Counties get summer-job funds
Nassau and Suffolk counties have received nearly $1.5 million in state funds to help low-income youth find summer jobs, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s office announced.
The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance distributed $25 million to counties throughout the state. Suffolk received $852,582 and Nassau $629,949.
The funds can be used to subsidize wages and provide training activities for low-income teens ages 14 to 20. Last year 580 young people from Suffolk and 180 from Nassau participated in the program. A majority of them got jobs, a spokesman for the disability-assistance office said.
“Jobs are crucial to help teach teens responsibility, good work habits and budgeting and how to cooperatively accomplish goals in a business setting,” said the acting commissioner of the disability-assistance office, Kristin M. Proud.
To be eligible for the program, teens must come from families who receive public assistance or have a household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $38,180 for a family of three.
Many of the jobs are in public schools and government and include clerical, camp-counselor and maintenance jobs, said Ana-Maria Hurtado, commissioner of the Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources. That office will provide some of the training and will also work with other groups to help place program participants in jobs.
The young people will receive training in leadership development, conflict resolution, computer skills and social media, Hurtado said.
Those interested in participating should contact their county social services office. Click here for that contact information.
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