HEART
Strengthening Behavioral Healthcare in Rural Maine
The Health Equity and Resource Team (HEART) Project grant supports a three -year effort to strengthen behavioral health care in rural Downeast Maine. Through strong partnerships among healthcare providers, community organizations, and educators, the project focuses on improving access to behavioral health support for individuals and families. The work brings partners together to plan, share resources, and build systems that last beyond the grant period, so communities continue to benefit well into the future.
The project also invests in people. It helps grow the behavioral health workforce by promoting career pathways, offering scholarships and training, and supporting frontline workers and community health navigators with new skills. At the same time, it provides direct help to community members through one-on-one navigation, education, and outreach. Together, these efforts aim to make it easier for people to find care, get support, and build healthier, more resilient communities across the region.
How the HEART Project Supports our Communities
Start a Career in Behavioral Health
Start Here. Grow Skills. Make a Difference.
Behavioral health careers offer meaningful work and the opportunity to support people in your community. If you’re interested in helping others while building a stable and rewarding career, there are several accessible entry points that can get you started.
These training pathways allow you to begin working in behavioral health while developing skills that can lead to advanced certifications, clinical roles, leadership opportunities, and specialized areas of care.
Entry pathways include:
People often begin in roles like MHRT/C, CHW, Recovery Coach, or CIPSS to build hands-on experience supporting others, and from there grow into careers such as case management, counseling, nursing, social work, public health, or program leadership. These positions offer a meaningful entry point into behavioral health, with opportunities for training, certification, and long-term professional advancement.
Click here to explore behavioral health career pathways.
Collaboration with MCD Global Health
We are proud to feature the Community Health Worker (CHW) Behavioral Health Specialty Track, an impactful training series made possible by Healthy Acadia through the HRSA Rural Northern Border Region Outreach Program grant. Tailored for Community Health Workers and frontline professionals, including those dedicated to outreach, care coordination, and crisis response, this self-paced course provides essential expertise in trauma-informed communication, stigma reduction, and resource navigation. With a vital focus on professional well-being and sustainable practice, these three modules can be completed in approximately 75 minutes. Click here to access this training.
We are also proud to showcase the MCD Global Health CHW Apprenticeship Program, a structured career pathway that bridges the gap between technical education and real-world experience. Several Healthy Acadia staff members have successfully completed this rigorous process and earned a national CHW Apprenticeship Certificate.
Click here to learn more about this Apprenticeship opportunity.
For more information, contact Caroline Bloss, caroline.bloss@healthyacadia.org.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided financial support for the HEART project website development. The award provided 1% of total costs and totaled $2,500. The contents are those of the author. They may not reflect the policies of HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.