Page 42 - 2025 Van Buren Chamber Community Profile

EDUCATION

Crawford County Adult Education Center

The Crawford County Adult Education education services. and financial aid assistance is available on
Center (CCAEC) has served the Crawford Judge Charles Baker said the program campus for specialty certificate training
County community and its residents since has saved over $1.5 million in jail costs, and and college students.
2001. CCAEC is located at 301 Mt. Vista many of the people who have participated Additionally, CCAEC offers a full, on-
Boulevard in Van Buren, and is open in it have been able to turn their lives site Community Resource Hub at the
Monday and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. around by being more employable and CCAEC campus, giving participants access
until 4:00 pm, Tuesday and Thursday from furthering their education. The program to community partners, job resources,
8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., and Saturday has built a reputation in legal circles for its household necessities, hygiene products,
from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. effectiveness and efficiency. and a food pantry. In fall 2022, CCAEC
CCAEC offers the following programs Students can choose to continue their broke ground on a community garden in
and services: GED preparation, GED education with college courses offered partnership with the Crawford County
exams, English as a Second Language (ESL), on campus through Vincennes University. Conservation District to continue to supply
Citizenship, Computer Literacy, Financial CCAEC partners with Vincennes University students and the community with healthy
Literacy, English, Math & Social Studies to offer a Certified Clinical Medical foods and resources throughout the year.
Classes, College Preparation, TABE Testing, Assistant (CCMA) course on campus. The monthly food giveaways hosted on
Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), campus allow CCAEC to provide students
Economy (WAGE) Certificates, the National Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), and and the community with food assistance
Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), Phlebotomy courses are available through at no cost. Prior to Tuesday and Thursday
Parents As Teachers (PAT) Program, OSHA a partnership with the Fort Smith Adult evening classes, students are served a
10 Certifications, Welding Program, Home Education Center and Arkansas Tech free, hot meal provided by various local
Helpers Personal Care Assistant Program, University-Ozark Campus. businesses, churches, and community
Basic Introduction to Construction, and All CCAEC courses are free of charge organizations.
Civil Service Exam Preparation. Programs
and courses are routinely added, and
students are encouraged to check with the
Center about current availability.
The CCAEC Alternative Sentencing
Program provides a robust partnership Cutiepie Alice Medlock Leigh Medlock
with the Crawford County Justice Center, The BOSS Principal Broker 479-651-7222
479-651-7221
Crawford County District Court, Child
Support Court, Drug Court, and Probation Looking for experience
Office. The program provides training and & proven results?
education as an alternative to incarceration Call Medlock & West Realty.
for justice involved individuals. Over 100 years
CCAEC’s Alternative Sentencing combined experience. Kelli Smith Steve Pixley Joey Tudor
Program was recognized as an innovative 479-462-4902 479-652-5400 479-755-5400
practice in adult education by the
Advancing Innovation in Adult Education
project, led by Manhattan Strategy Group
in 2021.
The project, which is funded by the
U.S. Department of Education, Office of
Career, Technical, and Adult Education
(OCTAE), named CCAEC as one of nine
practices selected nationally for innovative
approaches modeling effective integrated
education and training (IET) programs,
transitioning adult learners from adult basic
education to postsecondary education or
training, and increasing access to adult

42 Van Buren Chamber 2025 Community Profile vanburenchamber.org