New Haven youth services department previews summer programs, youth employment and camp plans

City of New Haven Youth Services Department staff told the Youth Services Committee on Feb. 5 that Youth at Work applications are open, summer recreation and camp plans are set to roll out, and a range of ARPA-funded youth programs will continue though some elements may be scaled if future funding changes.

The department reported that Youth at Work applications have been available since January and that more than 200 applications had been submitted as of the meeting. Staff said the application deadline is April 17, 2025, and that worksites can apply online through the city portal. The department also said it will offer scholarships next spring (applications to be publicized in March) and noted that last year the program distributed $15,000 in scholarships to about 20 recipients.

Committee context: Kimberly Edwards, chair of the Youth Services Committee, and committee members received a two-part presentation from department staff about employment programs and recreation operations. The presentation covered youth employment, the youth service bureau, ARPA-supported programs, referral-based youth-cadet and youth-connect services, and the department’s recreation programming for the coming months.

Why it matters: Staff described ongoing services that reach hundreds of children and families across the city and emphasized continuity for programs originally under ARPA funding. City aldermen and staff discussed practical limits on facilities and staffing that affect how many sites can be active this summer.

Key program details

- Youth at Work: Online applications opened in early January; staff reported over 200 applications and said they are conducting school outreach at larger high schools to distribute QR codes and explain the program. Worksite registration is a separate digital application on the same portal.

- Scholarships: The department plans to announce a scholarship (referred to in the presentation as a recurring award) with application materials released in March; staff said last year’s scholarships totaled $15,000 and served roughly 20 students.

- Grants and contracted partners: Staff said it awarded 11 contracts under a sports expansion grant (maximum awards discussed in the presentation ranged up to $20,000) and selected 13 organizations under a multiyear expansion grant with a per-year cap discussed at $45,000; staff described the two grants together as bringing more than $800,000 into the community through partner organizations.

- Youth cadet/youth-connect: The department said the youth cadet program continues to operate in partnership with the police department, the Board of Education and community providers. Referrals are accepted from families, schools, police and faith leaders; cases are individualized and may be referred to partners such as Clifford Beers for mental-health services or other mentoring organizations.

- Staffing and budget: Staff reported the department is fully staffed with 13 employees and that a departmental budget request has been submitted for the year; staff said they are planning to sustain programs after ARPA funds sunset, though some scaling could be necessary.

Recreation and summer operations

Department operations staff reviewed planned recreation programming, which includes arts and crafts, STEM classes, open-school nights, pottery, lifeguard training, youth leagues and expanded volleyball programming. Staff said open-school nights run five to six days per week and average about 50 attendees per building, producing roughly 200–300 children across sites on a typical night.

Summer-specific plans include: - Twelve summer camps servicing more than 600 children and site consolidation so parents can use a single location for multiple-age siblings. - An activity bus operating Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to bring programming to neighborhood parks. - Pool availability: staff said only two pools are expected to be open this summer (identified in the presentation as Hill House and Career). Staff explained the department provides programming and staffing for pools but does not control pool maintenance or capital repairs; those responsibilities were characterized as controlled by the Board of Education and by pending repair work. - Track program expansion and wellness partners: the summer track program is planned to expand to about 300 children and will include a wellness component with partners named as Yale New Haven Hospital, Cornell Scott and the New Haven Health Department. - Other offerings: expanded midnight basketball (with revised age groups), camps with differentiated supervision by age, pickleball and badminton classes, swim lessons and lifeguard training, Friday movies in the park, and a planned Easter egg hunt on April 19 at Wilbur Cross.

Committee questions and public comment

Alderman Butler (Ward 23) asked about pool availability; staff said only two pools will be open this summer and reiterated that pool repairs and decisions about which pools open are tied to Board of Education repairs and funding. Another committee member asked where pickleball classes are held; staff said outdoor and indoor sites are used and sign-ups are managed through TeamReach and local partners. No members of the public registered to testify during the meeting’s public-comment period.

Actions and next steps

The committee closed the public-comment portion by unanimous voice vote and approved closing the public portion. A motion to adjourn was made near the end of the transcript; no recorded vote on adjournment appears in the provided excerpt.

The department said camp registration information will be publicly posted beginning Feb. 10 and that staff will circulate application links and flyers to the aldermen for distribution to constituents. Staff also invited committee members to attend department events and meet newly hired staff.