NYC Youth Development and Success Programs
Key Program Metrics and Reach
Program Descriptions and Focus Areas
Fair Futures
Fair Futures offers wraparound support to youth through mentorship, career readiness, and academic coaching, with a focus on equitable access and dismantling systemic barriers. Programs emphasize college access and career pathways aligned with future labor market needs.
College Choice
Targeting students from underrepresented groups, College Choice provides intensive college advisement, financial aid guidance, and specialized support to increase college enrollment and successful transition into higher education.
Career Choice
Career Choice creates paid internships, apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship programs for teenagers and young adults to gain workplace experience in high-growth industries including tech, healthcare, and green energy.
GirlsJustUs
A gender-responsive diversion and empowerment program operated with Rising Ground and Girls for Gender Equity, serving girls, LGBTQ+, and gender nonconforming youth at high risk of juvenile justice system involvement. Offers tailored mental health counseling, community-building, and economic empowerment.
Assertive Community Engagement and Success Programs
These programs focus on outreach and supportive services for youth at high risk of dropping out, gang involvement, or facing incarceration, delivering intensive case management, skills education, and crisis intervention.
Investment and Funding Summary
| Program | Funding Allocated (Millions USD) | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Fair Futures | 62 | Mentorship, academic and career readiness |
| College Choice | 41 | College access and retention support |
| Career Choice | 32 | Paid internships and apprenticeships |
| GirlsJustUs | 15 | Gender-responsive diversion and healing |
| Assertive Community Engagement | 13 | Outreach and support for at-risk youth |
| Cross-Program Mental Health Supports | — | Integrated deeply across all programs (included above) |
Funding from NYC’s Department of Youth and Community Development, Rising Ground reports, and partner agencies, 2025.
Program Outcomes, Success Metrics and Youth Impact
| Metric | 2023 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Enrolled Across Programs | 16,500 | 31,950 | +94% |
| High School Graduation Rate (Participants) | 78% | 89% | +11 percentage points |
| College Enrollment Rate (Participants) | 52% | 67% | +15 percentage points |
| Youth Workforce Placements | 7,200 | 14,500 | +101% |
| Mental Health Service Engagement | 58% | 78% | +20 percentage points |
| Recidivism Rate for GirlsJustUs Participants | 32% | 15% | −53% |
Data collated from NYC DYCD, Rising Ground, GGE, and independent program evaluations, 2023–2025.
Key Partnerships and Community Collaborations
- Rising Ground and Girls for Gender Equity provide core programming and trauma-informed services for GirlsJustUs.
- DOE and CUNY collaborate closely with College Choice, providing academic coaching and onboarding support for college-level coursework.
- Career Choice partners include NYC Department of Small Business Services, local employers, and apprenticeship networks.
- Assertive engagement programs integrate with juvenile justice diversion efforts and community-based service providers.
- Cross-agency mental health teams coordinate interventions embedded within all youth pathways.
Future Program Expansion and Strategic Priorities
- Increase enrollment to 50,000 youth annually by 2030 through expanded funding and outreach.
- Develop hybrid digital and in-person programming for increased accessibility citywide.
- Launch a mentorship app providing matched supports and tracking progress.
- Expand wraparound mental health services with a focus on culturally responsive care.
- Strengthen workforce pathway programs targeting emerging green jobs and technology sectors.
- Partner with NYC Public Library system to offer youth enrichment and skill-building workshops citywide.
Plans based on NYC Office of Youth and Community Development strategic documents and partner agency proposals, 2025 outlook.