CCC submitted testimony on ways to strengthen and expand the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to the City Council Youth Services Committee, for a hearing held on February 25, 2014.

SYEP provides youth ages 14-24 with valuable work and educational experience during the summer, and allows them to earn income that supports families and communities. CCC’s testimony emphasized the critical importance of SYEP for youth and the ongoing high demand for participation, with over 12,000 youth applying for approximately 36,000 slots.

CCC made the following recommendations:

• Increase the number of SYEP participants through a 5‐year plan that reaches 100,000 youth by year 5 and ensure funding levels address minimum wage increases.
• Restore the number of weeks youth work back to seven (from six).
• Continue to maintain and expand SYEP for youth with disabilities and vulnerable youth.