Highland County Board of DD’s Community First Department preparing for Summer Youth Work Program
Each week, youths not only earn money but learn responsibilities to guide them as working adults through the Summer Youth Work Program. (Submitted photo)
Local teens are ready to learn the value of work as the 2023 Summer Youth Work Program gears up for another year.
This program, which is coordinated through the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ Community First Department in conjunction with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, offers youth between the ages of 14 and 20 a chance to earn minimum wage while performing jobs in the area. Local businesses have agreed to host teens who learn job skills with the aid of a job coach, and businesses can benefit from getting extra help during the summertime at no extra cost to them.
This year, the program will be held May 30-June 30 and will take place at Highland County YMCA, Star Cinemas Movie Theater, Ponderosa Steakhouse, The Elks Golf Course and Highland County Senior Citizen Center.
Each week, youths not only earn money but learn responsibilities to guide them as working adults. They learn skills that they can use as job experience when applying for positions later. Some of the skills that are taught are maintenance, pulling weeds, painting, clearing debris and cleaning tasks such as sweeping, mopping and sterilizing restrooms. This is valuable information to assist these students after the program and continue when they start their job search after graduation.
HCBDD also offers pre-employment transition services and job development services. These services, combined with the Summer Youth Work Program, help youths in our county to be more successful in future careers.