MENTORING PROGRAM DIRECTOR HAS AIM OF GIVING YOUTH JOBS

A program designed to help some young people in career planning could help ease the unemployment problems faced by many Southeast Missouri employers.

The Missouri Mentoring Partnership, funded by a grant from the Department of Social Services, is designed to help young people, 16 to 21, who have been placed in foster homes or in other public facilities, get jobs.

"We're not looking to replace any employees," said Elizabeth Schmucker, the region's mentoring program coordinator. "But, we can help in the area's unemployment problems."

The mentoring program is patterned after a nationally recognized program in San Diego. A Missouri program was started in St. Louis more than a year ago, and the Southeast Missouri program was initiated in April.

"We have developed the program in three counties -- Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Scott -- at this time," said Schmucker, guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee. "Eventually We want to expand into other Southeast Missouri counties.

The program, said Schmucker, is built upon a partnership between the public and private sectors. The goal is to provide young people with employment, vocational and educational mentoring opportunities based in the workplace.

"Young people who have experienced out-of-home placements need help in their transition into adulthood, and mentoring on-the-job is an ideal way for these youths to be successful and become secure in their futures."

The partnership program brings together a mentor, usually an employee of the partnership company, and an individual who has either been shuttled from one foster home to the next or has spent some time with the Department of Youth Services as a juvenile offender.

Youngsters eligible for the mentoring program are screened, said Schmucker, adding: "We try to fit the applicant with the job."

A number of young people in the program have been successful in a variety of jobs.

The Division of Family Services and Department of Youth Services in Cape Girardeau send Schmucker potential participants.

Some 18 area businesses have joined the partnership program.

"We currently have about 12 individuals ready to enter the program," said Schmucker. "We hope to eventually have as many as 50 youths and that many mentors in this area."

Schmucker, who has a master's degree in human resource management, uses two books to help youths find the area they would want to concentrate on. One of them, "You're Hired," helps the youth determine a career interest.

Any company wanting to become a corporate or business partner with mentoring program may contact Schmucker at 1-800-451-0990.