Hudson County is seeking to boost the number of jobs available to kids this summer.
Benjamin Lopez, director of the Hudson County Department of Family Services, said the county is looking for companies and others to sponsor kids, other companies to hire them, and kids to apply for the jobs.
For a number of reasons, summer employment for kids is more than just the need for pocket money. Some families need the extra income. Some kids simply need to keep busy and off the streets. For local employers, summer help can fill in the ranks of regular employees during the summer vacation schedule, and often enhances the local public perception of a company doing business in a community.
“We raise funds for this program throughout the year” – Susan Contey
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Summer jobs teach students the habits of paid work – attendance and punctuality, speaking and listening, accepting direction and criticism, and problem-solving and taking initiative. They also provide valuable connections to workplace supervisors.
National studies show that young people who work during the summer months tend to do better in school, and kids who work during the summer often have a better chance of finding employment after they graduate. These jobs also make them attractive to colleges.
Two types of summer programs
Lopez said Hudson County has two types of summer job programs: TANF and non-TANF.
TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) provides training and education to children who fit the income criteria. Kids get instruction in the morning and then go to job sites in the afternoon. This program draws on federal funds to pay for the program.
The TANF program is federally funded. Those who qualify for full Medicaid and food stamps generally qualify.
For the non-TANF program, the county has to raise funds, which means finding companies or individuals that will sponsor a kid, and then finding companies to hire that kid for the summer. It costs $1,000 to sponsor a kid for the summer.
This covers the cost for six weeks, and applications for this are done through the office of the county executive.
The program has had some very loyal companies in the past, such as Goldman Sachs in Jersey City, and Merrill Lynch.
“Goldman Sachs liked the concept so much, the company started its own summer jobs program – great for Hudson County kids, but one less provider to help fund the county program,” Lopez said.
The Hudson County summer jobs program started in 2003. It is geared towards providing other kids with jobs for the summer and requires the county to seek out companies that would sponsor or hire them. Some companies do both – such as Panasonic in Secaucus, which traditionally hired 10 kids each summer.
Some companies such as Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs hired some of the kids after they graduated or during the regular year, Lopez said.
“We raise funds for this program throughout the year, and are always seeking out partners in private industry,” said Susan Contey, youth opportunity coordinator.
Some of the groups that sponsored kids last year were the UA Plumbers Local 14 of Lodi; Comcast; Hartz Mountain Industries in Secaucus; Donohoe, Gironda & Doria of Bayonne; Metrovest Equities Inc. of Jersey City; National Retail Systems Inc.; River Terminal Development Co.; Worldwide Educating Services; De Luca & Taite of Jersey City; GP Summit Associates; Roosevelt & Cross; NW Financial Group; Janus Solutions; Hamilton Lofts; PSE&G; Capital One; Provident Bank; United Water; Wells Fargo; and Verizon.
Last year, these summer programs had accommodated about 316 kids.
Jobs and education
Three years ago, the county added another component that would allow kids to train for their SAT and HSPA tests in conjunction with Kaplan Educational Center. Kids seeking to go to college can prepare for their SAT tests during the summer while those seeking to prepare for their HSPA – which is given in the 11th grade – can spend a portion of the summer training as well as on Saturdays during the school year.
During the summer, these students study during the morning and then go off to a job site in the afternoon.
Applications for the Hudson County Summer Youth Employment Program get distributed in early April. The TANF version can be received back in the Department of Family Services by mid-to-late June.
The programs start on July 11 and run through Aug. 18, for about 20 hours per week.
For more information about non-TANF summer jobs, contact the County Executive’s Office at (201) 795-6200. For information about the TANF program, call Contey at (201) 420-3000.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.