid and unpaid work experiences, Occupational skills training, Education offered concurrently with workforce preparation for a specific occupation, Leadership development opportunities, Supportive services, Adult mentoring, Follow-up services, Comprehensive guidance and counseling, Financial literacy education, Entrepreneurial skills, Services that provide labor market services training, Post-secondary preparation and transition activities