Rural MN CEP, Inc. offers a summer program for kids that has been available for many years, but this year, the agency received American Recover and Reinvestment Act stimulus money to build the program and help youth in the local area with jobs.  These area youth are lending a helping hand in the community and getting paid for it.
In Baudette, Anne Thomas, Rural MN CEP, Inc. job counselor,  began recruiting students to participate in the program and she  also asked area employers and public worksites to participate.  This summer, the age range for youth workers was expanded to include 22-24 year olds, along with ages 14-21, which has been the standard age level in previous years.  The wages for the youth are paid through Rural MN CEP, Inc.

Travis Speaker
Ten students were selected to be enrolled in the program this year and some got  jobs working at the school helping with maintenance work, some doing office work at various city and county worksites and one has landed a job helping a local business doing mechanic work.  Youth are asked what their interests are and then counselors try to match their interests with the job sites.  Youth working through the CEP program can work up to 40 hours per week.  Some choose to work less hours if they are involved in summer activities.  They earn minimum wage which will be increased late July.  The worksites are provided an orientation about safe work habits, mentoring youth, timecard preparation, and youth are provided a similar orientation before they start the job.  The emphasis for the program is to help youth set work readiness goals so they learn the basics of record keeping, punctuality, following directions, worksite safety and positive work habits.  Supervisors are mentors who work with the youth to gain those skills.
Lindsey Carlson landed her job with the County Social Services office.  Lindsey says she was on the program last year working maintenance at the school, but wanted to find something that fit her career goals of eventually working in the public sector.  She does data entry, answers phone calls and routes them to staff, and has learned the importance of data privacy on the job.  She loves her job because it keeps her busy.  She will return to post secondary school this fall.
Travis Speaker works as a mechanic for Custom Auto Body in Baudette.  His mechanic skills enable him to help with many of the scheduled car maintenance work there at the shop.  He says this job is a perfect fit for him because he has plans to begin training in auto body this fall.  He likes the job and says this has been a great program for the summer.  His supervisor, Tammy, says he's doing a great job and is a good fit for their business.
Virginia Deeds, team leader for Rural MN CEP, Inc., says, "we owe a lot to the employers and worksites in the area for taking on this program and helping youth learn positive work habits.  It's a program that helps area businesses, youth, and keeps jobs in the community."