The County finds and declares that summer employment is an important formative activity for youth as they make transitions between middle and high school and into employment or post-secondary education. The County also finds that the summer months provide an ideal time frame during which youth can earn money and experience the world of work, which can be valued not only in terms of the work performed but also in relation to the enhanced self-esteem of participants that comes, in part, from earned income. The County also finds that employment provides an opportunity for young people to gain interpersonal and employability skills, including team building, conflict resolution and problem solving, that are complementary to academic activity and that will serve employers well in the future when they have a pool of job candidates who are experienced with workplace expectations. Therefore, the County declares that a summer youth employment program would have significant benefit for both participants and employers.