Gesher Human Services is offering 150 students paid internships this summer and it’s putting out the call for adults who can coach those students through the experience. Everybody gets paid for their time, but the perks go beyond money.
“Our summer program can be life-changing for students as it gives them the confidence and knowledge to lead a fulfilling work life after school,” explained Gesher’s VP of Vocational Rehabilitation Rene Dell.
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“They undergo tremendous personal growth in the six weeks, learning to interact appropriately with the public, their peers, job coaches and employers, plus they learn soft skills such as making sure they are on time for work and wearing appropriate workplace clothing,” she added.
This program targets high school students living with a disability. It will accept applicants from Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties and has job sites in all three counties.
Searching for coaches to help
For the program to be successful, summer job coaches are needed to support and supervise these students at their places of employment, which include restaurants, retail spaces, golf clubs, and parks. Around 30 coaches are needed and these jobs have often appealed to educators and college students who are available for the six-week program, which runs from July 16th to August 13th.
“Our summer program can be life-changing for students as it gives them the confidence and knowledge to lead a fulfilling work life after school,” explained Gesher’s VP of Vocational Rehabilitation Rene Dell. “They undergo tremendous personal growth in the six weeks, learning to interact appropriately with the public, their peers, job coaches and employers, plus they learn soft skills such as making sure they are on time for work and wearing appropriate workplace clothing.”
Work sites this year will include Royal Oak Golf Course, Royal Oak Golf Center, ACE Hardware locations, Meijer locations, Somerset Swim Club in Fraser, Lower Huron Metro Park in Belleville, Applebee’s locations, Burlington locations, eCycle Opportunities in Southfield, Council Re|sale in Berkley, Busch’s Fresh Food Market in Farmington Hills and Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth. New this year is Cranbrook Swim Club in Southfield and the Marvin and Betty Danto Health Care Center in West Bloomfield.
Summer job coaches are vital for the success of the program. “They are responsible for supervising interns on the job to ensure that good quality and productive work is being completed. These jobs are perfect for educators who are not working in the summer, or for college students who might be considering a career in human resources, social work, or psychology,” said Dell.
Positions vary from 20 to 50 hours per week, and rate of pay is $16 an hour with a $500 bonus at the end of the summer for attendance. Shifts are available from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Disabled high school students interested in gaining a summer internship can reach out directly to Gesher Human Services at geshermi.org or contact their high school transitions counselor or talk to Michigan Rehabilitation Services.
Potential job coaches should go to geshermi.org/careers, or they can call Jon VanCamp at 248-233-4388 or email jvancamp@geshermi.org .