Paqe 2
Programs for youth
workers face cuts
B y L eslie M itts
Spilyay Tymoo
The after-school program at
Workforce Development has
been cancelled until January due
to funding issues, but students
can still find opportunities.
In prior years, the after
school program allowed for up
to six students to gain work ex
perience after school.
This year, according to
Verleen Kalama, they don’t have
enough funds for the program.
When they begin the program
again in january, she said, the num
ber of positions will be cut as well.
Ordinarily, Kalama said, the
program is an incentive for stu
dents who do well in school and
who are on-track to graduation.
Wayne Miller said the pro
gram has assisted many stu
dents in the past.
“That’s what this program
was designed for, to help
them,” he explained.
The after-school program
placed students in employment
positions in places like the com
munity center, Indian Health
Services or Early Childhood
Education.
Part of die funding problem,
Kalama says, lies in the require
ment for retirement funds to be
deducted for youth workers.
“It’s taken away eight youth
slots, which is sad,” Kalama said.
Though the positions are de
creasing, Kalama hopes to have
two or three positions available
for students next year.
However, Kalama said, hours
that the students would have
worked with the after-school
program can be replaced dur
ing the summer.
"" She said, “If they utilize that
then it’s going to affect their
summer hours.”
W ithout the program , it
leaves the students more hours
to work during the summer,
Kalama explained.
Many students used the af
ter-school program during prior
spring terms of school, she said,
when they had half a day free
and needed to fill their time.
During school students are
only allowed to work 20 hours
per week. But, Miller said, “It’s
still a big plus for them because
it keeps them busy.”
According to Kalama, “We
always try to instill in them to
get that work experience while
they can.”
Students are able to use their
work experience to gain high
school credit—both in the after-
school program and in the sum
mer work program.
To do so, all students need to
do is speak with the school to
work counselor, Guff Thorpe, at
Madras Efigh School.
“We mailed out certificates to
them and it has their total
hours,” Kalama said.
The students only need docu
mented proof of the time they
worked, and can either use the
printed certificates or contact
Workforce Development to ob
tain copies of their timesheets.
Last summer W orkforce
Development helped 150 youth
workers to find employment.
Though they reduced the
number of workers in the sum
mer as well, Kalama said Kah-
Nee-Ta had a youth program
and employed 40 tribal mem
bers this summer.
In Kalama’s opinion, “That
was excellent.”
Other youth workers found
employment with the Natural
Resources Department, which
employed about 15 students.
“That’s an accredited pro
gram through N atural Re
sources,” Miller said. “They get
credit for high school and it ben
efits the students.”
The Workforce Develop
ment program does have op
portunities for youth who are
not in school— those who are
17-years-old or older.
“That’s for the under-em
ployed, economically-disad
vantaged, other Indians,”
Kalama said.
With that program, males have
to show that they have also signed
up for the selective service.
The Workforce Develop
ment program is also planning
the annual youth conference for
2007, which will take place dur
ing spring break in March.
During the conference, they
invite colleges and worksites to
give information to students
during a career fair.
“It gives them an opportunity
to meet and greet college repre
sentatives,” Kalama said.
In addition, they invite repre
sentatives from the armed forces
during the two-day conference.
Kalama added, “Usually if
we have the budget for it we
bring in some speakers.”
She advised students to watch
for fliers and registration forms
for the conference and to inquire
injanuary about the after-school
program.
Friday
November 3rd at 7:30 pm
Purchase tickets at the casino,
1 -800-523-2464, or any TicketsWest outlet.
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CLEAN
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475-3784
Commercial & Residential
eric test's
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October 26, 2006
Spilydy Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
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Erickson’s Thriftway
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