New Ways Workers/SF Youth Works

New Ways Workers-SF (NWW-SF) is a nationally recognized youth employment program that links public and private sector employers, schools, community agencies and students in need of employment. Created in 1987 by New Ways To Work, a non-profit organization that is known nationally for its involvement and expertise in workplace issues, NWW-SF was designed to address the mutual needs of businesses, schools and youth-serving agencies.

New Ways Workers-SF is a multi-service program with the flexibility to offer a variety of services to both employers and young people. First, NWW-SF administers and implements subsidized internship programs for local young people. NWW-SF also provides services to businesses, as well as public sector and nonprofit organizations interested in employing youth. With its connection to New Ways to Work and their research about the employment of youth NWW-SF understands the complicated issues surrounding the incorporation of young people into the workplace. These issues, which include staffing and personnel policies, concerns about turn over, cost and the challenges of recruiting and screening young people, can hinder an organization's efforts to provide positive employment opportunities to youth. In order to help organizations successfully overcome these challenges NWW-SF provides services designed to smooth the inclusion of youth workers. These services include recruitment, screening, worksite supervisor training and on-going technical assistance, as well as the capacity to serve as the legal employer-of-record, handling all payrolling functions and advising on issues surrounding workers' compensation and child labor laws.

Using a youth development approach, New Ways Workers-SF seeks to achieve the following goals:
• To provide meaningful workplace opportunities for youth enrolled in school or training programs. o To encourage youth to pursue their education while supplementing those efforts with employment.
• To reinforce the importance of work-based learning and encourage employers to provide the types of opportunities that promote future success.
• To help young people overcome their barriers to employment and help employers overcome the issues and concerns that surround youth employment.

San Francisco YouthWorks is a career-oriented internship program designed to give youth the chance to explore careers in a supportive environment. The program offers 10th, 11th, and 12th grade youth the opportunity to participate in paid internships in San Francisco city government departments. By working closely with a career mentor participants are able to develop their skills and clarify their career goals. In addition through the support they receive from YouthWorks staff, participants also able to access additional trainings, guidance, and connections to subsequent employment.

Using a youth development approach, San Francisco YouthWorks seeks to achieve the following goals:
• Provide youth with the chance to explore a career in a San Francisco city government department
• Enhance the skills attainment and experience of participants through internships and ongoing Career Development Workshops
• Provide young people with the chance to build their leadership through participation in the Youth Leadership Team
• Encourage the success of participants and career mentors by providing ongoing technical assistance, troubleshooting, and support

For more information, please contact:
Betsy Merzenich, Program Director at 415.202.7903 or bmerzenich@jcyc.org.
Or visit www.SFYouthWorks.org