Summer Youth Employment Program FAQs

Y.O.U. partners with hundreds of employers and worksites across Cuyahoga County to provide summer job opportunities for youth. 

Common types of jobs include:

• Hospitality & tourism: custodial work, food service, event support 

• Human services: junior camp counselor, recreation aide, nonprofit support 

Where jobs are located:

• Most worksites are with nonprofits, schools, city programs, and local businesses in the Greater Cleveland area (e.g., CMSD, Salvation Army, Cleveland recreation centers). 

Skills required:

• Jobs generally require basic entry-level skills, such as clerical tasks, light cleaning, painting, gardening, computer input, filing, and answering phones. 

• Pay rate: $13.50 per hour for 20–25 hours per week 

• Holidays: Youth are only paid for hours worked. Worksites are asked not to schedule participants on holidays. 

• Make-up hours: If a participant works less than 150 hours, they may be able to make up hours with their job coach and worksite supervisor before the program ends. Make-up hours are not guaranteed and are subject to the supervisor’s approval. 

• Some work assignments may require one or both. Y.O.U. or the employer will cover the cost.

• You will know whether or not this is needed at Orientation or before.

• Applicants who are selected to attend an eligibility determination appointment will hear from Y.O.U. between April and May.  A parent/guardian must attend this appointment and complete the paperwork to be scheduled for an orientation.

Most youth begin working on June 15, unless your Employment Plan lists a different start date.

If there are more applicants than the number of available jobs, you may be placed on a waiting list. You will be notified if you are on the wait list.

• Yes. The availability of additional jobs and/or funding often happens quickly. To ensure that you are ready for work at a moment’s notice, you must complete your scheduled orientation.