C.A.R.E. - Career Awareness Related Experience, City of Columbia, MO

Parks & Recreation
Creating Community through People, Parks and Programs

C.A.R.E. - Career Awareness Related Experience

110 Orr Street, Suite 106
(573) 874-6300
FAX (573) 499-1812

IMPORTANT CHANGE (as of Feb 17, 2010): Applications for the summer 2010 program will only be taken until February 23, rather than March 5.
We have had an overwhelming number of applications, with 300 interviews scheduled for only 160 slots. The budget only allows for 160 youth. Due to staff and time constraints, we cannot guarantee all applicants will be granted an interview.

We sincerely apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience.

JOB APPLICATION (UPDATED 11/09)
EMPLOYER JOB SITE AGREEMENT (UPDATED 11/09)

Youth Employment & Education Program

Since 1982, the City of Columbia's Career Awareness Related Experience (C.A.R.E) program has served Columbia’s youth age 14-18 in many important ways. C.A.R.E provides program participants with summer employment opportunities to help them become self-disciplined, productive and skilled as well as provide them with educational opportunities that will allow them to practice applying basic skills to real world problems. During the summer, C.A.R.E trainees will work 20 hours a week for 8 weeks on the job with a local private or public sector employer and attend up to 25 hours in an educational setting problem-solving. Trainees are paid minimum wage for attending work/class up to 205 hours.

Important Dates
Application/Hiring Process
Tips for the Applicant
Classes
Program Information
Employers Information
Missouri Option Program

Important Dates

October 5, 2009: C.A.R.E. Missouri Options employment begins
October 5, 2009: Tutoring begins
January 19, 2010: Summer employment applications available at local Junior high and high schools
January 25, 2010: C.A.R.E. interviews for summer start
CHANGED February 23, 2010: Last day to turn in a C.A.R.E. application for summer employment
June 14, 2010: First day of work for summer
Aug 6, 2010: Last day of work for summer

Application/Hiring Process

Interested Jr. high students should visit with their Home School Communicators to obtain a C.A.R.E application.
Interested high school students should pick up an application from a counselor at their school's Guidance Office.
Applications must be completed accurately and neatly.
Applications can be returned to respective school offices or to the staff at the C.A.R.E office.
Interviews will be scheduled via telephone.
Applicants interested in participating in the C.A.R.E Gallery will be required to attend two interviews prior to selection.
Applicants will be notified of their employment status by mail.

Tips for the Applicant

Turn in a neatly written or typed application.
Make sure a parent/guardian has signed the application.
Turn in the application on or before March 5, 2010...the earlier, the better.
Be on time to your interview but not too early!
Wear appropriate clothing.
Prepare for your interview: practice answering questions, make eye contact, and speak clearly.
Avoid bringing friends to your interview.
Avoid bringing more than one member of your family with you to your interview as we have a limited amount of office space.
Have a "can do" attitude; over 400 young people apply for about 200 positions.
Have an idea of what kind of job you would like to have and be able to explain why you would be good at it.

Classes

Note: In addition to working 20 hours per week, C.A.R.E trainees may attend one, three-hour class per week. Trainees are assigned to a class by the C.A.R.E. Program Director. There is a limited space so not all trainees will be assigned. Selection may be based on interest, need or referral. Trainees must attend class if assigned. Participants are paid minimum wage for the hours they attend.

Program Information

The C.A.R.E. Program is funded by the City of Columbia and administered through the Parks & Recreation Department. The Program is scheduled to serve 200 at-risk, disadvantaged participants.

Employer's Information

Local employers provide about 200 jobs for C.A.R.E. youth in a variety of different professions such as office/clerical, retail, salons, theater, art, auto detailing, indoor labor, food/restaurants, healthcare, daycares/schools/adultcare, and outdoor labor/recreation.

Employers provide meaningful work experiences for Columbia's C.A.R.E. participants. Trainees work 20 hours per week and earn minimum wage during the eight-week program. Wages are paid by the City of Columbia.

Providing opportunities to work and learn is one important way Columbia helps young people make informed, healthy life choices. The C.A.R.E. Staff and Parks & Recreation Department are grateful to all C.A.R.E. employers for the giving of their time, knowledge and experience.

If you are an employer interested in participating in the C.A.R.E. program, contact the C.A.R.E. Office at 573-874-6300.

C.A.R.E./Missouri Options Program Collaboration

The C.A.R.E. program's Missouri Options Program addresses the truancy and drop-out issues. Hickman and Douglass Schools Missouri Option students who partner with the C.A.R.E. program for employment and tutoring experiences, are required to attend school or they are ineligible for C.A.R.E. services. If Missouri Options students have not been attending class, they are not allowed to work until they return to the classroom.

The C.A.R.E. program initiated the Missouri Option collaboration during the 2004-2005 school year. This is a collaboration between the C.A.R.E./Parks & Recreation Department and the Columbia Public Schools. Since that time, over 120 high risk Missouri Options students have graduated.

C.A.R.E./Missouri Options Program Objectives
To increase number of students who graduate from high school
To increase number of youth who need job training and social support access to entry level jobs in their field of interest
To provide an option to engaging in illegal activities for income
To decrease the number of offenders
To provide youth with access to adults who will provide information about post-secondary education and provide social service referrals for a variety of needs (food, clothing, health, etc.)
To provide youth positive, consistent, candid, adult mentors who encourage youth to develop interests, recognize opportunities and steer away from negative influences.
To build strong relationship with Columbia Public Schools so that youth who need C.A.R.E. services are identified before they are in crisis.

How to become a C.A.R.E./Missouri Options Student

The C.A.R.E. staff hires up to 30 young adult students identified by Columbia Public Schools as at-risk for dropping out of high school. The students must be 17 and academically trail behind cohort peers by one year.

Students work to complete the GED study program at Hickman or Douglass school for 3 hours per day, 5 days per week. In order to be in compliance with the program, students must also be employed at least 15 hours per week or be enrolled and attending a vocational-tech program for 15 hours per week. Students must retain employment for school year. If the student passes the GED exam and maintains a steady employment, he/she will earn a high school diploma and walk with their class at graduation.

Population Served for C.A.R.E./Missouri Options Students

At-risk teens 17-21. These include: Young adult parents, academic under-achievers, students with significant school attendance issues, young adults with physical/emotional disabilities, students who may have had or have issues with drugs/alcohol, disproportionate number of youth from low-income, single-parent, African-American families.