CARE – Career Awareness Related Experience

Table of Contents

Career Awareness Related Experience

General information

Job readiness training + Paid real world hands-on work experience + Mentoring + Soft skill development + Career exploration = Career readiness

Contact information

Armory Sports and Recreation Center

Phone: 573.817.5077opens phone dialer

Map Address: 701 E. Ash St.

Supervisor

Ron Schmidt
Ron.Schmidt@CoMo.gov

Administrative Assistant

CARE Office
Tonia.Turner@CoMo.gov

Social

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

What is CARE?

The City of Columbia’s Career Awareness Related Experience (CARE) program’s goal is for Columbia’s youth to be ready to enter the workforce and become productive, self-sufficient citizens.  Since 1982, the CARE program has provided comprehensive services for Columbia’s youth that include:

  • job readiness training
  • paid real-world hands-on work experience
  • mentoring
  • soft skill development*
  • career exploration
* Soft skills, also known as people skills, are the personal characteristics that individuals have.  Good soft skills will benefit workers no matter where they work or what they do.  Supervisors usually consider soft skills to be more important than hard skills (the technical expertise and knowledge needed to do a certain job) in job applicants for entry-level positions.  They want new employees to have strong soft skills, and then they will teach them the hard skills.
 
The CARE program hires 14- to 20-year-olds who live in the City of Columbia, MO and/or attend a Columbia, MO school and places them at local businesses, where they gain much needed real-world hands-on work experience while getting paid.  One hundred percent of the trainees’ wages are paid by CARE, which is administered through the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department.

Teenagers face many barriers to joining the labor force, especially in Columbia, MO because of substantial competition from thousands of college students for the available entry-level jobs…but the CARE program can help break down those barriers!

Lack of job readiness skills, employment experience, positive adult role models, career exposure, and life skills training can lead to adolescents being unemployed and/or underemployed, which can lead to increased:

  • truancy and high school dropout rates
  • emotional problems
  • crime
  • adolescent pregnancy
  • alcoholism/drug addiction
  • dependence upon government assistance

Unemployment also impacts communities.  Unemployed individuals are unable to contribute to public taxes, lowering a community’s tax base.  In addition, taxpayers incur higher spending to cover the social costs of welfare, healthcare, and incarceration.  Clearly, communities as a whole also benefit significantly when their young people are prepared to become self-reliant adults.

CARE history

A particularly stressful summer of youth violence and unrest in Columbia’s central city, a high level of youth unemployment, and the untimely reduction in Federal youth employment programs compelled a group of community leaders to meet during the summer of 1981 to form a steering committee.  Their goal was to learn about the violence and employment challenges facing the youth of Columbia and to make recommendations regarding what to do about it.

In 1982, this steering committee established a pilot program to provide meaningful employment for 150 low-income Columbia youth, ages 14 to 20.  This program was initially funded by an appropriation from the City Council and a grant received from the Columbia Board of Education.  The Columbia Parks and Recreation Department provided the facilities and staff to administer the program, which was named CARE, an acronym for Career Awareness Related Experience.

The CARE program was created because of the vision and efforts of this steering committee, which included several longtime Columbia Parks and Recreation employees, including the late Wynna Faye Elbert.  CARE began more than 30 years ago for the same reason it is still needed today, which is for Columbia’s youth to be ready to enter the workforce and become productive, self-sufficient citizens.

Free application and interview assistance

From November 1 through February 28, CARE staff and volunteers are available to provide its applicants one-on-one assistance with:

  • Applying online
  • Making resumes and cover letters
  • Obtaining letters of recommendation
  • Practice interviewing

To schedule application/interview assistance, contact Tonia Turner at [email protected]create new email or 573.874.6300.

CARE's Summer Trainee Program

CARE’s summer program offers a six-week program in which approximately 125 14- to 20-year-old trainees are hired at just under minimum wage to work up to 25 hours per week at local work sites (see list of recent partners below). 

To Apply

Summer program applications are available Dec. 1 through Feb. 28, however, applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to apply online as early as possible. To apply, visit, the City’s website and search CARE Summer Trainee. 

2013 to 2021 work site partners

  • A Cut Above the Rest
  • A Discovery Zone
  • A Galaxy of Stars Child Care Center
  • A Good Start Preschool
  • A World of Discoveries
  • About Paws Pet Salon
  • Academy of Early Childhood Learning
  • Access Arts
  • ACME T-Shirts
  • All Creatures Animal Hospital
  • All Dogs-N-Cats
  • Alpine Shop
  • America’s Tax Office
  • Aroma Coffee House
  • Arris’ Pizza
  • Art of Fadez Studio
  • Artistry Salon
  • Athletes Performance Institute
  • Atkins Building Services and Products
  • Auto Embassy
  • Avis/Budget Rent a Car
  • Barred Owl
  • Battle High School
  • Beauty and Beyond
  • Beauty Supply Xpress
  • Benton Elementary School
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters
  • Big Daddy’s BBQ
  • Big Steps Early Learning Center
  • Bliss Adult Daycare
  • Bluestem Missouri Crafts
  • Bob McCosh Chevrolet Buick GMC Cadillac
  • Boy Scouts of America – Great Rivers Council
  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Brock’s Auto Body
  • Candlewood Suites
  • Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center
  • Central Food Pantry
  • Central Missouri Humane Society
  • Chrystal L. Hair & Makeup
  • City of Columbia Community Development
  • City of Columbia Parks & Rec Aquatics
  • City of Columbia Parks & Rec Armory Summer Camp
  • City of Columbia Parks & Rec Horticulture
  • City of Columbia Parks & Rec Lake of Woods Golf Course
  • City of Columbia Solid Waste
  • Classic Whips
  • Columbia Area Career Center
  • Columbia Chamber of Commerce
  • Columbia Pet Center
  • Columbia Senior Center
  • Columbia/Boone County Health Department WIC
  • Como Smoke and Fire
  • Daniel Boone Regional Library
  • Donut D-Light
  • Fun City Youth Academy
  • G & D Pizzaria
  • Gaines Car Detailing
  • Galen’s Auto Body
  • Go Baby Go
  • Going Bonkers
  • Harmony’s Treasure Box
  • Hickman High School
  • Jabberwocky Studios
  • Jimmy Johns – North
  • Job Finders
  • Johnston Paint & Decorating
  • KOMU
  • Latter House Childcare Center
  • Machers Swim School
  • Makes Scents
  • Marathon Building Environment
  • Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning Center
  • Maude Vintage Clothing
  • Moving Ahead Program
  • Ms. Kim’s Fish and Chicken Shack
  • MU Law Library
  • MU School of Social Work
  • Nanny’s Early Learning Center
  • Nora Stewart Early Learning Center
  • Palen Music Center
  • Parent Link
  • Parkside Skateshop
  • Play It Again Sports
  • Plaza Dental Group
  • Precious Hearts
  • Quantum Wireless Internet
  • Ranch House BBQ
  • Resident Arts
  • Rock Bridge High School
  • Rutter And Sleeth Law Offices
  • Salvation Army
  • Shakespeare’s Pizza South
  • Shakespeare’s Pizza West
  • Shalom Christian Academy and Daycare
  • SoccerPro.com
  • Super Sami Beauty Supply
  • Taylor Tool Works
  • The Language Tree
  • The Neighborhood by Tiger
  • The School House Daycare
  • Toni Woods @ JCPenney’s Salon
  • Tree Top Innovative Learning Center
  • UCP Child Development Center
  • University Hospital Housekeeping
  • University Hospital Linens
  • USDA Biological Control of Insects Research Lab
  • Woodhaven
  • Youth Empowerment Zone

Want to make a difference while getting free labor during the summer?

Care Award Winners posing

The City of Columbia’s CARE program hires local teenagers and places them at area businesses, where they gain much needed real-world hands-on experience while getting paid.

CARE depends on partnerships with area companies (work site partners) to provide the work sites for its trainees, however, 100 percent of the trainees’ wages are paid by CARE, which is administered through Columbia Parks and Recreation. 

Work site partners are investing in our future by investing in our youth, while at the same time receiving free labor. The youth trainees gain valuable employment experience and life skills while earning a paycheck. CARE is a win-win situation for the trainees, the work site partners and the Columbia community as a whole. 

What is expected from CARE’s work sites?

Work site supervisors are responsible for the:

  • mentoring
  • training
  • explaining
  • demonstrating
  • monitoring
  • daily supervising
  • evaluating

…aspects of the paid real-world hands-on work experience. Most importantly, they must be able to keep their trainees busy with quality “entry-level” work experiences and supervise them for up to 25 hours per week from late June to early August.

Who does CARE hire?

The CARE program hires 14- to 20-year-olds who live in the City of Columbia, MO and/or attend a Columbia, MO school.  CARE applicants are local teenagers who do not yet feel comfortable in applying for, interviewing for, and getting hired for their first, second, and/or sometimes third summer job.  The majority of CARE’s trainees are 14- and 15-year-olds.  Most of them are ready to obtain their own employment after one or two summers in the CARE program.

But what if my business does not hire 14- or 15-year-olds?

That is okay because you do not “hire” them, the City does; therefore, they are full-fledged City of Columbia employees.  They are not your “employees,” as they are actually volunteers at your business.  All employer responsibilities and liabilities, including workers’ compensation, belong to the City of Columbia.

Do we have to hire them at the end of the summer?

No, you do not.  However, nearly one third of CARE’s trainees do such a good job they are offered continued employment from their work site’s own budget after the program is over.  In fact, several former trainees are still employed at their CARE work sites many years after their placements ended.

BCFR collaboration

Boone County Family Resources’ mission is to enable Boone County residents with developmental disabilities to thrive in the community, connect with others, and achieve their personal goals.  Since 2009, CARE has partnered with BCFR to provide paid real-world hands-on experience, mentoring, life skills training, resources for educational pursuits, resume building assistance, and individualized goal setting guidance for clients who have developmental disabilities and are at risk for unemployment and underemployment.

Participants in this program also receive specialized support at the work site.  Trainees may work up to 10 hours per week (up to 25 hours per week during the summer) for minimum wage.  Just like the Summer Program, CARE places these youth at a variety of area work sites.  Clients must be referred to the CARE program by BCFR, which provides much of the funding for the program.

For more information about the CARE/BCFR partnership, contact Ron Schmidt at Ron.Schmidt@CoMo.gov or 573.874.6300opens phone dialer.

CARE / City utilities summer internship

The CARE program offers a ten-week summer program in which approximately 20 16- to 20-year-old interns are hired at minimum wage to work up to 28 hours per week for one of the following areas:

Sewer and Stormwater – Engineering

  •        Sewer and Stormwater – Maintenance
  •          Solid Waste – Administration
  •          Solid Waste – Landfill
  •          Water & Light – Electric Distribution
  •         Water & Light – Electric Production
  •          Water & Light – Engineering
  •          Water & Light – Utility Services
  •          Water & Light – Water Distribution
  •          Water & Light – Water Production

Available positions include:

  •          Administration Intern
  •          Data Entry Intern
  •          Engineering Intern
  •          Grounds Maintenance Intern
  •          Maintenance Mechanic Intern
  •          Operator Intern
  •          Sewer and Stormwater Intern

CARE/City Utilities Internship applications are available March 1 through April 15; however, applicants are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to apply online as early as possible.  To apply visit  gocomojobs.com (search for CARE/City Utilities Intern).

CARE Program seeking paid employment support workers

CARE employment support workers may work between five and 28 hours per week from February to August.  Employment support worker schedules are flexible with daytime, evening, and weekend hours available.  They may work during the spring and summer, just the spring, or just the summer (depending upon their availability).

Duties include:

  • Assist applicants:
    • apply for trainee positions online
    • make resumes and cover letters
    • learn how to get letters of recommendation
    • with practice interviewing
  • Schedule interviews
  • Co-interview (with another interviewer) and score interviews
  • Assist trainees with new hire paperwork
  • Help conduct job readiness training
  • Help conduct orientations
  • Help with work site placement
  • Support youth employees at their work sites
  • Score surveys, compile survey results, compile pre-test/post-test results, and assist with the assembling of the annual report
  • Recruit new work sites for the next summer

CARE employment support worker applications are available beginning in January of each year; however, applicants are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to apply online as early as possible.  To apply visit: gocomojobs.com  (search for CARE Employment Support Worker).

For more information regarding becoming a CARE employment support worker, contact Ron Schmidt at [email protected]create new email or 573.874.6300.

Internship opportunities

The City of Columbia’s Career Awareness Related Experience (CARE) program is an excellent place for interns, practicum students, and volunteers to gain valuable experience.  In addition, each summer, we hire approximately 10 summer job coaches, and being an unpaid intern often times leads to becoming a paid summer job coach (if that is something that interests you).

The CARE program works with 14- to 20-year-olds who live in the City of Columbia, MO and/or attend a Columbia, MO school.  CARE’s goal is for “Columbia’s youth to be ready to enter the workforce and become productive, self-sufficient citizens.”

The CARE unpaid intern/volunteer application process is simple. An applicant just needs to:

  • send an email to Ron Schmidt at Ron.Schmidt@CoMo.gov
  • meet in person with Ron Schmidt (his office is on the second floor at the Armory Sports Center, which is located at the corner of 7th St. and Ash St.; free parking is available on Park St., which is behind/north of the Armory)
  • get approval from his/her department for college credit (if applicable)
  • get started making a difference, gaining experience, and earning college credit

The Armory Sports Center (701 East Ash Street), which is located at the corner of 7th St. and Ash St., is easy walking distance from the Mizzou, Columbia College, and Stephens College campuses.

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT INTERN / VOLUNTEER

DAYS AND HOURS

Mainly Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. plus some evening and weekend hours available if desired.

DUTIES

  • Assist applicants:
    • apply for trainee positions online (late fall and early spring)
    • make resumes and cover letters (late fall and early spring)
    • learn how to get letters of recommendation (late fall and early spring)
    • practice interviewing (late fall and early spring)
  • Schedule interviews (early spring) 
  • Co-interview and score interviews (early spring) 
  • Assist trainees with new hire paperwork (spring)
  • Help conduct job readiness training (spring)
  • Help conduct orientations (late spring) 
  • Help with work site placement (late spring)
  • Support youth employees at their work sites (summer)
  • Score surveys, compile survey results, compile pre-test/post-test results and assist with the assembling of the annual report (fall)
  • Recruit new work sites for the next summer (fall and spring) 
PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO/SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN/VOLUNTEER

DAYS AND HOURS

Mainly Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. plus some evening and weekend hours available if desired.

DUTIES

  • Take photos of trainees, work site supervisors and employment support workers for social media, brochures and flyers 
  • Make videos of trainees, work site supervisors and employment support workers
  • Assist with social media

WRITING / SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN/VOLUNTEER

DAYS AND HOURS

Mainly Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. plus some evening and weekend hours available if desired.

DUTIES

  • Write short articles revolving around CARE trainees at their work sites
  • Assist with social media

ASSESSMENT/OUTCOMES INTERN/VOLUNTEER

DAYS AND HOURS

  • Mainly Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. plus some evening and weekend hours available if desired.

DUTIES

  • Find and document assessment tools, program evaluations, pre-tests/post-tests, participant surveys, measurable objectives, outcomes and outputs similar programs (work experience, mentoring, career exploration, job readiness, and/or soft skill development
  • What are other similar programs doing to measure their effectiveness?
  • Develop a list of measurable outcomes (not outputs) for a summer employment program for teenagers
  • How can we track our trainees long-term to see how they are doing years later?

HYBRID INTERN / VOLUNTEER

DUTIES

Any combination of the previously listed internships to meet your needs.