DYCD Launches DYCD Connect, a Major Step Toward Program Integration On February 1, Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Bill Chong brought together community stakeholders to learn about DYCD’s vision for greater program integration and the technology upgrades that will support it. The agency recently created a new mission statement and has undergone an internal process to integrate programs internally.[space_20]
DYCD Connect, being rolled out over the next year, is the first major upgrade to DYCD’s information technology system in 20 years and is an essential component of DYCD’s vision for better integrating the programming supported by the agency.
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The system creates a single point of entry for DYCD staff, community-based organizations, and technical assistance (TA) providers to: track participants across programs; capture and track program evaluation and monitoring; and enable grantees to request capacity building support. DYCD Connect will streamline program administration by combining multiple reporting databases into one and create a data set that will offer increased ability to analyze program impacts by both grantees and DYCD. Commissioner Chong emphasized that the $10 million investment in the system will convert data into useful information that can be used to support program improvements. [space_20]
In launching DYCD Connect, DYCD has recognized that integrated data systems are an essential component of integrated programming and services coordination, a priority for DYCD and the sector. [space_20]
DYCD’s vision for program and data integration is aligned with CCF’s support for coordinated, place-based services. CCF has invested in our grantees’ ability to establish cross-program systems as a critical path to analyzing and improving programmatic outcomes.[space_20]
Representing CCF at DYCD’s February 1 announcement were donors Deborah Thompson Velazquez, Altman Foundation and Michael Pratt, Scherman Foundation; grantees Jose Leon, St. Nicks Alliance and Basil Reyes, Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation; and Wendy Fleischer, CCF Donor Representative.
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CHLDC Expands Successful CHAMPION Network – Giving More Young Adults Access to Jobs with Career Ladders
Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation has expanded its highly successful CHAMPION Network, which was launched 3 years ago as part of the organization’s Change Capital Fund initiative, to include two new tracks: office IT and culinary arts.
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Champion Network’s original transportation sector training program provided 130 young adults from Cypress Hills and East New York with the opportunity to earn a Class C driver’s license and an entry level job in the growing transportation sector. Ninety-five percent of those students got jobs and many have started to climb the career ladder, getting promotions and pay increases.
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In November, CHLDC expanded the program to the office IT sector. Earlier this year they added a culinary training track. Both programs are offered in partnership with local colleges, where participants get further training and earn college credits at no cost.
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The goal of all three tracks is for participants to develop the skills and certifications that will get them into a job with low barriers to entry, but great opportunity for
advancement without additional training or degrees. All three tracks also come with internship opportunities where participants can get 150 hours of on-the-job experience and earn $11 an hour in the process.
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CHLDC is hoping to give more young adults an opportunity like Taleesha got. Taleesha joined one of the first cohorts of the transportation training program in the hopes it would help her get her dream job as an MTA bus driver.
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Through the program, she earned her Class C license which helped her land a job with Access-A-Ride. After a year of employment, she qualified to obtain a Class B license, which she needed in order to drive a big bus. CHLDC helped her get that license. That’s what she needed: earlier this month, Taleesha got her dream job.
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Donor News
Deutsche Bank is hosting a presentation and discussion panel for the release of Housing Trajectories of Transition-Age Youth. The report was funded by New York Community Trust.Tuesday, March 7th from 9:30-11:00am at Deutsche Bank, 60 Wall Street, Room 4702. To register, click here.
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Citi Foundation is making its largest philanthropic commitment ever, doubling down on efforts to tackle persistently high youth unemployment rates through their Pathways to Progress initiative. They are investing $100 million dollars over the next three years to prepare 500,000 young people, ages 16-24 for today’s competitive job market. They have already helped 100,000 youth across the United States become career ready. Citi’s work is informed by research like the recently released Global Youth Survey 2017: Economic Prospects & Expectations.
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Enterprise celebrated the 10th anniversary of the NYC Acquisition Fund at a celebration with public, private and philanthropic partners in the Bronx. The Fund has helped finance more than ten thousand affordable homes in NYC and continues to have a robust pipeline that will produce many more homes in the years to come.
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