Youthworks Summer Jobs Program

Worcester’s “YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program” was established in May of 2005, with a $167,000 grant from the state’s Commonwealth Corporation – directed to the City, and developed through Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. to create summer jobs for low-income, inner city youth between the ages of 14 and 21. With a grant- required “20% match” developed from private funding, 102 paid summer jobs were created. There were 18 separate work sites, and the youth were paid $7/hr.

In May 2009, The Central Massachusetts Regional Employment Board, with a grant from the Commonwealth Corporation, sub-contracted $603,495 to Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. as the lead implementing agency for the YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program.
$442,945 (74%) was used towards program wages and related expenditures for low-income/at-risk youth residing Worcester. This amount produced 313 summer jobs at 38 locations and job sites throughout the City, and 90 WPS/MCAS remediation internships at 9 additional locations.
22 of the 38 job sites (58%) represented 244 of the 313 summer jobs (78%) directly recruited for and filled by youth living within their own neighborhoods.

.

Student Eligibility

In order to secure a job in the “YouthWorks” program:

• Applicants must reside in the City of Worcester;
  
• Applicants must be between the ages of 14 and 21;
  
• Applicants must fit the State mandated "low-income / at-risk" criteria;
  
• Applicants must provide a signed copy of their SS card;
  
• Applicants must complete the application process, including pre-employment training;
  
• Applicants must submit to a CORI check/drug test, where required.

Employer Criteria

In order to participate in the “YouthWorks” program:

• Employers shall provide general descriptions for quality jobs;
  
• Employers shall establish hours of work within the program guidelines;
  
• Employers shall provide daily supervision, and monitor attendance;
  
• Employers shall strictly adhere to all Safety and Child labor Laws;
  
• Employers shall work closely with WCAC to ensure a successful work experience;
  
• Employers shall immediately notify WCAC of any problematic situations.

WCAC is responsible for all phases of the “YouthWorks” program: job development and placement, recruitment and eligibility, pre-employment training, site monitoring and safety adherence, distribution of a weekly payroll, and constant communication with all interested parties. WCAC works closely with all State and Local Representatives to secure additional youth employment funds, as well as with many of our public and private sector employers to increase job availability for our youth.