to and from jobs at Vint Hill Farms with

to and from jobs at Vint Hill Farms with Abe Burke.

Jobs Limited

With jobs in the public sector or for non-profit concerns so limited to Rappahannock County, Cahill is especially appreciative of Burke’s assistance in transporting her CETA charges. ‘‘1 hope others will offer to help when they learn of the need. It will open up doors that are closed right now,” she said.

Under federal guidelines, CETA workers can’t be placed in profit-making businesses, criteria that rules out training with electricians, plumbers, carpenters—most of the available jobs in Rappahannock. “I try to find the most meaningful positions available but when you re limited to non-profit jobs, they’re hard to find here." Cahill said.

“Some of the young girls want to get into clerical work. It’s good experience for them and it can open the door to full-time employment later,” Cahill continued. But, she said, she often has to place the clerical hopefuls in custodial jobs. “It depends on what I can find.”

She sees CETA’s basic goal in Rappahannock as making the community aware of the potential these young people have. “Then automatically they’ll be able to find employment that isn’t subsidized,” Cahill maintained.

CETA summer jobs are open to youth, ages 14-19, from economically disadvantaged familes. Application forms are handed out in the spring at the high school and returned for evaluation, screening and certification to the Virginia Employment Commission.

“Then it's my job to find where they fit best, what will help them most and place them in a job opening,” Cahill said.

“There were quite a few youngsters who applied for the program that we weren’t able to find jobs for,” she added, noting that no one is placed anywhere where there isn't constant supervision. “We want to avoid the problems encountered in earlier years." she said.