The Bush Fund at the Clinton County Foundation presented a check for $5,500 to the Clinton County Board of Developmental Disabilities [CCBDD] to support summer youth career exploration.
Local identified students, ages 14 and up, learned about career options available in the community, while also learning about basic life skills and soft skills that area employers seek. Participants learned about local resources available that help during the processes of job seeking, obtaining a job, and job retention. This prepares young people for employment after graduation and also provides a pool of workers for our local employers.
Through partnership with the Clinton County Youth Council, CCBDD share facility space as a daily meeting place for their summer programming. The CCBDD Transition Coordinator scheduled tours and visitors, led the learning activities, and also provided some of the transportation with use of the county board van. Participants could see, hear, touch, smell all of the surroundings, and leave having a better understanding about available jobs performed there. Employers gave the group a “behind the scenes” look into their operations, while also sharing what they look for in potential employees.
Participants received coaching in communication, teamwork, respect, positive attitudes, money handling, banking, budgeting, first impressions, dressing for success, interviewing skills, resume building, cooking, and self-advocacy from program support staff, as well as Eric Guindon, at the Clinton County Youth Council.
Want to learn more about how you can make a difference in our community? Visit the Foundation website’s donation portal here.