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City officials tell supervisors YouthWorks is largely funded; organizers worry a small shortfall could reduce placements
Summary
After dozens of youth and staff urged restoration of YouthWorks funding, DCYF and the Mayor's budget office told the committee April 29 that most YouthWorks funding comes from interdepartmental work orders totaling about $900,000; officials said the program is intended to be fully funded though a $70,000 contingency shortfall was described by DCYF.
Dozens of youth interns and program staff told the committee that proposed cuts to YouthWorks — a city-organized paid internship program — would remove valuable job-training and placement opportunities. YouthWorks speakers emphasized that internships placed youth in city departments, helped with college and career preparation, and kept many young people engaged in constructive activities.
On the record, DCYF staff said YouthWorks was not being proposed for an outright cut, but that DCYF had placed a contingency in its budget because it might not be able to recoup all partner departments' contributions. "There's a difference around 70,000 right now," DCYF said regarding a possible shortfall. The mayor's budget office clarified that approximately $900,000 in work orders currently fund the program and said, "it's our intent to actually fully fund this program."
YouthWorks leaders and alumni stressed the program's citywide reach and asked supervisors to restore any reductions. The committee asked DCYF and the Mayor's office to continue working with partner departments and to report back with a clear plan for covering any gap before final budget votes.
