CARE – Career Awareness Related Experience

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“Investing in our Youth, Investing in our Future”

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 at-risk youth that include:

• job readiness training
• paid real-world hands-on work experience
• mentoring
• soft skill development*
• career exploration

The CARE program hires at-risk 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.

 

High-risk 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.

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CARE’s 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.

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Want to Make a Difference While Getting Free Labor?

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 work experience while getting paid. 
CARE depends on partnerships with area companies (work site partners) to provide the work sites for its trainees; however, 100% of the trainees’ wages are paid by CARE, which is administered through the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department. 
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-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 work experiences and supervise them for at least 20 hours per week in June and July.

Who does CARE hire?

The CARE program hires at-risk 14- to 20-year-olds who live in the City of Columbia, MO and/or attend a Columbia, MO school.  CARE applicants  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.

2013 to 2019 Work Site Partners include:

• A Galaxy of Stars Child Care Center
• A World of Discoveries
• Academy of Early Childhood Learning
• Access Arts
• ACME T-Shirts
• All Creatures Animal Hospital
• All Dogs-N-Cats
• America’s Tax Office
• Arris’ Pizza
• Barred Owl
• Benton Elementary School
• Big Daddy’s BBQ
• Big Steps Early Learning Center
• Bob McCosh Chevrolet
• Boy Scouts of America – Great Rivers Council
• Boys and Girls Club
• Brock’s Auto Body
• Camp Salsa
• 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

For more information regarding becoming a CARE summer work site partner, contact Ron Schmidt at ron.schmidt@CoMo.gov or 573.874.6377.

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CARE’s Traditional Summer Program

CARE’s Summer Program is its original and largest program.  CARE offers an eight-week program in which approximately 150 14- to 20-year-old trainees are hired at $9 per hour to work up to 20 hours per week at a variety of local work sites. While traditional program trainees’ input is utilized, they do not directly choose their work site.

Summer program applications are available Oct. 1 through Feb. 28, however, applicants are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to apply online as early as possible.  Apply Now (search for CARE TRADITIONAL Summer Trainee). Youth may only participate in one CARE employment/mentoring program at a time. 

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Project Salsa Partnership

Project Salsa is also an 8-week summer program.  It is a collaborative academic/employment effort between the CARE program, MU Family Impact Center, Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, and Columbia Public Schools.  Project Salsa began in 2015.

Project Salsa provides opportunities for about 15 local high school students to work from beginning to end on a project to foster skills that can be transferred into the workforce.  The main components of the Camp Salsa experience are:

• Grow:  trainees will learn to maintain a garden
• Cook:  trainees will work in a team to research and produce a unique salsa recipe.
• Sell:  trainees will learn to create a business plan, package their salsa, create a brand, label their product, and then sell their salsa.

Upon completion of the first four weeks of the program, students will receive one high school class credit from Columbia Public Schools.  In addition, students will be paid for their working hours for eight weeks of the program through the CARE program.

Completed Project Salsa applications are due by March 20, 2020.  For more information, please contact Sara Hughes at 573 882-2428.

Youth may only participate in one CARE employment/mentoring program at a time. 

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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 20 hours per week during the summer) and earn $9 per hour.  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 573.874.6377.

*Youth may only participate in one CARE employment/mentoring program at a time.

Workshop Wednesdays

Workshop Wednesdays are the CARE program’s free drop-in employment classes for 6th through 12th grade students on most Wednesdays in October, November, December, and January.  CARE staff and volunteers are available from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on these Wednesdays to provide individualized and small group assistance with: 

• Making your own resume
• Making your own cover letter
• Learning how to get letters of recommendation
• Practice interviewing
• Applying online for a summer CARE trainee position

All workshops are held on the second floor of the Armory Sports Center (701 East Ash St.), which is located at the northeast corner of 7th St. and Ash St.  Free parking is available in the Armory parking lots after 6:00 p.m.

For more information, call the CARE office at 573.874-6300.

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CARE Program seeking unpaid interns/volunteers

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 at-risk 14- to 20-year-olds who live in the City of Columbia, MO and/or attend a Columbia, MO school.  High-risk teenagers face many barriers to joining the labor force.  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.

 

Human Services and Education Intern/Volunteer
Number of Positions Needed	Two needed in the fall, five needed in the spring, and three needed in the summer
Hours Per Week	Minimum = 5 hours per week, maximum = 30 hours per week.
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	Help applicants apply for trainee positions online Review and score trainee applications Schedule interviews Interview trainee applicants Assist trainees with new hire paperwork Help teach workshops/classes on: Money management Job readiness Volunteering to help you get a job Resume assistance Cover letter assistance Letters of recommendation assistance Interviewing assistance CARE trainee online application assistance Assist/shadow CARE job coaches by: Helping to mentor trainees Helping communicate with work site mentors Visiting trainees at their work sites Taking photos of trainees, work site mentors, and job coaches in action at the work sites Dropping off and/or picking up information to/from work sites Assist with numerous special projects
Requirements	Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be a high school graduate (or equivalent).  Experience working with youth is required.  Some academic, work, or volunteer experience in Social Work, Community Services, Human Development/ Family Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Education, or a related field is preferred.

 

Media and Marketing  Intern/Volunteer
Number of Positions Needed	One needed in the fall, spring, and summer
Hours Per Week	Minimum = 5 hours per week, maximum = 20 hours per week.
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	Keep the CARE Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts current, make videos for social media, take photos for the website, brochure, social media, etc., and design brochures.  The goal of this position is to educate the Columbia community about the CARE program and what its needs are.
Requirements	Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be a high school graduate (or equivalent).  The student needs to be interested in outreach, marketing, social media, and/or awareness.  Experience working with marketing and/or social media is preferred.

 

Assessment Intern/Volunteer
Number of Positions Needed	Two needed in the fall; no spring or summer positions
Hours Per Week	Minimum = 5 hours per week, maximum = 20 hours per week.
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	Working with current, as well as researching/developing new assessment tools, program evaluations, pre-tests/post-tests, participant surveys, measurable objectives, outcomes, and outputs; researching similar programs that use “Best Practices” or are “Model Programs;” and tying the CARE program to the “developmental assets framework,” which was created by the Search Institute.  Developmental assets are the positive values, relationships, skills, and experiences that help children and teens thrive.  Young people with high asset levels are most likely to make healthy choices, while those with lower asset levels are more likely to get involved with negative or risky behaviors like violence, trouble in school, drug and alcohol use, etc.
Requirements	Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be a high school graduate (or equivalent).  The student needs to be interested in research, assessment tools, program evaluations, pre-tests/post-tests, surveys, measurable objectives, outcomes, and/or outputs.  Experience working with research, assessment tools, program evaluations, pre-tests/post-tests, surveys, measurable objectives, outcomes, and/or outputs is preferred.

 

Work Site Development Intern/Volunteer
Number of Positions Needed	Four needed in the fall and spring; no summer positions
Hours Per Week	Minimum = 5 hours per week, maximum = 30 hours per week.
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 out why current work site mentors like working with the CARE program, compile list of their likes and dislikes, promote CARE to other Columbia businesses with the goal of them coming on as work sites the following summer, and organize open houses for prospective work sites.
Requirements	Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be a high school graduate (or equivalent).  The student needs to be interested in business, outreach, marketing, and/or awareness.  Experience working with marketing is preferred.  Having access to reliable transportation is helpful.

 

Summer Art Gallery Marketing/Programming Assistant Intern/Volunteer
Number of Positions Needed	One needed in the summer ONLY
Hours Per Week	Minimum = 5 hours per week, maximum = 30 hours per week.
Days And Hours	Mainly Monday through Friday from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. plus some evening and weekend hours available if desired.
Duties	This intern/volunteer markets the CARE Summer Gallery as well as helps oversee classroom art activities as needed.  The main goal of this position is to generate awareness of the Gallery’s community projects as well as its end of year reception and art exhibition/sale.  The CARE Gallery serves as a visual arts work site for the CARE summer program.  The Gallery Coordinator functions as the job coach as well as the work site mentor.  The Summer Art Gallery Marketing/Programming Assistant directly assists the Gallery Coordinator. The CARE Art Gallery, which began in 2000, serves as a visual arts work site for the CARE program.  Approximately 15 creative youth are given the opportunity to work as paid artists (minimum wage) for eight weeks.  Art Gallery trainees work with and learn from professional artists.  They participate in art activities designed to enhance their existing skills and knowledge.  Art Gallery trainees learn artistic techniques in a variety of media, and create their own artwork.
Requirements	Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and be a high school graduate (or equivalent).  The student needs to be interested in outreach, marketing, social media, awareness, and/or arts education.  Experience working with marketing, social media, and/or arts education is preferred.

 

Hybrid of any of the previously listed internships to meet your needs
Hours Per Week	Minimum = 5 hours per week, maximum = 30 hours per week.
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	Any combination of the previously listed internships to meet your needs.
Requirements	Any combination of the previously listed internships.