Youth in Care Find Employment Through SCO’s Work Readiness Program

The next time you’re looking for a shirt at a Banana Republic Factory Store, the very helpful sales associate might well be the young woman pictured here or another one of our young people who participated in SCO’s work readiness program facilitated by Gap Inc. employee volunteers.

Six of the new part-time salespeople, who are part of SCO’s redesigned foster care program, were offered jobs and started working during the holiday season!

After a 5-week course that included hands-on activities in the store, conflict management, customer service and an interview, the youth felt well prepared for the job and grateful to the volunteers for their time and confidence-building counsel.

Said one young man: “It was eye-opening to be able to talk with the bosses themselves; they give you feedback and you can have a connection with them. For them to be able to understand you as a person was amazing.”

Another new employee agreed. “I hope other companies will want to do the same thing – and participate with foster care and give a helping hand.”

In addition to the six youth who are already working, two others have a chance to join them at the Brooklyn store and four others are receiving job training and job search support, including internships.