The Erie County Department of Social Services is currently recruiting organizations and businesses throughout Erie County to participate in the 2019 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). The SYEP is an important platform to introduce youth 14 through 20 years of age to the workforce. The program and its ancillary training opportunities help participants acquire skills to improve school performance and expand educational and career goals.

A variety of worksites is critical to the success of the Summer Youth Employment Program. The SYEP program operates for eight weeks from July 8, 2019 through August 30, 2019. Youth participants accepted into the program work 16 hours per week at an assigned organization or business. Every Friday the youth participate in an educational component provided by the SYEP community agency. Educational component topics include job readiness, career exploration, financial literacy, life-skills development, and continuing education, and social growth.

“Work experience and work readiness training are essential to all Erie County youth. We at the Department of Social Services are pleased to offer Erie County organizations and businesses the opportunity to engage with the workforce of the future,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Marie Cannon. “We greatly value our relationships with the organizations and businesses hosting our youth participants and we enjoy hearing success stories of growth and development on both sides of the relationship.”

Wages received by youth participants are paid directly by each SYEP community agency to the youth participant. Youth participants are covered under the SYEP’s liability insurance policy and Workers’ Compensation. Youth are expected to meet the same work routine expectations as regular employees regarding attendance, breaks, attire, job expectations and behavior.

Employers interested in hosting a youth this summer at your organization/business please contact Andrea DeRousseau of the Erie County Department of Social Services Employment Division by calling (716) 858-1348, by emailing  Andrea.DeRousseau@erie.gov or by visiting  http://www2.erie.gov/syep/ .

For more information:

On the Department of Social Services, visit http://www2.erie.gov/socialservices/   

# # #