3,000 WORKERS NEEDED FOR KIDS By Robert Rodriguez / The Fresno Bee In a dismal job market, there is a bright spot for those interested in working with children, sharpening their teaching skills or being a mentor. The Central Valley Afterschool Foundation in Clovis is hoping to help fill the need for 3,000 part-time workers to run programs in Fresno, Tulare, Kings, Madera, Merced and Mariposa county schools. Program officials say that as the state ramps up funding for after-school programs, the demand for a stable work force is also growing. There is a high turnover rate among the program's work force. "We are constantly struggling to find good applicants," said Michael Macias, the foundation's work force specialist. In the last few years, state funding for after-school programs in the Valley has doubled, topping $40 million in 2007-2008. Nearly 40,000 youths participated in programs that are designed to provide an enrichment activity, homework help and the chance for an adult to help mentor students. Baby-sitting it's not. Macias said part of the foundation's goals is to help professionalize the job, provide training and attract people who otherwise would not have considered working in the industry. Toward that end, the foundation recently launched an online job board -- centralvalleyafterschool.org -- that connects job seekers with employers. It's also trying to recruit workers from both ends of the age spectrum. It has a page on MySpace and is working on a YouTube video. It's also reaching out to AARP and the California Retired Teachers Association. "We are also looking in the community for people who have a special expertise that they may want to share with children," said Lindsay Callahan, the foundation's executive director. Workers must be at least 18 and pass a background check. Kathy Woods, program director of curriculum and instruction for the Madera County Office of Education, said she wasn't able to provide several programs because there weren't enough workers. "We think this kind of work can appeal to a broad range of people," Woods said. "We just need to find them." For some, the job has become a good fit for college students studying to be teachers, recreation leaders or social workers. It pays between $8 and $15 an hour and people generally work about three to four hours a day, five days a week. Foundation officials say they are pushing hard to recruit good workers because the program's success depends on the staff's ability to make the experience worthwhile. "In a way, we are trying to sell school to kids," said Richard Peralta, a program trainer with the foundation. "They don't have to attend the programs, that's why we want to give them something that is interesting." After-school programs can include lessons in photography, hip-hop dancing and cooking. During a recent training session at California State University, Fresno, several students said they like the idea of making a little extra money and testing their potential careers. "I really want a career in education, and this is a really good way to get some experience," said Rammel Del Mundo, 21. "And this is not a normal 8-to-3 teaching experience. You get to try some new things." The reporter can be reached at brodriguez@fresnobee.com or (559)441-6327. E-mail story |