Patrick Administration Announces that 50 Department of Children and Families' Youth Have Embarked on Summer Jobs Program

BOSTON — The Patrick Administration announced today that 50 youth from the Youth Summer Jobs Program, a collaborative initiative in the Boston area between the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Communities for People, and the Center for Public Management at Suffolk University have embarked on a summer job experience provided by a number of private and public employers. This summer, 20 different provider agencies and their employers will participate, including: Expressway Toyota, the Middlesex and Suffolk County Courts, the Boston Police Department, the Department of Children and Families’ Boston Legal Office and Suffolk University, along with several private social service agencies.

For more than seven years, the youth who range in age from 17-20 have enjoyed the program and the opportunity to have a real world job experience. In reviewing the program, a 2008 participant explained that being able to make money provided him with a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that he had never really felt before. The young people work a 35-hour week, receive $10/hour and are expected to follow the employment rules of each job site.

“The Summer Jobs Program gives youth an opportunity to earn money while making a positive contribution to the community,” said DCF Commissioner Angelo McClain. “Each year, we are proud to be associated with the program, and are amazed at the energy, poise and leadership the youth demonstrate.”

The Suffolk Graduate School of Public Management will provide job coaches for the youth, resume-writing seminars, job readiness training, bookkeeping and payment processing services, outcome evaluation reports, and function room space/coordination for orientation and graduation.

Communities For People staff will work with the various job providers to negotiate summer jobs, obtain job descriptions, evaluate youth job applications, match youth to jobs in tandem with DCF staff, assist with orientation and graduation programs and questions/issues that arise throughout the seven-week program. In addition, Sovereign Bank will provide savings accounts for the youth, with a $50 gift deposit.

The recruitment of youth and agency organizations began in May, and the placement of youth in their summer jobs began on June 29 and continued until August 17 (seven weeks). Youth were assigned to a variety of jobs including: office support, day care and day camp support, peer leadership, building maintenance and IT support.

The goals of the program are:

To provide youth with experience in job related skills, such as time management, computer skills, answering phones and attendance.
To assist youth in meeting personal goals, such as self-esteem, self-reliance, leadership, communication, teamwork, conflict resolution and money management.
To provide agencies with summer support staff.

About the Department of Children and Families (DCF)

The Department of Children and Families is charged with protecting children from abuse and neglect and strengthening families. There are currently 10,000 children in foster care across Massachusetts and more than 40,000 children in all served by the Department. With the understanding that every child is entitled to a home that is free from abuse and neglect, the Department’s vision is to ensure the safety of children in a manner that holds the best hope of nurturing a sustained, resilient network of relationships to support the child’s growth and development into adulthood. Programs through the Department of Children and Families include foster care, adoption, adolescent services and domestic violence services.

# # #