$1.1M Grant for Youth Employment Program

GOSHEN – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus has announced that the County’s Department of Social Services has received $1,183,275 in grant funding through New York State’s newly implemented Youth Employment Program (YEP).

The DSS will transfer the funds to the County’s Office of Employment and Training for utilization.

“We are grateful for these funds which we will be invested in the youth of Orange County,” Neuhaus said. “The YEP program benefits young men and women by providing the skills and experience needed to become successful adults. We will continue to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our youth and we will take advantage of every opportunity to give them tools and resources to help them thrive.”

The Youth Employment Program (YEP) is intended to help reduce community gun violence and youth criminal justice involvement by providing year-round employment opportunities.

These funds will support the establishment of a program which includes employment, education, and/or career exploration opportunities for Temporary Assistance to needy families (TANF)-eligible youth from low-income households. This funding is further intended to support employment programs for youth at risk of gun violence as part of a statewide gun-violence reduction intervention model.

Eligible participants are youth ages 14 to 20 who are:

· Family Assistance (FA) recipients,

· Former FA recipients who have reached their 60-month limit on TANF and have transitioned to Safety Net Assistance (SNA), or

· Eligible under the TANF 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

The YEP will provide TANF-eligible youth from low-income households with wrap-around employment and educational opportunities in conjunction with services provided through the traditional Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Paid employment is an integral component of the YEP. To augment the work component of the YEP, providers may include limited educational and/or career exploration activities, which will better prepare youth as they continue their education and transition to the world of work. Allowable activities and services for the YEP include work subsidies for youth (payment to employer or third party); education and training and supportive services such as transportation, case management, and incentive payments.

“The Office of Employment and Training is proud to collaborate with the County Executive and other departments to offer the YEP program,” said Steve Knob, the County’s Director of Employment and Training. “This program will provide students with critical lifelong skills that they can utilize as they further their educations and pursue careers.”

For more information about the YEP Program, you can contact Karina Fabiano at Kfabiano@orangecountygov.com or 845-360-0325.