American Reinvestment and Recovery Act

Summer Youth Employment Program

SPONSORED BY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT BOARD

SUMMARY REPORT

SUMMER 2009

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 2009 MONTGOMERY COUNTY SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
PROGRAM

FUNDED BY THE AMERICAN REINVESTMENT AND RECOVERY ACT

The purpose of the Montgomery County Summer Youth Employment Program

(SYEP) was to provide meaningful subsidized summer employment for youth 16-24
while they developed solid work readiness skills. Six providers had been selected by the
Workforce Investment Board to provide coordination and oversight of work readiness skill
development and summer employment work site/work experience opportunities for eight
weeks during the summer. For many of the 158 participants, this was the first time they
had worked for an employer. Ninety-two percent (92%) completed the work readiness
employment program, and eighty-seven percent (87%) showed improvement on the
work readiness assessment. The employers were well-distributed among the public, non-
profit, and private sectors. They worked as mentors to the participants and supervised
them closely. Many of them built rapport with their new employee rather quickly. Some
of the participants are continuing their employment after the SYEP concluded.

A summary of the reports from each of the six providers follows. It gives a
snapshot of the number of students served and the different worksites and industries in
which they worked. Each provider also presents a brief story that illustrates the success
of the program. A list of employers who hired our youth follows. This list is divided into
the high priority occupations in which the participants were employed. The report
concludes with a selection of photographs from each of the six providers to show some of
the students at work.

PROVIDER: CARSON VALLEY CHILDREN’S AID

LOCATION: Flourtown
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS CONTRACTED TO SERVE: 30
NUMBER ACTUALLY SERVED: 32
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WORKSITES: 6

INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED: Hospitality, Child Care, Building Trades,

Veterinary Services, Business Services, Landscaping/Horticulture

PERFORMANCE GOALS:

Number Percentage%
Completion of Work
Readiness Program 28 88%
Improvement shown
on Work Readiness 27 84%
Program Assessment

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Carson Valley Children’s Aid is a commuter and residential treatment facility for
students seventh through twelfth grade. For two weeks the participants who are still in
school engaged in a work readiness program. All of their work was closely supervised on
the campus. The student who did not complete the program had been discharged from the
facility.

SUCCESS STORY:
One of the girls in the program was known to be very reluctant to work and
struggled at first with being comfortable around the nursery school children. She would
stand in the corner instead of getting involved in their play. When her job coach tried to
give her some constructive criticism, she was afraid that the girl may totally shut down
and not want to work at all. However, she did the complete opposite. She became more
aware of those around her and initiated different activities for the children. She rarely
needed anyone to tell her what to do or how to act. This young lady is a true success
story because she went from being a little girl in a cocoon to spreading her wings and
flying on her own. She progressed from being told what to do and how to act each day to
leading and following her own path. The children seemed to care for her and will miss
seeing her each day.

PROVIDER: CENTRAL MONTCO TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL

LOCATION: Plymouth Meeting
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS CONTRACTED TO SERVE: 25
NUMBER ACTUALLY SERVED: 25
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WORKSITES: 15

INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED: Automotive, Child Care, Culinary

Arts/Hospitality, Graphic Design, Building Trades/Maintenance

PERFORMANCE GOALS:

Number Percentage%
Completion of Work
Readiness Program 23 92%
Improvement shown
on Work Readiness 21 91%
Program Assessment

The Central Montco Technical High School staff provided a one-week work
readiness program that provided participants who were mostly still in school with the
ability to obtain and retain their jobs and develop good safety habits. Most of the
participants were students at CMTHS during the regular school year. Job coaches met
with the employees frequently. The most of the employers were from the private sector
and non-profit agencies.

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SUCCESS STORY:
The Director of the program was pleased with all the students and their efforts.
Six students remained employed after the program ended, and two others may continue
working after school begins. The students kept journals about their experiences. One
student wrote: “I learned things that I did not know I was able to do. Now I am happy to
say that at the age of 17, I am able to handle a class of three year-olds, keep them
motivated and interested. By being in this program, I have matured greatly. Many people
told me that I could not make it, but I did. I built a relationship between my coworkers
and employers.” These sentiments were reinforced by her employer in her evaluation.

PROVIDER: MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LOCATIONS: Blue Bell, Pottstown
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS CONTRACTED TO SERVE: 35
NUMBER ACTUALLY SERVED: 31
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WORKSITES: 16

INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED: Building and Construction, Business Office Skills,

Horticulture/Landscaping, Production, Receiving, Marketing, Education, Medical
Records, Customer Service, and Research Assistant.

PERFORMANCE GOALS:

Number Percentage%
Completion of Work
Readiness Program 29 93%
Improvement shown
on Work Readiness 29 93%
Program Assessment

The Montgomery County Community College provided a one-week job

preparation program only for participants who either graduated from high school or
gained or were working on a GED. Job coaches met with the students usually once a
week. Many of the participants worked at various jobs at the College’s campuses in Blue
Bell and Pottstown.

SUCCESS STORY:
Five participants will continue working with their summer employers, and several
are still being considered. Seven participants will be attending Montgomery County
Community College in the fall, while three other participants may enroll in the spring.
Three participants worked at the CareerLink during the summer and worked with the
staff in completing necessary tasks because of the increase in customers.

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PROVIDER: North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC)
LOCATION: Lansdale
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS CONTRACTED TO SERVE: 20-30
NUMBER ACTUALLY SERVED: 25
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WORKSITES: 19

INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED: Graphic Arts, HVAC, Mechanical Drafting,

Heavy Equipment, Automotive, Horticulture, Child Care, Cosmetology, Hospitality,
Engineering

PERFORMANCE GOALS:

Number Percentage%
Completion of Work 25
Readiness Program 100%
Improvement shown
on Work Readiness 21 85%
Program Assessment

Participants at the North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC) were engaged in a
week-long online Job Ready program. Most of the participants were students at NMTCC
during the regular school year. Job coaches met frequently with the employees at the
worksites. The employers consisted mostly of private sector companies and non-profit
agencies.

Success Story:
At first NMTCC had difficulty placing Kristina, a graphic design student, so she
was temporarily placed in a local florist/gift shop in hopes of finding a more appropriate
placement later. The owner of the shop had recently hired a marketing firm to help
expand his business on the internet, but was not sure about how to support the technical
aspects of such a task. He was aware of the student’s graphic arts abilities and after
discussion with the program manager and Kristina, the owner set up an office for her,
complete with a new computer, printer, desk and furniture so that she could work on a
new web site layout to expand his business onto the internet. By the end of the eight
weeks, the site is live on line, and she is responsible for layouts, uploading images, and
updates of the site as well as other daily site maintenance tasks. The Summer Youth
Employment Program enabled a local merchant to expand his business while enabling a
student to propel herself into her career and perhaps become an entrepreneur in the
future.

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PROVIDER: ST. GABRIEL’S HALL
LOCATION: Audubon
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS CONTRACTED TO SERVE: 25
NUMBER ACTUALLY SERVED: 25
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WORKSITES: 4

INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED: Culinary Arts/Hospitality,

Landscape/Horticulture, Business Services, Building Maintenance

PERFORMANCE GOALS:

Number Percentage%
Completion of Work
Readiness Program 25 100%
Improvement shown
on Work Readiness 25 100%
Program Assessment

St. Gabriel’s Hall is a private residential treatment program for court adjudicated
males ages 10-18. The Hall provides an integration of educational, therapeutic, work skill
development and job skills within an informed care system. Priority was given to students
with court costs and restitution debts. The SYEP program provided an excellent segue
into the newly-approved career-technical education programs that will continue into the
school year.

SUCCESS STORY:
The students kept journals throughout the program. One of the students wrote,
“Thanks to the program, I will walk away with experience in plumbing, carpentry,
landscaping, electric work, painting, and building maintenance. In addition to experience,
I have also learned when and how to cooperate, use time management, and responsibility.
This is a great program for youth like me to transition from a boy to a young man with
experience.” His experience was also reinforced by the Dean of Students’ observation, “I
have seen the boys learn and grow in ways I have not seen previously in my sixteen years
at this facility. The projects they are producing are quite remarkable. . .They have gained
valuable experience and have the ability to learn skills that may change the course of
their lives.”

PROVIDER: YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES OF UPPER PERKIOMEN

VALLEY
LOCATION: Green Lane
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS CONTRACTED TO SERVE: 20
NUMBER ACTUALLY SERVED: 20
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WORKSITES: 16

INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED: Retail, Social Services, Automotive, Building/

Maintenance, Education, Business Office Skills

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PERFORMANCE GOALS:

Number Percentage%
Completion of Work
Readiness Program 15 75%
Improvement shown
on Work Readiness 15 75%
Program Assessment

Youth and Family Services of Upper Perkiomen Valley is a non-profit agency that
is extensively involved in community collaboration with other non-profits, schools,
government and business to support effective local resources and programs. Participants
who are either still in school or who are working toward or have their GED met weekly
to develop their work readiness skills.

SUCCESS STORY:
One of the participants was placed at Creative Health in Pottstown. She had
various clerical and computer jobs. Later she became one of the receptionists. She was
well liked by everyone in the facility and will work as a part-time receptionist during the
school year while she attends Montgomery County Community College. Other
participants will return to their sites as part-time volunteers.

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2009 MONTGOMERY COUNTY SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

AUTOMOTIVE
COMPANY LOCATION
STS Tire Norristown
Conicelli Autobody Norristown
Vico’s Autobody Norristown
Maaco Collision Norristown
Venizia Auto Royersford
Hayes Auto Harleysville
Pennsburg Autobody & Tire Pennsburg

BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION / MAINTENANCE

COMPANY LOCATION
Carson Valley Children’s Aid Flourtown
Central Montco Technical HS Plymouth Meeting
Department of Economic & Workforce Norristown
Development
MCCC Facilities Blue Bell
Tri-County Performing Arts Center Pottstown
Walton’s Oil – HVAC Lansdale
Lansdale Sunoco Lansdale
Carneys Plumbing Line Lexington
Moyer & Son Souderton
St. Gabriel’s Hall Audubon
Upper Perkiomen YMCA Pennsburg

COSMETOLOGY
COMPANY LOCATION
Breathe Salon & Spa Lansdale

EDUCATION
COMPANY LOCATION
Carson Valley Children’s Aid Flourtown
ACPPA Community Arts Center Norristown
Montgomery County Health & Human Norristown
Services Child Care
Preschool Intervention Program Norristown
Teen Camp Blue Bell
Pottstown PAL Pottstown
West Point Child Care Lansdale
Developmental Enterprises Corporation Pottstown
YWCA Literacy Center Pottstown

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 GRAPHIC DESIGN / DRAFTING
COMPANY LOCATION
Carson Valley Children’s Aid Flourtown
Dillon Janitorial Services Norristown
21st Century Graphics Dublin
Chowns Skippack
Chantilly Florist Harleysville
Stein Seal Kulpsville

HEALTH CARE
COMPANY LOCATION
Pottstown Training & Rehabilitation Center Pottstown
Community Health & Dental Care Pottstown
Foulkeways Gwynedd
Family Care Givers East Greenville
Creative Health Pottstown
Fredrick Mennonite Community Frederick

HORTICULTURE
COMPANY LOCATION
Carson Valley Children’s Aid Flourtown
Norristown Farm Park Norristown
Pottsgrove Manor Pottstown
Perkasie Florist Perkasie
Diddens Greenhouse Harleysvilole
St. Gabriel’s Hall Audubon

HOSPITALITY
COMPANY LOCATION
Carson Valley Children’s Aid Flourtown
Zone’s Catering Norristown
Mermaid Lake Blue Bell
Zone’s Catering at Elmwood Park Zoo Norristown
Central Montco Technical HS Plymouth Meeting
Ray’s Restaurant Norristown
North Montco Technical Career Center Lansdale
Lutheran Community Center Telford
St. Gabriel’s Hall Audubon
Rita’s Water Ice Pennsburg

MANUFACTURING
COMPANY LOCATION
Materials Resources International Lansdale
Stein Seal Kulpsville

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 OFFICE SKILLS
COMPANY LOCATION
Carson Valley Children’s Aid Flourtown
Central Montco Technical HS Plymouth Meeting
MCCC Continuing Education Blue Bell
Norristown Library Norristown
Upward Bound Blue Bell
Student Success Center Blue Bell
MCCC Foundation Blue Bell
Career Link of Montgomery County Norristown
Centro Cultural Unidos Pottstown
MCCC Marketing Department Blue Bell
St. Gabriel’s Hall Audubon
Upper Perkiomen Valley Library Red Hill
Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Greenville
Commerce

PRINTING
COMPANY LOCATION
Keeney Printing Lansdale
Ink & Essence Pottstown
North Montco Technical Career Center Lansdale

RETAIL
COMPANY LOCATION
Used 2 Be Thrift Store Pottstown
Hope Valley Community Church Red Hill
Cluster Outreach Pottstown
Liberty Thrift Shop Collegeville
CVS Norristown

VETERINARIAN
COMPANY LOCATION
Carson Valley Children’s Aid Flourtown

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