Job placements made possible by TeenForce, a social enterprise dedicated to helping disadvantaged teens gain work experience, began in Morgan Hill last week.
Based in San Jose, TeenForce works with businesses to create job opportunities for young adults. A $7,500 grant from the Intero Foundation supported the expansion of TeenForce’s service area to include South Santa Clara County.
“When we learned about the great work TeenForce was doing in San Jose, we thought it was important to help bring their services to youth in the South County,” said Ben Bruno, manager of the Intero Real Estate office in Morgan Hill. “We are proud that our agents’ contributions to the Intero Foundation make this type of support possible.”
TeenForce will introduce its innovative nonprofit youth staffing service at the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Mixer this Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The mixer will be co-hosted by Realty World People to People of Morgan Hill at 17485 Monterey Road. Business owners, hiring managers and youth-oriented community members are encouraged to attend.
“The event will be a classic networking mixer,” John Horner, CEO and president of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, said. “People from all different walks of life will get a chance to get to know each other.”
Santa Clara County District 1 Supervisor Mike Wasserman is also a TeenForce supporter and will be attending the event.
“TeenForce started in Los Gatos when I was a town council member. I’m very pleased to see their program continuing to grow to serve disadvantaged youth throughout our county,” Wasserman said.
Goodwill and the Morgan Hill Youth Sports Alliance are the first MH businesses to get involved with TeenForce so far, according to Horner.
The TeenForce staffing model makes it convenient and cost-effective for businesses to hire pre-screened local youth who are prepared to enter the workforce. TeenForce handles all of the hiring paperwork, payroll, insurance and work readiness training. Businesses pay an invoice based on each hour worked, generating revenue that covers most of the TeenForce operating expenses.
“I see it as a win-win for both sides. The youth need work and the employers need new energy coming in,” Horner said. “We think a lot of local businesses will find it very convenient to hire well-prepared and motivated youth through the TeenForce program.”
TeenForce is funded by grants, community and individual donations and placement fees from employers. The organization was founded in 2010 to reduce the barriers to teen employment and provide young people with a wide range of work experience, including summer internships, part-time and full-time employment.
“We are a nonprofit, which means we primarily make our money through donations, however, we charge the businesses who employ our members a little bit of money,” Hogan explained.
TeenForce accepts all applicants ages 14-20 and extends its age range to 24 for current and former foster care youth. More than 50 percent of job placements are for youth in foster care. TeenForce has also partnered with Foster Youth Employment Coalition to generate 100 jobs for foster youth in 2013.
For more information about TeenForce, or to provide a work opportunity for local youth, please contact John Hogan at (408) 827-3078 ext.1 or email
jo*******@te*******.org
.
