Bellone: Youth Summer Jobs Program Employed More Than 800 Teens

Photo: Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone with student workers; South Huntington superintendent Dr. David Bennardo is at right; deputy superintendent Jacqueline Harris at left (in red). Courtesy: Office of Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone.

Suffolk County’s summer youth employment program this year has more than 800 teens working at sites around Suffolk County, officials said.

The program has expanded, adding more than 150 jobs than in the summer of 2013.

County Executive Steve Bellone was recently in Huntington Station, where he was joined by South Huntington School officials and youth workers who highlighted the program and its ability to offer work experience.

“These hard-working youngsters are the future of Suffolk County,” Bellone said.

He was speaking at Birchwood Intermediate School, where students are employed through the program in several job categories.

“They have aspirations that will be well served by the experiences they are gaining now while earning a paycheck,” Bellone added. “Providing the opportunity for youth to be involved in their communities whether it be through community organizations, revitalization efforts and the like, only helps students to become more civic minded and committed to being productive citizens.”

Youth workers assisting the South Huntington School District work with the extended school-year program for students with disabilities. They serve as teacher assistants in training, assistant clerical administrators, custodial staff and counselors.

“This program is a wonderful way for county youths to take advantage of their time off from school to gain real world experiences while earning money to help with their personal or family expenses,” said Suffolk Legislator Lou D’Amaro (D-Huntington Station)

The Suffolk County Summer Youth Employment Program is designed for those ages 14-21.

Suffolk was awarded $957,538 for the 2014 Summer Youth Employment Program, funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families federal grant program. This year, 840 youth are enrolled in the joint effort between the county departments of Social Services and Labor, an increase from 670 last year.

Of the 840 employed summer youth, Deputy Police Commissioner Risco Mention Lewis utilized 35 openings for at-risk youth from Bellport, Central Islip and Wyandanch to ensure they had a positive summer experience under the guidance provided by work-site coordinators, visits by SCPD Community Liaison Officers and the Deputy Commissioner.

“Many of the young men came to SCPD’s attention through school resource officers because of issues during the school year,” Deputy Police Commissioner Mention-Lewis noted.

“Because we intervened in their conflicts, they are now working in a productive manner and are learning the necessary skills to assist them in their future endeavors,” she added. “This is just another way to stop kids from engaging in behaviors that are not conducive to their overall development.”

Youth workers are employed at 88 locations throughout Suffolk County, in Amityville, Babylon, Bay Shore, Bellport, Bohemia, Brentwood, Bridgehampton, Central Islip, Commack, Coram, Deer Park, Dix Hills, Great River, Greenport, Hauppauge, Holbrook, Huntington Station, Mastic Beach, Mattituck, Nesconset, Oakdale, Patchogue, Medford, Port Jefferson Station, Riverhead, Ronkonkoma, Selden, Smithtown, Southampton, Southold, Stony Brook, and Wyandanch.

Applications for the program were submitted through school guidance offices, community organizations, county legislator offices and the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs. An additional 50 youth that could not be placed into the program were referred and hired for the summer by Labor Department workforce partner, Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk.

South Huntington School representatives, including Dr. David Bennardo, the district superintendent; Jackie Harris, a deputy superintendent, and Dave Perkins, coordinator of student services, agreed that the program benefited staff members who worked with the youth.