Seattle Youth Employment Program

The Seattle Youth Employment Program is a year-round academic support and job training program for up to 400 youth ages 14-21. It helps participants graduate from high school, move on to college or trade school, and develop skills needed for apprenticeships or jobs in high-demand fields such as health care and technology.

This award-winning program, operated by the Seattle Human Services Department, combines employment training with academic support. This strategy has proven to be the most effective way to keep youth in school and out of the juvenile justice system.

Each participant in the Seattle Youth Employment Program works with a development specialist to develop a contract with academic, personal and employment goals. Staff keeps parents and guardians informed.

Participants are from low-income families, and 90 percent are youth of color. They have little or no work experience, and often struggle in school.

The Seattle Human Services Department has operated the program for more than 25 years. About 60 percent of the annual budget comes from the City’s General Fund and 35 percent from the federal Workforce Investment Act, administered by the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County. Another five percent comes from the United Way of King County and private donations. The 2008 budget for this program is $2 million.

The Seattle Youth Employment Program is the lead agency for the Seattle In-School Youth Employment Consortium which includes partner agencies the Center for Career Alternatives and Metrocenter YMCA. Comprehensive services are available thanks to the involvement of dozens of additional partners including the Seattle Public Schools, other City of Seattle departments, community agencies, businesses, employers and local colleges.

For more details about the Seattle Youth Employment Program, click here.

Eligibility and Applications

To be eligible, youth must be 14-21 years old and residents of Seattle. They must have a picture ID and Social Security card, an academic transcript (even if not attending school), and proof of low-income status. Out of the 1,000 applications distributed, only 170 to 200 new students are admitted each year.

Each application is reviewed and youth are selected based on barriers to employment and educational opportunities. For instance, youth with disabilities, teen parents, homeless youth, youth involved in the juvenile justice system, and youth at risk of dropping out of high school are given higher priority.

Applications can be picked up in person between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the SYEP office located in downtown Seattle at the Central Building, 810 3rd Avenue, Suite 420. We do not mail out applications.

The priority deadline for submitting an application for our summer program is April 8, 2009. Eligible applicants who meet the priority deadline will receive first consideration for summer participation. After that date, eligible applicants will be considered on a space-available basis only. For school year participation, applications are accepted at any time and considered on a space-available basis. Completed applications with copies of required documents may be dropped off or mailed to the SYEP office.

For more information about applying for SYEP, call 206-386-1375 or e-mail SYEP@seattle.gov.

Information

For more information about this program and other Seattle Human Services Department-funded youth programs, call 206-386-1017 or e-mail youthservices@seattle.gov.

For information about our partners, visit:

• Center for Career Alternatives
• Metrocenter YMCA
• United Way of King County
• Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County

Links

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