Hundreds of foster youth have found a career path to the future through a unique Santa Clara County program that’s celebrating its 10th year.
The Intern & Earn program helps young people develop professional skills and gain experience in the workplace. In addition to earning $19.75 an hour, participants receive mentorship and employment counseling. The program has served 3,306 participants, including up to 1,000 foster youth. It is supported through local funding and CalWORKs, a statewide welfare program. The county pays current and former foster youth through its general fund.
Former foster youth Ariel Baker-Kamai said the job training and communication skills, including mock interviews, gave her the confidence she needs for the workforce. After she requested an internship at a hospital where she worked in the labor and delivery department doing clerical work, she also had a rare opportunity to assist during a birth.
“They took an interest in me. They got to know me as a person,” she told San José Spotlight.
Baker-Kamai is now gaining experience at the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services, where she works part time.
“I have skills that can be good at any entry level (job), which is not something I had before,” she said. “I’ve been able to figure out what I enjoy, what I’m good at (to) shape my career.”
Daniel Girard, an employment program supervisor with CalWORKs employment services, said the Intern & Earn program is empowering, helping interns see themselves in the workforce and opening doors to long-term employment.
“It provides opportunities to try out new roles, grow self-confidence, earn their own money and motivate interns to continue their education,” he told San Jose Spotlight.
The program grew out of the county having a conversation in October 2023 with current and former foster youth, including Dontae Lartigue, founder of The Hub and Razing the Bar. Two former Santa Clara County supervisors — state Sen. Dave Cortese and Cindy Chavez — started the program.
“We want them to be able to dream about the things they want to do,” Lartigue told San José Spotlight. “We want young people to explore as many things as they possibly can and find their passion, find the thing that makes them wake up with a drive every morning and be determined to accomplish something in the world.”
This year, Razing the Bar hosted eight interns, helping them gain experience in administration, social media, policy and advocacy. About 16 interns completed internships there during the past five years, and Lartigue requested 20 more for advocacy work.
The county continues to prioritize investments in the program, District 2 Supervisor Betty Duong said, adding about 350 youth and young adults participate each fiscal year. Duong said employers understand these youth may need a little extra help, may miss work from time to time because of court dates or show up late because of transportation issues.
Duong has had five interns working in her office and sees foster youth as the county’s children.
“We need to continue to show up for them … to be part of their journey, their growth,” she told San José Spotlight. “Their lives have been largely defined by instability. (The internship) means the potential for them to get that step closer toward self-sufficiency and economic independence.”
Participants in the program have worked for the county, small businesses, doctors, dentists, animal shelters, restaurants, museums and more. Interns have stocked food pantries and assisted with distribution, prepared baby clothes for newborns and emergency kits used in the 2017 Coyote Creek flood.
District 4 Supervisor Susan Ellenberg said it’s in the county’s best interest to help build the workforce. She said by preparing interns for employment, the program helps break cycles of poverty and create strong, engaged members of society.
“We’ve seen consistent year over year growth in participation, high completion and employment success rates. It does strengthen a pipeline into county careers,” she told San José Spotlight, adding 250 youth are working across eight county departments this year.
Duong said even with county budget cuts, she wouldn’t let the Intern & Earn program be lost.
“If there ever came a day when the program was at risk, in danger of being cut or being reduced … I would protect it with everything I have,” she said. “I would fundraise. I would seek out public-private partnerships. I would do everything in my power to make sure that this program would continue to function.”
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].
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