Jobs program helps youths and businesses

By Marijke Rowland
mrowland@modbee.com

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Seventeen-year-old Christa Brunetti has what seems to be a pretty standard summer job.

As a hostess at Modesto's Uno Chicago Grill, the recent Enochs High graduate answers phones, seats guests and doles out menus. It's her first job and her first paycheck.

And it all comes courtesy of the federal government.

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The Modesto teen is one of almost 1,000 Stanislaus County youths taking part in a summer jobs program funded directly by the federal stimulus package. The Stanislaus Youth@Work Program is a $3.89 million initiative designed to give the county's low-income youths summer jobs and career training.

"I have a lot of friends who are still looking for work this summer," Brunetti said, while on a break from her hostess duties. "I had been looking for work anywhere but not having any luck. Because of the economy, I probably wouldn't have found one. I never thought I'd be part of the (federal stimulus)."

The program is administered by the Stanislaus County Alliance Worknet. Director Jeff Rowe said the stimulus act provided funding to all Workforce Investment Act programs, such as the Alliance Worknet, across the country. Funding amounts differed by population size and poverty levels.

The county's $3.89 funding increases the Alliance Worknet's annual operating budget of $2.8 million.

"We were pleasantly surprised with the amount," Rowe said. "It is even more important now because the unemployment rate is so high, adults are trying to get the jobs that are available to youths. So they need every advantage they possibly can."

The program has placed 922 youths, ages 14 to 24, in jobs at some 400 work sites across the county. To qualify, each applicant must be low income and have at least one barrier to employment. That could be anything from education level to disabilities or single parenthood.

Learning while working

Most of the youths have limited or no prior work experience. Part of the program teaches them basic job skills, from writing a résumé to interviewing to basic workplace behavior.

The jobs are all minimum wage and for the most part full time. The length of placements vary, but most last about eight weeks and end this month. Some already are over. Others extend into September.

The employers are a mix of private, nonprofit and government operations that include the Howard Training Center, Habitat for Humanity, Stanislaus Literacy Center, convalescent hospitals, restaurants, retail stores and insurance agencies.

The jobs range from clerical to janitorial, teacher's aides to cafeteria workers.

Brunetti works at a private company, but others are like 24-year-old Ceres resident Ana Torres, who has spent her summer at the nonprofit Catholic Charities.

While there, Torres worked as a children's health initiative program assistant. She met with families to educate them about what help was available and walk them through the application paperwork. It's the kind of work Torres hopes to make a career of through her behavioral-social science studies at Modesto Junior College.

Torres' previous work experience was a six-month stint at Famous Footwear, though she has done a lot of volunteer work with her church.

"It was so difficult to find work. I'd been applying to places all over," Torres said. "It has helped me out for the future so much. Being an ad- vocate for the people has been such a great experience for me."

The money has come in handy, too.

"This helps pay rent, pay gas," said Torres, who lives with her mother and older sister. "It's so hard out there finding jobs, and this helps so much."