Innovation
New WIB Launched New Summer Program
The Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board isn't the only WIB that scrambled to organize a summer youth employment program for the first time in years. It is, however, the only WIB that was brand-new itself at the same time it was planning for a brand-new summer youth program.
After a dormant period, Southern Maryland re-established its WIB in December 2008; two months later, planning was underway for the new summer youth program, funded with $110,344 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Program Assistant Michelle Francino organized a successful orientation for prospective participants "where we got them networking with each other. We created a manual for the youth, and a manual for the worksites. We went through the manual, and had presentations on how to dress and how to present yourself at work. We did role-playing. We talked with the youth about what their expectations were."
"We've had our bumps in the road," Francino admitted. "Some of the young people accepted the jobs and then decided they didn't want to go. Those people who have stayed longer than a week at a worksite stayed, and were happy."
Area employers offered a range of positions for the six-week summer program – for example, office jobs, camp counselors, library assistants, hotel maintenance and landscaping jobs – with hourly wages ranging from $8 to $10. Most of the program participants were out of school, and many hoped the program might provide long-term employment as well as short-term income. Several of them did indeed land permanent positions at the end of the summer.
Among lessons the WIB learned from the 2009 summer experience was the need to identify worksites early, and to hold an orientation for worksite supervisors. The orientation would emphasize that the program "is not just free help – this is a skills training program, in which the youth should be learning valuable skills they can take on to school and into the workplace," Francino specified.
Transportation proved to be a significant barrier, given that the WIB covers three counties (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's) without widespread public transportation systems. During the first few weeks, WIB staff tackled young workers' commuting problems, often with no good solutions. In future years, Francino intends to use transportation access as a criterion when matching participants to worksites.
The WIB's partnership with the Tri-County Council and the State Department of Labor Licensing, and Regulation enabled more than 30 young people to earn a paycheck over the summer, while learning new skills and gaining exposure to career possibilities. The WIB anticipates that area businesses and public agencies will provide even more job openings for the program next summer.
Contact:
Michelle S. Francino
Program Assistant
Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board
301-274-1922
mfrancino@tccsmd.org
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