Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has announced the expansion of the County’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to include over 40 new career placements. For the past four years, the County’s Summer employment program has given deserving youth chance to work with government, non-profit and private businesses to explore potential career opportunities. The expansion includes several employers in the growing health care industry – including paid placements with Northwell Health.
Nassau County Department of Social Services (DSS) and Youth Services have partnered with various Nassau County Departments as well as private employers to place over 300 youth in various jobs in industries across the County. In addition to traditional placements in the County’s offices, this year youth will be working in healthcare industry, non-profits, broadcasting, finance, law, farmers markets and many more.
“The County’s Summer Youth Employment Program tailors paid job placements for young residents, with the goal of providing education, training and support all while allowing our youth to explore a possible career path,” said County Executive Curran. “We have had some outstanding youth come through this program in past years and I am delighted we were able to expand the program to include even more real-world job experiences for these deserving young residents. Thank you to all of our new partners for choosing to participate in this worthwhile program that youth truly benefit from. ”
Exposure to work settings and connecting youth to jobs are key components of Nassau’s SYEP. The program helps youth enhance their work history and employability through education and training workshops that provide job-readiness and work-related skills. The program helps youth develop their social capital by connecting with potential employers. The new employers include opportunities in government, private, non-profit and health care fields—including New York’s largest healthcare network, Northwell Health.
“Northwell Health is thrilled to be a partner with Nassau County on this summer internship program,” said Launette Woolforde, Northwell Health Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer for its Manhattan Region. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to learn about the extensive careers that exist in healthcare, and what better place to learn about that than at the largest healthcare provider in New York State. It is important to expose youth to opportunities at early age and to create pipelines, particularly within the communities we serve. I was a Nassau County resident for over thirty years and a lot of my livelihood still exists in and across Nassau County. We are grateful to County Executive Laura Curran, Youth Services Executive Director Dana Boylan, and their team for working so closely with us to transform the vision of this partnership into a reality.”