POUGHKEEPSIE- More than 150 young participants with various backgrounds and interests completed the Department of Community and Family Services’ (DCFS) weeks-long Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which empowers the youth and prepares them for success by providing invaluable real-world work experience and skill development, laying a strong foundation for their future careers.
The annual SYEP provides qualified students, ages 14 to 20 and whose families qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a 6-8 week-long course, which includes summer job placement, designed to help them prepare for future, permanent employment.
County Executive William F.X. O’Neil said, “Dutchess County can be immensely proud of today’s graduates and the dedication they’ve shown throughout the Summer Youth Employment Program. These young people have demonstrated an eagerness to learn and the determination to excel in the professional world. As they move forward, they carry with them the experience, knowledge and confidence that will undoubtedly propel them toward brighter futures.”
Students who took part in the SYEP received job placements accompanied by mentorship – ranging in industry, skill level and geographic location – and worked an average of 20 hours per week at one of more than a dozen businesses throughout Dutchess County.
DCWIB Executive Director Louise McLoughlin said, “The Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board proudly partners with the Department of Community & Family Services to offer this impactful program, which makes a difference in so many young people’s lives.”
