Process for youth and young adults aged 16 through 24 receiving public assistance as head of household.
NYC Admin. Code § 21-135
in effect§ 21-135 Process for youth and young adults aged 16 through 24 receiving public assistance as head of household.
a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Basic literacy level" shall mean a ninth grade reading level as evaluated by the New York city department of social services/human resources administration when conducting an employment assessment for public assistance recipients;
(2) "BTW" shall mean the New York city department of social services/human resources administration program, known as back to work, where a single vendor works with individuals to assist them in employment preparation including education and training, as applicable, and finding employment;
(3) "Head of household" shall mean the member of the applicant household designated by the household to represent the household in all matters pertaining to its eligibility for and receipt of various forms of public assistance;
(4) "Household" shall mean a single individual or family, including couples without dependent children who, or which, are eligible to receive public assistance;
(5) "Public assistance" shall mean safety net assistance and family assistance provided by the New York city department of social services/human resources administration; and
(6) "WEP" shall mean the New York city department of social services/human resources administration program, known as the work experience program, which is designed to provide a simulated work experience to individuals receiving public assistance.
b. Written Report: The commissioner shall designate an individual responsible for agency oversight of how youth and young adults aged 16 through 24 receiving public assistance are engaged and served. The department shall submit a report to the council, in writing, no later than six months from the effective date of this local law, describing the process put in place to serve such youth and young adults. At a minimum, such report shall include, but not be limited to, a description of:
(1) department policies as they relate to federal and state mandated education requirements for youth and young adults aged 16 through 24;
(2) the department's process for determining whether a 16 or 17 year-old is interested in educational activities;
(3) the department's process for referring a 16 or 17 year-old without a high school diploma or its equivalent to the department of education or other educational opportunities;
(4) criteria and/or assessment tools used in determining that a 16 or 17 year-old without a high school diploma or its equivalent cannot make satisfactory progress in obtaining such a diploma or its equivalent and therefore should be referred to BTW, WEP, or other program;
(5) the department's process for determining whether heads of household between and including the ages of eighteen and twenty, who do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent, are interested in participating in appropriate educational activities designed to help them obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(6) the department's process for encouraging heads of household between and including the ages of eighteen and twenty, who do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent, to participate in appropriate educational activities designed to help them obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(7) the department's process for connecting heads of household between and including the ages of eighteen and twenty, who have a high school diploma or its equivalent, to educational activities;
(8) criteria used in determining that participation in educational activities by heads of household between and including the ages of eighteen and twenty, who do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent, is not appropriate based on an employment plan;
(9) the department's process for determining whether heads of household between and including the ages of twenty-one and twenty-four, who do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent, are interested in participating in educational activities designed to help them obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(10) the department's process for connecting heads of households between and including the ages of twenty-one and twenty-four, who have a high school diploma or its equivalent, to educational activities;
(11) the department's process for determining that educational activities are not appropriate for heads of household between and including the ages of twenty-one and twenty-four without a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(12) the department's process for making educational activities available to individuals aged 18 through 24 who have not attained a basic literacy level and are interested in attaining such as part of their work activity requirement;
(13) the department's plan to improve coordination between the department and other city agencies and programs that specialize in employment services for 16 and 17 year-olds;
(14) criteria used in determining that a referral to the administration for children's services is warranted for minors who apply for public assistance and do not live with a parent or legal guardian; and
(15) the department's strategy to convey to department staff the process for assisting young people aged 16 through 24 receiving public assistance.
Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCadmin/0-0-0-37271Fetched: 10/24/2026