What Can a CAYIP Intern Do for You?
Member Monday: What Can a CAYIP Intern Do for You?
Misty Graves, Deputy Director, Charlottesville Dept. of Human Services/Community Attention
March 9, 2020
The City of Charlottesville's Community Attention Youth Internship Program (CAYIP) connects local teens with internship opportunities throughout the year. Misty shared the program's four goals:
- Teach workplace skills to local youth
- Build their resiliency
- Connect them with positive adult role models and mentors
- Provide help to local organizations
The program recruits host organizations and carefully matches each host location with interns who have compatible skills, interests and availability. This summer, CAYIP will place up to 150 teenagers from Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
Important dates for this summer:
- Host MOU and application due by April 30th
- Summer intern session runs from July 6 to August 7
CAYIP provides a performance-based stipend of $8 per hour, so host organizations don't need to invest any money (although they're welcome to provide an additional stipend). Beyond getting free helping hands, Misty mentioned a few other benefits to CAYIP hosts. Many hosts say they enjoy a different energy in the workplace when teens get involved. Interns often become brand supporters and advocates, sharing the host organization's story with their family and friends. Supervising interns can also be an excellent professional development opportunity for emerging leaders on your team.
Most CAYIP interns are 14-15 years old. They begin the program with a one-week CAYIP academy to teach workplace expectations and provide financial literacy instruction.
Throughout the program, CAYIP counselors visit host sites to meet weekly with each intern. They answer questions, give advice, and help the teens reflect on their recent activities, Counselors also meet weekly with the intern's supervisor.
Want to host a CAYIP intern this summer? Contact CAYIP Coordinator Annie Sechrist at (434) 989-6371 or sechrista@charlottesville.org for more information.