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

Columbia's Youth Employment and Education Program
Armory Community Center, 701 East Ash
(573) 874-6300

A special thank you to our employers in 2011! Please check the list here.

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 or KLKORT@gocolumbiamo.com.

EMPLOYER JOB SITE AGREEMENT (UPDATED 12/11)

SUMMER 2012 JOB APPLICATION ( PRINT TO COMPLETE)

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.

First, participants develop basic work skills which help them build a good work ethic for future opportunities. Second, young adults have the opportunity to explore a work environment and observe what goes on in a field of their interest.  Finally, young adults earn minimum wage and learn the value of a dollar and the importance of setting financial goals. Employment services are available during the school year for young adults enrolled in the Missouri Option Program and in the summer for an eight-week employment program for youth ages 14-18. C.A.R.E. also offers creative young adults the opportunity to work as artists during the summer’s C.A.R.E. gallery experience. Free tutoring services for any youth age 14-18 living in Columbia is available during the school year. For more information, contact the C.A.R.E. office at 573-874-6300.

Funding, including participant wages, is paid by the City of Columbia and administered through the Parks and Recreation Department.

Important Dates:

January 9, 2012                    Summer applications available
February 17, 2012                Application deadline for summer employment
February 24, 2012                Interviews for summer begin
May 14, 2012                        Summer Orientations begin
June 11, 2012                       Summer Program begins
August 3, 2012                      Summer Program ends

• Application/Hiring Process
• Tips for the Applicant
• Summer Program / Classes
• Missouri Option Program

Application/Hiring Process

• C.A.R.E. applications for the summer program will be available on Jan. 9, 2012 at local junior high and high school guidance offices, as well as the C.A.R.E. office.

• Interviews are scheduled by telephone.
• Participants are notified by mail.
• Completed applications may be turned in at the C.A.R.E. office (701 E. Ash, second floor of the Armory building) or the guidance offices at West Jr. High, Oakland Jr. High, Jefferson Jr. High, Hickman High School, Douglass High School or Rock Bridge High School.
  
  

Tips for the Applicant

• Submit a neatly written application.
• A parent/guardian MUST SIGN the application.
• Applications must be received by February 17, 2012.
• Applicants are interviewed on a first come, first serve basis.
• Do Not wear jeans to your interview.
• Do Not bring friends to your interview.
• Do Not bring more than one family member to your interview.

Summer Program

Local employers provide jobs for C.A.R.E. youth in a variety of environments such as: office, retail, salon, art studio, daycare, school, and outdoor labor. Trainees work 20 hours per week and earn minimum wage during the eight-week program. Wages and liability coverage are paid by the City of Columbia.

Classes
Classes on professionalism and budgeting/personal finance were offered to all participants during the summer 2011 program.

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

The Missouri Option program increases Columbia’s graduation rate and reduces the high school truancy rate. Local Missouri Option students MUST BE referred to the C.A.R.E. program for employment and tutoring assistance by their cooperating Missouri Option teacher. Students work up to 20 hours per week and earn minimum wage until they graduate or find their own employment. About 150 high-risk Missouri Option students have graduated with the assistance of the C.A.R.E. program. For more information regarding this alternative path to graduation, contact the C.A.R.E. office at 573-874-6300.