Youth Employment and Education Program

Our nationally-awarded program uses a youth development approach that builds on a young person's strengths. The program is designed for out of school youth ages 17 - 24. We focus on changing the attitudes that lead to defeat and failure and teach young people how to be successful in the workplace and develop basic skills that will help them become self-sufficient. This means helping them develop goals and interpersonal skills and, most important, a work-ready attitude. So many times these young people are besieged by either feelings of defeat and hopelessness or they come in with a defensive, “I know it all” attitude that, in turn, defeats them.

YEP training encompasses intensive workshops, including computer and clerical work instruction, with two years of follow-up support services including job development and replacement assistance. Recently, we added an intensive computer skills training component to prepare young adults for today's competitive job market.

We work with employers to open doors and build relationships with companies to develop opportunities for our participants. Annually, we meet or exceed our goal of 280 job placements. Employers are as grateful for our program as our trainees are.

Our services include:

Job Bank which provides assess to the Internet, job listings, computers, fax machines, and a phone to contact employers. Open daily from 9 am to 5 p.m.

Training Component: Based upon a STRIVE model, our job readiness and computer training program prepares participants to enter and succeed in the labor market. Activities include: resume writing, interview skills, dress for success, financial planning and networking. Graduates exit program with an average typing speed of 30 words per minute.

Follow Up Services: Our staff will follow-up weekly with the participants until they have a job and then follow-up monthly. We encourage them to contact us and stay in touch with each other for mutual support.

Contact:
Marina Niceta
Assistant Director of Youth & Family Services
Phone#: (212) 360-7625 ext. 240
Email: mniceta@isaacscenter.org

Youth Leadership and Development (YLD)

These programs offer youth opportunities to become responsible, active community members through participating in structured activities that improve their lives and those around them.

YLD reaches more than 150 young adults ages 11-19 during those crucial years when inner-city youth are most at risk. This series of programs includes:

Take Action (ages 11-14)

Take Action features homework help, community service, sports/ fitness, educational and team-building projects. This transition program is more than a safe harbor during afterschool hours; it also helps vulnerable middle school children deal with the growing pains and conflicts of adolescence as they forge a strong self-identity.

Leaders-in-Training (LIT) and paid internships (ages 14-18)

LIT offers opportunities for first work experiences as Afterschool aides and peer tutors. Nothing fosters responsibility more than a shy five-year-old who depends on you. Participants meet weekly to discuss and reflect on their work experiences and plan group activities together. As LITs they receive the best preparation possible for paid part-time positions.

Mentoring, Tutoring and College/Career Prep

These programs focus on educational success, staying in school and looking ahead to college and beyond. Unlike other children who are groomed for college success from early childhood, the youngsters in our program have little support and few role models to emulate. We match them with a tutor and/or mentor, or even a volunteer coach to prepare for the SAT. Volunteers help participants explore the world of college through campus visits and inspiring, informative discussions with other young adults who have made it to college against enormous odds. Participants also explore careers by talking to people in various fields about what is expected, ranging from how to dress to educational or training requirements.

Young Men's and Young Women's Groups

These forums offer teens opportunities to talk comfortably about personal issues ranging from drugs and sex to family problems and school concerns. In a safe, supportive atmosphere teens learn that it's okay to ask for help. When needed, they are referred to additional services such as the Mt. Sinai Adolescent Clinic.

Legacy: A Rite of Passage

This program is built on a 12-week curriculum that uses workshops, activities, guest speakers and lectures that assist in building skills related to self improvement, team work and community service. It was designed for teens and young adults to become knowledgeable and invested in the Isaacs Center and their community at large by providing opportunities to practice skills useful for becoming successful adults. Curriculum areas include topics such as goal setting; being responsible leaders, team building and clarifying values.

The Evening Teen Center at our community site is open five nights a week. From 6 to 9 p.m. neighborhood youth ages 13 to 21 have the opportunity to be a part of a safe and supportive environment that provides an array of youth centered programming. All participants have an active role in planning and implementing programming. The Evening Teen Center invites guest speakers, artists, teachers and all types of volunteers to facilitate workshops in a vast spectrum of subjects. Activities include, but are not limited to, sports tournaments, computer lab projects, focus groups, dance classes, cooking instructions and a lounge where teens are always welcome to socialize in an unstructured way.

Our Youth Council, Youth Management Team (YMT) meets monthly to assist Isaacs Center staff in shaping the organization through assisting with Youth Services program planning and development. The goal of YMT is to create a more youth-centered department by actively involving the team in a wide range of activities that affect outcomes. YMT members work in the following committee areas: Outreach and Recruitment, Community Advocacy, Program Planning and Evaluation and Assessment.