Decatur Youth Services hiring 14- and 15-year-olds
May 28—Decatur Youth Services is hiring 14- and 15-year-olds, giving them work experience and teaching them work-related skills in the 2025 Summer Youth Employment Program, said program coordinator Keara Worthy.
DYS will offer the 14- and 15-year-olds employment from Monday to July 11 with the help of local businesses and nonprofits. The program includes a two-day training session.
The teens will work 20 hours a week for a total of 120 hours by the end of the summer and will be paid minimum wage, said Decatur Youth Services' interim director, Bruce Jones.
DYS chose this age range because it is typically harder for them to find jobs due to their age and maturity, Jones said.
"Part of this program is to help you with your maturity, help you understand the importance of showing up on time, dressing appropriately, respecting your supervisors ... and at the end of the summer you can earn some money for you and your family," Jones said.
Jones said many of the participants in the past were children from low-income families.
The Summer Youth Employment program is an opportunity to help families, while providing youth with the skills necessary to obtain a job.
Jones said that the Summer Youth Employment program has always been a great program.
"It serves a lot of purposes. It serves keeping them busy, giving them something positive to do," Jones said. "We want to keep them busy, but we want to have them doing something productive."
Worthy says the program seeks teens who want to learn.
"We're looking for kids who are eager to learn how to get those skills to get the work experience," Worthy said. "I'm looking for the excitement. I'm looking for the willingness to go make their own money."
Last year, the program served approximately 95 kids. Worthy said the goal is to have 100 participants this summer.
Worthy encourages 14 — and 15-year-olds to apply.
"Hey, it's just six weeks. I know you want to enjoy your summertime, but let's try to learn how to become that young adult that I know you guys are getting prepared to be," Worthy said.
For more information, contact Worthy at 256-303-9494.
— raven.sanders@decaturdaily.com or 245-340-2438.
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