SW Florida Denny’s Launches Foster Youth Employment Program

By Marcia Hopkins York, SWFRI, Inc. d/b/a Denny’s Restaurants

Our Denny’s franchise, Southwest Florida Restaurant Investments (SWFRI), in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, has always been innovative and forward-thinking. We’re not afraid to try new things, especially if the cutting edge could possibly affect our community and business in a positive way. Sometimes a business has to step outside the box and contribute by investing time and energy into something that can go further than dollars to accomplish a goal.

In the past, our Denny’s franchised business has supported and participated in children and youth programs locally and nationally, so it was natural that the concepts put forth by Footsteps to the Future for assisting foster youth who “age-out” of the system would catch our attention. Footsteps’ program that provides transitional housing is fantastic! When you realize that more than 50% of emancipated foster youth end up homeless at some point, you know something must be done. But it has to be more than just providing shelter. If we expect foster youth to ultimately attain independence and become productive members of society, they must be employed. They must earn an income and learn to pay rent and buy groceries, clothes and other necessities.

However, for a former foster youth, securing employment is more difficult than it sounds, especially in this economic environment. Now more than ever, a company looks for a quality candidate with job experience. Because most foster youth have either not been previously employed or lack past work references, the opportunities for employment are almost non-existent.

Businesses also consider the abilities and job skills of the candidate. With no previous experience, it often takes newly hired young people more time to learn the job. They risk termination before they can get up to speed.

The bottom line is that many businesses prefer not to deal with the challenges of hiring and training inexperienced young prospects. In turn, that begins the all-to-familiar cycle of rejection among those former foster youth who can’t find jobs, leaving the door open for other less desirable pursuits, such as drugs and crime.
Because dealing with these problems cost businesses more in tax dollars than training and a paycheck for the inexperienced, our Denny’s franchise decided to step up to the plate. As an employer, we thought there might be a way for us to participate, not in a traditional way, but by forming a program that would work with Footsteps and aging-out foster youth. SWFRI Denny’s is now assisting in developing a quality aged-out foster youth employment program by providing a combination of training and coaching under one umbrella.

The program is a work in progress. Currently, the hiring process goes like this. Footsteps evaluates the aging-out individual who is in their program. A level of that individual’s desire to work is determined, as well as other pre-qualifications. There is guidance every step of the way. The individual is briefed on how to dress for an interview, she practices filling out application forms, and is then sent to us for an interview. Our Denny’s managers take the candidate through the interview process, including drug testing and criminal background checks. Upon employment, the candidate is placed in a job code where we feel she has the best chance for success, for her and our business. The new employee’s wage rate is discussed with Footsteps to ascertain that she will be able to support herself.

During the initial training period, if there are any problems, the manager contacts Footsteps, and together we discuss how to resolve them. Conversely, Footsteps is also notified when improvement or leadership skills are shown. This enables management and Footsteps to work together to acknowledge positive growth.

Much of the coaching is done on an ongoing basis within the scope of the job by the managers in each restaurant. Our Denny’s managers are educated through programs and classes offered or suggested by Footsteps. In this way, our managers gain an ownership in the employment program and become better equipped to work with not only foster youth, but their entire staff. Some managers have reported that the lessons learned through Footsteps have helped them deal with their own children.

So, how’s the program working in our Denny’s restaurants? You be the judge. Our first experience began over 18 months ago when we hired a young, aging-out foster woman to be a cook. After a bumpy start, she is developing into one of our stronger cooks and enjoys her job. With further education, she may choose to become a chef. A second young woman was hired with no experience and a slight language barrier.

Learning her duties and the menu was an obstacle in the beginning, but she came to work every day after attending college classes with a big smile on her face. We worked through Footsteps and her mentor, and she now knows the menu. Her smile remains, her tips have increased substantially, and she continues to pursue her college degree. An added benefit is that her language skills have dramatically improved in the process of taking food orders and talking with our guests.
We recently hired another young woman and placed her in the hostess position. Her excitement and enthusiasm is contagious.

Despite these success story, the program does have its challenges, but we are still in the learning process. Best of all, we’ve found that an amazing thing begins to happen when working with Footsteps. A win-win scenario takes place. As a business, we are now giving so much more back to our community. Because of employment, a growing number of former foster youth are learning how to support themselves by learning job skills and earning an income. SWFRI Denny’s has become integral in helping these young individuals develop into not only productive employees, but responsible and independent individuals. There is a great deal of pride that develops in these employees as the growth continues, and also in the business environment where that growth becomes evident. However, the real reward comes at the end of a shift when that employee smiles and says, “I’m going home.” We smile and know that “home” is a place where she’s paid the rent with a paycheck she’s earned, and our business helped make it possible!

Marcia Hopkins York, one of the General Partners and franchisee of Southwest Florida Restaurant Investments, Inc., has been operating Denny’s restaurants in Fort Myers and Cape Coral since 1992. She was invited to the White House on several occasions in recognition of her work in children’s programs in Fort Myers. She is a recipient of the Denny’s Champion of Children Award and the National FSI Pacesetter Award.