The 6 SYEP Wins Putting a Spring In Our Step
In 2020, SSN partnered with ExpandED Schools and others to design the Youth Empowerment Summer, a critical supplement for NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), and with advocates throughout the city to ensure the restoration of SYEP.
SSN helped create and facilitate a “big tent” program design process, where we brought our members to the table to design YES. We also co-led a research and documentation effort to elevate key innovations from last year's YES program that could inform this year's program and, as a result, co-authored a paper entitled “Youth Empowerment Summer: Crisis Response and Lessons for the Future of Collective Action and Work-based Learning.”
Last year, we co-led a Program and Processes Redesign subgroup (in partnership with other intermediaries - United Neighborhood Houses ExpandED Schools, HERE to HERE, Teens Take Charge, practitioners and youth) aimed at developing recommendations to improve the SYEP experience for youth and for providers and coordinating with DYCD to get these recommendations implemented.
In March, DYCD announced some updates we know are a direct result of our collective efforts and collaboration as a NYC-wide coalition. As warmer weather springs upon us, we're SEL-ebrating 6 wins and reflecting on what’s next for this exciting initiative!
Note: “SEL-ebrating” is a fun tradition at SSN that connects our celebrations back to social emotional learning - or SEL. SSN first planted its seeds with SEL and our collective impact work today can still be linked back because we believe SEL can be a lever to advance equity and re-define student success.
🎉 6 wins we’re SEL-ebrating + why they shine
100k Slots → big step up from 70k
Audit manuals were created → ensures that providers and DYCD auditors have the same information about what documentation needs to be collected, relieving a huge burden on providers who often inadvertently over collect documents
Remote/virtual document upload options available → opens up access for young people during enrollment
Income verification documents waived for young people → increases equity in access for young people and their families
12 month contracts for FY23 → allows providers to lean into sustainable planning
More flexible program design options → reimagines opportunities, including the possibility for group internships
We continue to partner with United Neighborhood Houses to coordinate a community of practice to:
Create a supportive environment for providers to share resources and best practices with each other as we navigate real-time challenges in 2022
Identify and align around key long-term needs and suggestions to bring to DYCD/MOYE
This spring, we are prioritizing high-leverage challenges and opportunities like the number of worksites, creativity and quality of internships, staffing up, youth recruitment, training for staff, and much more.
