Teens’ summer jobs pay off

By Christina Scanlon

As the summer of 2015 winds down and local youth prepare to head back to school, 50 teens from the area will be taking with them the experiences and education they’ve earned over the summer as part of the Summer Youth Employment Program.

The program was funded primarily from Temporary Assistance to Needy Families through Washington County’s Economic Opportunity Council and aided 40 youths with summer jobs. Seven more jobs came via federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds, and three with a new grant partnering with the Washington County Youth Bureau.

“A variety of positions offer youth a chance to explore different career paths, learn work and important life skills while earning money,” said Katie Foster, employment counselor. ”Youth are encouraged to pay attention to labor market information, fiscal responsibility, and the basic soft skills of respect, dependability, punctuality, following directions and working as a team.”

In Granville, four teens were employed at three different job sites. One teen was employed in Hartford and six teens from Hebron worked in Salem this summer.

In Whitehall, four positions were available, though only one teen was employed. The three spots remained unfilled because of lack of transportation or filing of working papers.

“Landing that summer job has a very positive effect on young people that expands well into adulthood,” said Foster. “By funding these positions businesses get some summer help they need, as well as creating the opportunity for youth to both earn a paycheck and learn valuable skills that will last a lifetime.”

She credited a large part of the program’s success to the valuable mentoring and “taking youth under their wing” that employers and supervisors provide.

“Real life/work experience and mutual respect is a big skill our youth seem to leave with,” she said. “Many times this is the first opportunity for these youth to participate and invest in their own communities.”

Youth applying for positions needed to meet several basic eligibility criteria and be between ages 14-20.

This year, the program offered eight-week positions, averaging 25 hours a week, at the minimum wage of $8.75 an hour.