Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Frequently Asked Questions ABOUT SYEP 1. What is the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)? SYEP is a job program that provides youth between the ages of 14-21 years old with work experience, life skills training and income during the summer months and qualified organizations with free summer help. 2. When will SYEP start? SYEP is a six week program that will begin on Monday, July 9, 2012. 3. Can I work on weekends? Work on weekends is not permitted. APPLYING FOR SYEP 1. How do I qualify for SYEP? To be eligible for SYEP, you must be at least 14 years old but not over 21 years old as of date of lottery. You must also permanently reside in Haverhill, Lawrence, or Methuen, MA. 2. When will the SYEP applications be available? SYEP applications will be available Thursday, March 15th, 2012. 3. How do I apply for SYEP? Visit www.valleyworks.cc or www.massyouthemployment.org. You can also download and print a copy of the application, complete it and return it with the required documents to ValleyWorks Career Center. 4. Where can I obtain an SYEP application? To obtain an application, you may do any one of the following: Visit the ValleyWorks website at www.valleyworks.cc or www.massyouthemployment.org to download and print out a copy Pick up an application at ValleyWorks Career Center: o Lawrence Office: 439 South Union Street, Building 2, Suite 106, Lawrence o Haverhill Office: 192 Merrimack Street, Haverhill Pick up an application at: o Lawrence High School: Monday & Wednesdays 10:00 AM 2:00 PM o LHS Learning Center: Fridays 10:00 AM 1:00 PM o Haverhill High School: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30 AM 1:00 PM 5. Where do I submit my SYEP application? To submit an application along with the required documents, you must do one of the following: Visit ValleyWorks Career Center: o Lawrence Office: 439 South Union Street, Building 2, Suite 106, Lawrence Mondays Fridays 2:00 PM 4:00 PM
o Haverhill Office: 192 Merrimack Street, Haverhill Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:00 PM 4:00 PM At the following locations at the specific time listed: o Lawrence High School: Monday & Wednesdays 10:00 AM 2:00 PM o LHS Learning Center: Fridays 10:00 AM 1:00 PM o Haverhill High School: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30 AM 1:00 PM Review the list of required documents and have them ready (see Required Eligibility Documentation Checklist 2 nd Page of Application). 6. Can I mail in my application to ValleyWorks? No, applications may only be submitted in person at one of the above mentioned locations. 7. Can I submit more than one SYEP application? Does it increase my chances to be selected for a job? No, only the first application submitted will be accepted. 8. Will I receive a receipt confirming that I have submitted an SYEP application? If you are submitting an application by hand to an authorized SYEP Provider, you should also receive a receipt for the submission of your application. 9. When is the deadline to submit a complete SYEP application? The deadline to submit a complete SYEP application is April 30, 2012. 10. Besides an SYEP application what other documentation is required? Along with the application you must submit documents regarding your age, city residence, income, and permission to work status. If you are a male, 18 years or older at the time of enrollment, you must provide proof of Selective Service registration. To register or obtain proof of registration, you can visit the Selective Service website at www.sss.gov. If you are 17 years old at the time you applied but turn 18 during the program, you will need to register for selective service. 11. Do I have to pay any fees to apply or work for SYEP? No. ValleyWorks does not require a fee for applying to SYEP. SYEP Worksites or any other parties are not allowed to charge a fee for participation in SYEP. To apply for SYEP, you only need to submit a completed application in person to ValleyWorks Career Center. During the summer, you are responsible for your own transportation to and from work as well as your own meals. These are the only out-of-pocket costs that you should incur while working for SYEP. 12. Am I guaranteed a job if I complete and submit my application prior to application deadline? No, job placements will be awarded by a lottery.
SELECTION AND ENROLLMENT 1. How will SYEP applicants be selected? ValleyWorks will conduct a lottery of completed applications to determine whether applicants are offered a job. 2. How does the lottery work? Applicants submitting a complete application prior to the deadline of April 30, 2012 to ValleyWorks are placed into a pool for potential selection. A representative from the MVWIB youth council will randomly select completed applications for enrollment into the SYEP. 3. When is the lottery taking place? Tuesday, May 15, 2012. 4. How will I know if I am selected to participate in SYEP? ValleyWorks will contact you if you have been selected through the lottery. To be notified, it is necessary that you provide your correct contact information (address, telephone number, email address). You need to update your contact information if you move, change phone numbers, or email address. 5. How can I check on the status of my SYEP application? Contact the ValleyWorks Career Center Summer Employment Program staff at 978-722- 7000. 6. Do I need Working Papers? Yes. If you are selected for an SYEP position and you are under the age of 18 (as of July 9, 20121), you must submit a Massachusetts Work Permit. Working papers can be obtained through any of the high schools. If you are currently not attending school, visit your local City or Town Hall. WAGES 1. Who is responsible for paying the youth? ValleyWorks Career Center pays the wages and the SYEP Worksites provide youth participants with work and supervision. 2. How much does SYEP pay? SYEP Participants will earn the Massachusetts State minimum wage of $8.00 an hour and may work up to 25 hours per week. 3. How will I be paid? SYEP Participants are paid every two weeks by check or direct deposit if the participant chooses to. 4. Can I work overtime? No. SYEP cannot pay for overtime. If you are asked by the worksite to work overtime, you must inform your SYEP Provider. 5. Can I attend summer school and also participate in SYEP?
Yes, if your assigned Worksite can arrange a schedule that accommodates both work and school. 6. What type of summer jobs are available? The SYEP Provider will determine the range of placement possibilities. SYEP has traditionally offered jobs as clerical, health fields, camp counselor, custodial aides in government and nonprofit agencies. ValleyWorks may also provide jobs in private, forprofit companies in a variety of industries. 7. What will my work week consist of? Your summer job hours will consist of up to 25 work hours per week. The actual work schedule will be developed and provided by the worksite to which you are assigned. 8. Must SYEP Participants attend Work Readiness and Safety Workshops? All SYEP Participants are required to attend work readiness and safety workshops. Participants will not be paid for any workshop hours. FOR SYEP WORKSITES 1. How many hours can the youth work, and how much are they paid? SYEP pays youth to work a maximum of 25 hours a week at the Massachusetts State minimum wage of $ 8.00 an hour. The employer will be responsible for any hours that exceed 25 hours per week. 2. What are the qualifications to become an SYEP Worksite? Organizations that wish to receive SYEP workers can be not-for-profit, for-profit or government agencies. They must be able to provide youth with productive work for the entire duration of the program and proper adult supervision. They must also abide by all federal, state and local labor laws and health and safety regulations. 3. How does an organization apply to become an SYEP Worksite? Organizations that want to participate in SYEP must apply as an SYEP Worksite. The application can be submitted directly to the ValleyWorks Career Center. 4. How are the youth selected to work in the program? Youth are selected by a lottery conducted for all complete and eligible applications that are submitted by the application deadline. Youth can apply for SYEP beginning Thursday March 15 until April 30, 2012. Applications can be submitted in person at one of the locations listed above. 5. Who is responsible for placing the youth at the Worksites? The ValleyWorks Career Center is responsible for placing the youth at the worksites. 6. Can the Worksite select the youth for their Worksite? All youth are selected by a lottery. Worksites must work with the ValleyWorks Career Center Staff to determine which of the selected youth can be assigned to that Worksite. 7. Is there a screening process to ensure the youth are ready to work? ValleyWorks Career Center verifies the age, city residence, income, and permission to work status of each participant selected and enrolled in SYEP. In addition, the ValleyWorks Career Center conducts a series of work readiness and work safety
workshops with their participants. If the Worksite has additional requirements such as medical clearance, criminal background checks and the like, it is responsible for letting participants know about the requirements and providing for the screening of participants prior to their placement at that Worksite. 8. What kind of work are SYEP Participants allowed to perform? Worksites are required to provide proper supervision and age-appropriate work for youth between the ages of 14 and 21. All SYEP Worksites are required to abide by federal, state and local child labor laws. In particular, the ValleyWorks Career Center does not allow SYEP participants to operate motor vehicles, take part in political activities or fundraise on behalf of the Worksite as part of their work assignment in SYEP. 9. Is there any additional support provided to the Worksite staff throughout the program? If the Worksite is accepted, the ValleyWorks Career Center will conduct an orientation, provide you with the SYEP Worksite Agreement and conduct visits to support the participants placed at your site. You should communicate with the ValleyWorks Career Center designated staff regarding questions about the SYEP or specific issues related to participants placed at the Worksite. 10. Can a Worksite terminate the employment of an SYEP Participant? ValleyWorks Career Center encourages Worksites and Participant to maintain a continuous communication and feedback regarding the job performance of Participants. If the Worksite is dissatisfied with the performance of an SYEP Participant, the Worksite designated staff must inform the ValleyWorks Career Center and attempt to resolve the issue. The Worksite must not terminate Participants and send them home unless such termination is approved by the ValleyWorks assigned staff.