Summer Youth Employment Program

V11.LAS - Cape May County’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) offers far more than a steady pay check and a way to while away the summer. Area disadvantaged youth are provided "excellent" exposure to essential job skills and good work ‘ habits. Margaret A. Hemlock, SYEP program director said this week.

Jobs are available in a variety of local government and non-profit organizations such as Cape May City Hall, the Cape May Count> Art League, the Woodbine State School and area beacf£s, to name a few. Job titles range from clerical, maintenance and recreation to professional library, lab and nursing aid positions. Participants will begin work July 5. working 40-

--Who Is Eligible For Youth Employment? * Kconomically Disadvantaged (See local CETA office for income figures.) * Age: 14-21 * In School/Drop Out * Cape May County Resident for M days —Who Qualifies As A Youth Employer? * Non-Profit Organizations * Cape May County Site * Must Provide SYEP Workers With Adu|t Supervision * Child l^bor I jiws Must Be Observed * Work Site Agreement Must Be Worked Out with CETA If you are interested in becoming a SYEP participant, know someone who qualifies or an organization that could act as a job site call the Villas CETA office at . K86-95Q5 or 886-4116 as soon as possible. J

The federally funded hour weeks at (he program, part of the minimum wage of $2.90 per Comprehensive Em- hour. Hemlock said, ployment Training Act Students currenl y al(CETA) will give some 300 tending school will work low-income youth ages 14- until September 5. Out of 21 a 12-wcek experience in school participants may carefully supervised and* extend their work excounseled on-the-job perience through Sep training. Hemlock said. tember30.

ALL IN A day's work. SYEP participant mows grass as part of program that cmphasized development of skills and good work habits.

Participants attend a one-day Labor Market Orientation Day before reporting to their respective job sites. Field representatives from local businesses give firsthand insight into their careers and participants are taught how to prepare a resume, fill out a job application and cultivation of good grooming and work habits. Job supervisors will monitor participant's work performance supplemented by additional daily job site inspections by six CETA counselors. Each participant will be thoroughly evaluated upon termination of the program and provided with a good permanent employment reference if satisfactory performance is indicated. Hemlock said. "Some participants have even come out of the program with permanent positions." Hemlock adThe benefits participants receive from the program are directly proportionate to what they put into it. Hemlock emphasized. "I think we have really had an excellent experience with the program." she added. “Our record speaks for itself." The program originated in 1974 With 200 participants. That number soared to 423 workers last year. Hemlock said. Budget cuts in federal echelons have forced a tightening of the belt at the local level with fewer job slots open this year as a result. Hemlock said. The area CETA program has seen encouraging progress with growth in administrative staff, an increased over all budget and a higher quota of CETA participants Hemlock said. Two new projects 'have been added to the SYEP agenda this year. One new job site is the Stone Harbor Home for the Blind. Participants working at this site will fill positions as counselors, kitchen and maintenance workers and bus drivers. Hemlock said. The Rio Grand Association for Retarded Citizens will also benefit - from the SYEP program this year. Mentally handicapped persons will be included in the program as in general office and maintenance workers. Hemlock said. Veteran job site employers will probably see a cutback in the number of participants allocated to their organizations, this year Hemlock said. The quantity of job sites has increased from a previous 5(^60 to the present 8^90.

Abundant seasonal employment does not usually hamper the availability of new participants. but the increase of fast-food restaurants, especially in the Wildwood

office at* the Professional Plaza. Greenwood Ave. and Bayshore Rd.. the Villas since a limited number of jobs exist. Hemlock said. Necessary registration

9505or88&-41l6. Hemlock says she hopes to see the program start earlier and extend longer in the future. The programs benefits

“The Summer Youth Employment Program shall provide eligible youth with useful work and sufficient basic education and institutional or on-the-job training, to assist these youths to develop their maximum occupation potential and to obtain employment not subsidized under the Act."

area has created a drastic shortage of SYEP workers from that area. Hemlock said. Interested applicants are urged to register immediately with the CETA

materials include proof of age, 30-day county residency and proof of existing income status. Additional information may be obtained from the CETA office by calling 886-

are many, she added. "The participants don’t just earn money: they learn essential job. skills and in many cases gain a clearer sense of maturity." Hemlock concluded

COLORS GO HERE, hand washables there? SYEP students learn laundering from the ground up at Woodbine State School.