More than 100 youths expected to get employment

 

Employers needing summer help may find assistance from the upcoming youth program to be administered by the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services.

The Targeted Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) summer youth program is slated to get $344,859 to allow those from the ages of 14 to 24 years to find seasonal jobs.

“(It’s for) employers wanting to help out kids in the summertime and use these kids as providing services to their businesses,” Gene Myers, director of the DJFS, said.

The major requirement of the employers is that they provide a detailed explanation of the duties required for the jobs offered to those in the TANF program.

“You have to describe what you want them for,” Myers said. “If you want a mechanics helper, do you want them to answer the phone while they are working on cars. We need that to match youth in the area with the interest of the youth for the most success.”

Over the past few years funding for this program has been sporadic and was always administered by the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization. This year the county DJFS has taken over program.

Myers anticipates providing jobs for between 125 and 150 young people for an eight-week period. Workers will receive $9 an hour for a 40-hour week. Employers will be reimbursed for wages they pay from the TANF funds.

“We require some evaluations of that youth to build up the work history,” Myers said.

Right now the DJFS has 10 businesses that have filled out applications for the program. Employers can be in the private sector, a non-profit or a governmental agency.

Any employers interested in TANF workers can contact Terry Robinson at (740) 532-3324, Ext. 327. Youth interested in working can contact Patty Carter at (740) 532-3324, ext. 324.

The program starts on June 1.