Hispanic Festival 2010 :The annual Hispanic Festival will be held on Friday, September 10th and Saturday, September 11th on the Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids. Click the "Read More" button on the right for complete details!
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HOY Program Benefits Wish List
The HOY program refers young people to paid and unpaid work experiences as internships to focus on the learning aspect of this experience. Internships serve as work-based learning sites for youth to explore careers and develop employability, professional, occupational and transferable skills.
These internships also benefit the employer in the following ways:
Interns are screened and trained prior to placement to assure work habits, skills and attitude meet the employers expectations.
The HOY program, through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and other supporters, funds the internship wages, is the employer of records, and covers all liability insurance, workers compensation and other employee benefits for the duration of the internship.
Employers have the opportunity to diversify staff by hiring a young Hispanic youth. Most of our participants are bilingual in English and Spanish to assist employers in connecting with the large Hispanic population in Kent County.
Employers receive on-going support from HOY staff to address any questions or concerns during the internship process. The HOY staff monitors the internship on a weekly basis to assure a positive and mutually beneficial partnership between the employer, intern and HOY program.
If an employer needs to fill a position, an HOY internship provides the employer an opportunity to observe the HOY intern as a candidate for the open position.
If the employer hires the youth, the employer and youth will continue to receive on-going support to assure job retention and success.
Internship Details
Summer Internships
Maximum Hours: 120 hours
Duration: 6-8 weeks
Average Hours per Week: 15 20 hours
Months Available: June through August
Age Range: 14 18 years old
Academic Calendar Internships
Maximum Hours: 100 hours
Duration: 6- 10 weeks
Average Hours per Week: 10 15 hours
Months Available: September through May
Age Range: 14 18 years old
Year Round Internships
Maximum Hours: 300 hours
Duration: 8-15 weeks
Average Hours per Week: 20 40 hours
Months Available: Year Round
Age Range: 19 21 years old
Job Shadow
Maximum Hours: 8 hours
Duration: 1 day (1 visit)
Average Hours per Visit: 2 5 hours
Months Available: Year Round
Age Range: 14 21 years old
Contact any HOY staff to sign up as a job shadow site
Needed Career Fields
We are currently in need of job shadowing and internship sites in the following career fields:
Pediatrician/ OBGYN
General Practitioner/Medical Doctor
Registered Nurse/ LPN/ CNA
All Criminal Justice related careers
All Business related careers
Social Worker/Counselor
Cosmetologist
Construction/Roofer
Plummer, Electrician, Heating and Cooling
Automotive Mechanics
Wildlife/Zoological/Animal Caretaker/Biologist
Entertainment/ Music Industry/ Singer/ Performer/ Promoter
Professional Athlete/ Sports Broadcaster
Employer Steps
1. Internship orientation with an HOY staff member (15 30 minutes).
2. Inform your staff of the HOY program internship. HOY staff can give presentations to staff upon request.
3. Review and sign Internship Site Agreement for each intern (reviewed at orientation).
4. Post EEO, ACSET Complaint Procedure, Michigan Minimum Wage Law of 1964 and Youth Employment Standards Act (provided by HOY staff).
5. Give a thorough orientation to your HOY intern. A. Welcome Youth B. Mock Interview (optional good practice for youth and serves as an icebreaker) C. Tour facility D. Introduce to staff E. Confirm schedule/hours F. Review process to report illness, absence, or late arrival G. Review smoking regulations H. Review fire, tornado, evacuation, accident/incident procedures I. Review safety guidelines J. Outline dress code K. Behavior/Business Culture L. Additional Expectations
6. Supervise, coach and mentor the HOY intern throughout the internship.
7. Fill out a short performance assessment for each youth on their bi-weekly time card.
8. Provide access to ACSET* to conduct occasional internship site monitoring. Employers will receive at least 48 hours notice of any ASCET visit.
9. Provide weekly access for HOY staff to monitor worksite safety and the performance of the youth.
10. Contact HOY Staff with any questions, concerns or feedback at any time during the internship experience. *ACSET (Area Community Services Employment & Training) is the administrative council of Michigan Works! of Kent and Allegan County. ASCET administers the WIA (Workforce Investment Act) grant that funds the majority of paid HOY internships. They visit sites occasionally to monitor for compliance with DLEG, WIA and ASCET rules and regulations.
*ACSET (Area Community Services Employment & Training) is the administrative council of Michigan Works! of Kent and Allegan County. ASCET administers the WIA (Workforce Investment Act) grant that funds the majority of paid HOY internships. They visit sites occasionally to monitor for compliance with DLEG, WIA and ASCET rules and regulations.
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