Ben Clark Education Center Expands EMT Program Through Partnership with EMS Corps

A new formal partnership between the Ben Clark Education Center and EMS Corps is providing no-cost Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training to young adults facing significant barriers to entering healthcare careers.

The program is already underway, with its first cohort successfully completed in fall 2025 and a second cohort having started just two weeks ago.

The collaboration merges the accredited academic curriculum of the Ben Clark Education Center with EMS Corps' holistic support model, creating a clear pathway into the emergency medical services workforce. Participants earn transferable college credits alongside their EMT certification, opening immediate doors to both employment and continued education.

The five-month EMS Corps program is designed specifically for young adults navigating housing insecurity or transitions from under-resourced systems, including the justice system or foster care. In addition to technical instruction, corps members receive a monthly stipend to support living expenses, along with dedicated mentorship, wrap-around social services, and direct placement assistance upon graduation.

Bob Fontaine, EMS director at Moreno Valley College, said the partnership addresses a gap that academic programs alone cannot fill.

"This partnership represents a vital bridge for individuals who have been restricted from conventional professional trajectories," Fontaine said. "By combining Moreno Valley College's rigorous academic standards with the comprehensive personal support of EMS Corps, we are fostering a more diverse and resilient healthcare workforce that truly reflects the community it serves."

The initiative comes as regional demand for emergency medical personnel continues to outpace available candidates. By recruiting from populations that traditional hiring pathways often overlook, the program strengthens both the diversity and depth of the local EMS workforce.

EMS Corps is administered through the Public Works Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to workforce development for opportunity youth. Additional information about eligibility and enrollment is available at publicworksalliance.org/emscorps-grants.