Accepting Summer Youth Employment Applications From Young People In Foster Care

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Published on April 05, 2019, 11:34 am
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The NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) today announced that New York City is accepting summer employment applications from youth in foster care.

More than 1,000 NYC youth in foster care are eligible for the paid Summer Youth Employment Program’s (SYEP) Vulnerable Youth programming positions and are being urged to apply.

As part of SYEP, youth in foster care are eligible through Vulnerable Youth (VY) programming.

Young people aged 14-15 may apply for paid project-based learning opportunities, while youth 16-24 can be connected to jobs in a variety of industries throughout NYC including private sector, government and community agencies. The experiences focus on career exploration and work readiness, and helping young people develop their individual strengths, skills, competencies and professional networks with caring professional adults.

“In New York City, we’re doing everything we can to make sure more doors of opportunity are opened for youth in foster care. The DYCD’s Summer Youth Employment Program provides important tools and resources to help youth in foster care develop workplace skills all while exploring their interests and career pathways. ACS is pleased to partner with DYCD as we work to improve education and employment outcomes for youth in foster care,” said ACS Commissioner David A. Hansell.

“Every year we give more and more job-ready and motivated young people the opportunity for an internship that could change the trajectory of their lives. This year we are meeting the next generation of talent where they are by revolutionizing the way they experience and connect to their interests and career options. Studies show that SYEP improves school attendance, offers new skills, reduces incarceration rates and keeps teens and young adults safe—including youth who wouldn’t otherwise have access to paying jobs. I urge all eligible New Yorkers to apply,” said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong.

Improving education and employment outcomes for youth in foster care is a key priority in the ACS Foster Care Strategic Blueprint. ACS has worked to improve education and employment outcomes among youth in foster care in several ways. For instance, ACS established a new Office of Employment and Workforce Development Initiatives dedicated to improving employment outcomes for youth in the foster care and justice systems; launched the ACS/CUNY dorm program; and implemented new programs in partnership with DYCD as well as Columbia University Workplace Center and FirstStar.

The Summer Youth Employment Program has been providing opportunities since 1963, and specialized services for Vulnerable Youth were added in 2009. In 2018, nearly 75,000 youth enrolled in the program across more than 12,000 worksites in New York City.

Applications can be completed online or at a participating community-based organization, depending on the program option. Online applications are available on the DYCD website here.

Updates will also be posted to DYCD’s FacebookTwitter and Instagram sites. For more information, please call 311 or DYCD Youth Connect at 1-800-246-4646.

Employers and worksites looking to support New York City’s youth employment programs, including SYEP, should visit the DYCD website here.

 

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