New York City Council
Committee on Children and Youth
Feb 23, 2024
·
10:00 AM
1 hr 54 min
Summary
A hearing on the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD)'s Family Support Services exploring fatherhood programs, adult literacy, crime prevention, and efforts to fill Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs) and promote under-publicized services. Features testimony from DYCD and the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Council Member Stevens Opens Hearing on DYCD's Family Support Services
Council Member Althea Stevens introduces the hearing on the Department of Youth & Community Development's Family Support Services. She highlights programs focused on low-income families, such as the Father Initiative, …
0:00:40
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171 sec
Testimony: Mike Bobby, Deputy Commissioner of DYCD Provides an Overview of Their Family Support Services
Mike Bobbitt, Deputy Commissioner, and Ebony Jordan Wilson, Assistant Commissioner for Community Development at DYCD, present an overview of family support programs. Highlighting initiatives like the Fatherhood Initiative and healthy …
0:03:59
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9 min
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Key Achievements and Promotion of Neighborhood Development Area Programs
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the key achievements of the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) Neighborhood Development Area (NDA) Programs and solutions for further promoting these initiatives. …
0:13:29
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120 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Neighborhood Advisory Boards' Roles and Vacancies
During the Committee on Children and Youth meeting, Council Member Althea Stevens inquires into the role, responsibilities, and current status of Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs) as presented by Mike Bobbitt, …
0:15:31
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170 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Strategies for Filling NAB Vacancies
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about strategies to fill Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB) vacancies and the limited number of staff overseeing this task. Mike Bobbitt, Deputy Commissioner, explains the roles …
0:18:26
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5 min
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Community Needs Assessments and NDA Feedback
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the accuracy of community needs assessments and the distribution method of survey results to Neighborhood Development Areas (NDAs). Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobitt affirms the …
0:23:32
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90 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Expanding Community Feedback Models
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the expansion of community feedback models across all Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) programs, referencing their success in existing initiatives. Mike Bobbitt, …
0:25:02
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119 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About NDA Performance Reports and Outcome Indicators
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) reporting on Neighborhood Development Area (NDA) program performance. Mike Bobbitt, Deputy Commissioner, confirms the dissemination of …
0:27:03
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119 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About NDA Program Metrics in the Mayor's Management Report
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires why the metrics for Neighborhood Development Area (NDA) programs are not included in the Mayor's Management Report. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt suggests that these metrics …
0:29:02
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88 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Changes in NDA Program Areas Due to Community Feedback
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the 2020 update in Neighborhood Development Area (NDA) program areas, specifically regarding the introduction of economic development, safety awareness, crime prevention, and the discontinuation …
0:30:32
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170 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Learning from Provider Contract Withdrawals
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the reasons service providers withdrew from contracts and what the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) learned from these instances. Deputy Commissioner Mike …
0:33:24
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171 sec
Council Member Stevens Ask About Services the Healthy Families Program Provides
Council Member Althea Stevens questions the scope of services provided by the Department of Youth & Community Development's Healthy Families Program. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobitt outlines the extensive range of …
0:36:16
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60 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Promotion and Client Recruitment for Healthy Family Programs
In this Committee on Children and Youth meeting, Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the number of families served by DYCD's Healthy Family Programs in the previous year. Deputy Commissioner …
0:37:17
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54 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Integrating Services Across Programs
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires how the Department of Youth & Community Development integrates services across various programs and specifically questions how information gathered during enrollment can be used to …
0:38:11
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3 min
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Universal Application Questions Across Programs
Council Member Althea Stevens questions the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) about the consistency of health care inquiries across their program applications, including for the Summer Youth Program …
0:42:10
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84 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Cost Per Participant for Family Program Providers
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the cost per participant for contractors assisting with DYCD's Family Programs. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt responds with a figure of $952, prompting Stevens to …
0:43:36
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51 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph Asks DYCD About Fatherhood Initiative Engagement and Referrals
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD)'s Fatherhood Initiative, focusing on participant engagement, referral sources, and whether the service is mandatory or voluntary. …
0:44:27
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101 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph Asks DYCD About Outreach Strategies for the Fatherhood Initiative
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about the outreach efforts of the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) for informing fathers about their Fatherhood Initiative. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt elaborates …
0:46:08
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3 min
Council Member Asks DYCD About Program Operations Across Boroughs
A question regarding the geographic distribution of the Department of Youth & Community Development's programs across New York City's boroughs leads to the disclosure that their services are available in …
0:49:29
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13 sec
Council Member Joseph Asks DYCD About Fatherhood Initiative Success Measures
Council Member Joseph inquires about the methods the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) uses to assess the success of their Fatherhood Initiative. Mike Bobbitt explains a three-tier approach …
0:49:42
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81 sec
Council Member Joseph Asks DYCD About Re-engaging Disengaged Program Participants
Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt of the Department of Youth & Community Development describes a range of approaches. These include allowing continuous enrollment throughout the year, recognizing adult participants might face …
0:51:04
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56 sec
Council Member Joseph Asks DYCD About Fatherhood Initiative Completion Rates
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about the completion rates for the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) Fatherhood Initiative. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt responds, revealing that 69% of the …
0:52:00
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17 sec
Council Member Joseph Asks DYCD About Support for Justice-Involved Fathers
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about the support provided by the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) for fathers with criminal justice involvement. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt explains the …
0:52:18
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41 sec
Council Member Asks DYCD About Supporting Marketing for Hidden Programs
The segment focuses on enhancing public awareness of DYCD's 'hidden' family support programs. Council Member Althea Stevens inquires how the council can bolster marketing for these services, highlighting a need …
0:52:58
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55 sec
Council Member Joseph Asks DYCD About Partnership with CUNY's Fatherhood Initiative
Council Member Joseph inquires about the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY) Fatherhood Initiative. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt discusses ongoing …
0:53:54
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59 sec
Council Member Stevens Advocates for Fatherhood Support
Council Member Stevens expresses her support for the Department of Youth & Community Development's Fatherhood Initiative, emphasizing the importance of including and uplifting fathers in discussions of family support. Highlighting …
0:54:53
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52 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Senior Services and Prevalent Cases
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the Department of Youth & Community Development's services for seniors and the most common issues addressed by the program providers. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt …
0:55:48
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55 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Collaborating with DFTA on Senior Services
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the collaboration between the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) and the Department for the Aging (DFTA) in delivering senior services. Deputy Commissioner …
0:56:44
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39 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Cost per Participant for Senior Services
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the cost per participant for the Department of Youth & Community Development's senior services contracts. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt responds with the figure of …
0:57:22
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23 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Economic Development Program Origins and Progress
Council Member Stevens inquires about the origins and progress of the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) Economic Development Programming. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt responds by explaining the significance …
0:57:48
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86 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Partnering with Economic Development Organizations
Council Member Stevens inquires about how Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) economic development programs foster partnerships with Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Local Development Corporations, and leverage city resources. …
0:59:14
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57 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Economic Development Outcomes and Job Creation
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the outcomes of the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) economic development contracts, including the number of small businesses and individuals served, and …
1:00:12
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80 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About 2023 Adult Literacy Program Enrollment
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the enrollment numbers for the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) Adult Literacy Program in 2023. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt reports that 16,520 …
1:01:34
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24 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Adult Literacy Program Recruitment Strategies
Council Member Stevens inquires into the recruitment strategies for the Department of Youth & Community Development's Adult Literacy Program. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt explains that outreach predominantly involves word-of-mouth and …
1:01:58
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21 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About High School Equivalency Diploma Achievement Rates
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the achievement rates for participants obtaining their High School Equivalency (HSE) Diploma through the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) programs in 2023. …
1:02:21
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26 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Adult Literacy Education Assessment Tools
Council Member Althea Stevens queries Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt about the Department of Youth & Community Development's use of TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education) for assessing literacy levels in …
1:02:47
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64 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Shifts in Adult Literacy RFP Criteria
Council Member Stevens discusses the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) strategic shift in criteria for Adult Literacy Services RFPs for 2024. The conversation focuses on the move towards …
1:03:52
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174 sec
Council Member Stevens Asks DYCD About Adult Literacy RFP Eligibility and Program Slot Reduction
Council Member Althea Stevens addresses concerns regarding eligibility for the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) Adult Literacy Request for Proposals (RFP) and the significant reduction in program slots. …
1:06:48
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116 sec
Council Member Williams Asks DYCD About Allocation Criteria for Poverty-Affected Areas
Council Member Williams poses a question to the Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) regarding the criteria used to allocate services to poverty-affected areas, specifically referencing the consideration of …
1:08:44
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67 sec
Council Member Williams Asks DYCD About Safety, Awareness, and Crime Prevention Programs
Council Member Nantasha Williams inquires about the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) Safety, Awareness, and Crime Prevention programs. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt and Assistant Commissioner Jordan Wilson explain …
1:09:51
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3 min
Council Member Williams Asks DYCD About NDA Program Operation and NAB Involvement
Council Member Nantasha Williams inquires about the operation of Neighborhood Development Areas (NDAs) and the involvement of Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs) in the program process. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt clarifies …
1:13:15
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3 min
Council Member Williams Asks DYCD About Coordination of Crime and Safety Prevention Initiatives
Council Member Nantasha Williams inquires into the coordination of crime and safety prevention programs under the Neighborhood Development Areas (NDAs) initiative. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt confirms the distinction in contracts …
1:16:38
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131 sec
Council Member Stevens Discusses Program Overlap and Streamlining Efforts
Council Member Althea Stevens raises concerns about program overlap within the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) initiatives, specifically referencing the safety awareness, crime prevention, and the work of …
1:18:54
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155 sec
Council Member Stevens Discusses Future Collaboration and Awareness of DYCD's Work
Council Member Althea Stevens discusses the future collaboration and increasing awareness of the Department of Youth & Community Development's work. She emphasizes the importance of leveraging virtual briefings and involving …
1:21:28
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155 sec
Council Member Williams Asks DYCD About NAB Functionality and Community Impact
Council Member Nantasha Williams inquires about the functionality of Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs) and their impact on communities in the absence of functioning boards. Deputy Commissioner Mike Bobbitt provides insights …
1:24:03
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3 min
Testimony: Ira Yankwitt, Executive Director, Literacy Assistance Center, Addresses RFP Concerns
Ira Yankwitt speaks before the Committee on Children and Youth, highlighting concerns with the Department of Youth & Community Development's current RFP for adult literacy programs. He details the risk …
1:29:21
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172 sec
Testimony: Dionis Fernandez, Founder of Father's Pickup, on Struggles for Fathers' Rights
Dionis Fernandez, founder of Fathers Pickup, shares his personal journey and the collective struggles fathers face in the court system regarding child support and custody rights. Highlighting systemic issues and …
1:32:18
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106 sec
Testimony: Anna Kaganova from Center for Family Life Testifies on Healthy Families Program
Anna Kaganova, representing the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, testifies on the success and impact of the Healthy Families Program. She details the program's comprehensive range of services, …
1:34:09
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3 min
Council Member Stevens Asks Ira Yankwitt About Adult Literacy RFP and Asylum Crisis
Council Member Althea Stevens inquires about the Department of Youth & Community Development's Adult Literacy Request for Proposals (RFP), discussing its reliance on outdated data and its potential impact amidst …
1:37:23
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5 min
Council Member Stevens Asks Dionis Fernandez About Collaborating with DYCD's Fatherhood Initiative
Council Member Althea Stevens queries Dionis Fernandez on whether he has utilized or collaborated with the Department of Youth & Community Development's (DYCD) Fatherhood Initiative. Fernandez, founder of a movement …
1:42:59
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120 sec
Testimony: Ursula Cooper-Hunter, Department Director from Bronx Works on Enhancing Youth Programs
Ursula Cooper-Hunter, Department Director from Bronx Works testifies on the need for higher participant reimbursement rates to improve youth programs. They mention the post-pandemic challenges and propose enhancements like swimming …
1:45:36
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3 min
Testimony: Shirley Fevere on Enhancing NDA Area 17 Family Services
Shirley Fevere testifies about her organization's efforts in providing house name family services within NDA Area 17, focusing on support for seniors and their families in accessing resources and navigating …
1:49:33
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116 sec
Procedure: Closing Statements and Adjournment
In the closing statement, Council Member Althea Stevens expresses her enthusiasm for the discussed programs, highlighting the importance of the adult literacy RFP, the Father Initiative, and crime prevention efforts. …
1:51:37
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144 sec