Phalanx Family Services not only prepares “young people for the work world” but has “enrichment programs for after school services,” stated Director of Youth Services Sharon Simmons. Their after-school programs include a gaming program, in-school mentoring, and the Justice-Involved program.
The Justice-Involved program is designed to assist youth “who may have hit a snag,” said Simmons. Phalanx also has services that focus on mental health, workforce, training, and construction trade programs.
She added that she did not want youth to think Phalanx only has one thing to offer them. “The biggest takeaway that I would want young people to know about Phalanx Family Services youth department is that we have an array of programs,” said Simmons. In fact, they have many wrap-around services to cater to all the needs of their clients.
They have many different job placements for youth during the summertime. For instance, they have jobs in child development, daycares, day camps, retail positions, digital arts, and digital design — which teaches the young people how to code and create different interfaces with computers.
Phalanx also offers employment opportunities in food services, sports & recreation, and a youth construction training program in collaboration with Sustainable Option for Urban Living (S.O.U.L.). The construction program is available to any male or female out-of-school youth who has either graduated from high school or dropped out and is between the ages of 16 to 24.
Participants must also fall under one of the following categories:
- Reside in a high-poverty area.
- Be pregnant and/or parenting.
- Justice-Involved or an Ex-Offender.
- Household recipient of SNAP/Food Stamp benefits.
- Household recipient of TANF benefits.
These individuals must be reliable, hard-working, and dedicated.
Participants in Phalanx’s summertime programs must be between the ages of 14 to 24. Those who are ages 14 or 15 years old will not be paid by the hour but by a stipend — a fixed regular sum paid as a salary or allowance. This eliminates the need for a work permit. Youth ages 14 to 15 years old will only be allowed to work for 15 hours a week. Those who are 16 to 24 years old will be paid hourly and work 20 hours a week.
In addition to their summer programs, Phalanx offers year-round job opportunities for youth ages 16 to 24. “Most of these are entry-level employment opportunities for our young people but nonetheless fulfilling for them,” said Simmons.
To sign up independently young people can go onto One Summer Chicago’s website (onesummerchicago.org). Once there they will need to select the Department of Family Support Services (DFSS). After they have selected DFSS an additional menu option will pop open. In this section, the youth will be able to find Phalanx Family Service.
If they do not see this option then that just means DFSS has not officially designated their One Summer Chicago selections. However, once they have made their selections youth will be able to go to Phalanx to sign up for programs.
Phalanx will also be offering certain times for youth to show up at their office to sign up for their One Summer Chicago programs.
Written by Sheena Robertson
Source:
Interview: Sharon Simmons on March 29, 2022
Images Courtesy of Phalanx Family Services – Used with Permission
