NORWICH –The Place held its 2016 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Luncheon on Friday, where participants completed mock interviews with business professionals, shared PowerPoint presentations they created outlining the work they completed this summer, and received awards for their participation in the program. The program concluded on Monday with participants visiting SUNY Oneonta and the Oneonta Job Corps.

“SYEP is a work and education program that provides Chenango County youth with paid work experience, explained According to Rebecca Bliss, Executive Director at The Place. “Our areas youth gain a great deal of knowledge about professionalism in the workplace and applying for jobs. This summer, they learned about resume writing, appropriate dress, and how to work in groups. They also discussed financial aid and the FASFA process for college.”

According to Bliss, the Program Director, Donna Dvoracek talked to the students about the different financial resources available to them for college or trade schools, and encouraged them not to get discouraged by the cost of continued education.

SYEP is a program contracted through the Chenango County Department of Social Services and made possible through New York State’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). This year, The Place received $97,248—making it possible for 45 Chenango County youth to participate.

SYEP ran from July 5 – Aug. 1, providing TANF-eligible households with valuable work experience and a much-needed paycheck.