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Human Interests

Seattle Human Services news and events

Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Now Accepting Applications for 2020 Summer Internships

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SYEP logo

The Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) helps young people (ages 16 to 24) from low-income households and communities that experience racial, social, and economic disparities. The goal is to increase youth and young adults’ ability to pursue careers that pay well and are meaningful to them.

SYEP has two components: a school-year exploration and learning experience, and a summer internship. The summer internship places young people in work settings to apply their knowledge, gain hands-on experience, develop professional connections, and build their resume. In 2020, SYEP summer interns will be paid $16.39 for up to 150 hours of work over six weeks.

Two young women wearing nurse uniforms in a hospital room

Specific supports are provided to young people to ensure they are set-up for success, including:

  • An ORCA card to cover transportation to and from the program (if they don’t already have one issued through their school)
  • All fees for tests and/or certifications required by internship sites, such as food handler permits or first aid/CPR
  • Internship-related work clothes or safety equipment, such as hard hats and/or work boots
  • Ongoing support from their Youth Development Counselor for general coaching
Young woman seated in front of a large widescreen monitor and typing on a keyboard

To be eligible for SYEP, young people must be between the ages of 16 and 24 years old, live within the Seattle city limits, and live in a household with income at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI). Applications for summer 2020 internships are now open, and will close on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at midnight Pacific Standard Time (PST).

Want to apply? Visit our program website at www.seattle.gov/syep today!

City announces Year-Round Youth Employment Program

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SYEP Logo graphic

SEATTLE (August 15, 2019) – The Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP), sponsored by the Seattle Human Services Department, announces the launch of a new year-round pre-employment program to support 200 youth and young adults in growing as community leaders and preparing for future work and career opportunities. This is an expansion to the current summer-only SYEP internship program. The new model will provide job-readiness skills, career navigation, exploration, and skill building through job readiness workshops, employer site visits, and professional networking opportunities. The skills and knowledge gained in the year-round program, along with SYEP support services, will prepare participants for success in their summer internships.

The year-round model will run from October 2019 to August 2020. Beginning in October, participants will attend weekly sessions and career discovery days, and participate in team activities, skills workshops, one-on-one coaching and support services, and assessments. Participants will earn a maximum stipend of $300 per module. Those who complete the series will have a guaranteed 150-hour internship that pays $16 per hour in the summer of 2020.

The change comes as part of the Mayor’s response to better meet the needs of youth and young adults within the regional economy, especially low-income youth who often lack access to meaningful career connections and opportunities in their teen years. The goal of the expanded program is to prepare youth for entry-level jobs in Seattle and increase their ability to pursue careers that are meaningful and pay a livable wage.

SYEP will be accepting applications for the year-round program from August 15‒September 9, 2019. (**UPDATE 9/6: The application deadline has been extended to Midnight on Monday, September 16) To be eligible, applicants must meet the minimum eligibility criteria: 

  • Commit to a year-round program with weekday and some weekend activities;
  • Live within Seattle city limits;
  • Be between the ages of 16‒24 years old by start of program; and have
  • Household income at or below 80% of the 2019 HUD median income for Seattle/King County.

For more information, guidelines, and the application, please visit www.seattle.gov/syep.

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Youth can connect with employers, educators at resource fair

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Young people ages 15 to 22 are invited to attend the annual Youth Employment, Education and Career Fair on Feb. 19th, 1-4 p.m. at Goodwill Seattle, 700 Dearborn Pl. S, Seattle 98144. Sponsored by Human Services Department’s Seattle Youth Employment Program in partnership with King County, WorkSource Seattle-King County and Seattle Goodwill, the fair features, employers, college representatives and other community resources.

Youth Education, Career, & Resource Fair on Feb. 15

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The 2013 Youth Education, Career and Resource Fair will be held on Feb. 15, 2013 at the Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave. S, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sponsored by the Seattle Youth Employment Consortium members, the Human Services Department’s Seattle Youth Employment Program, SeaMar Community Health Centers, MetroCenter YMCA, and YouthCare, the fair will feature 60+ vendors and workshops that focus on resume writing, interviewing, and applying for schools and employment.

For more information contact the SYEP office at 684-0293 or tina.inay@seattle.gov.

 

Bank of America Foundation helps youth jobs program

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The Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP), a program of the Seattle Human Services Department, provides economically disadvantaged youth the opportunity to develop employment skills, explore careers, and meet individualized educational goals. This summer, SYEP received a generous $50,000 grant from the Bank of America Foundation to serve an additional 16 youth.  In this seven-week program, youth were placed at various high-growth sectors such as health care, trade/transportation and information technology, and involved private businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. Site supervisors and SYEP employment counselors partnered throughout the summer to expose youth to green job and post-secondary options; develop work-readiness skills needed to increase employability; move youth onto well-paying careers; and move youth towards economic self-sufficiency.

Youth education & job fair on Feb. 22

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More than 300 Seattle teens are expected to attend the 12th annual Youth Education, Career, and Resource Fair — from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on February 22, 2012, at the Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave. S. Workshops begin at 9:30 a.m. Young people ages 14-21 will learn about community resources, post-secondary apprenticeships, trade schools and colleges, and career options. See this news release for more information.