Since 2003, Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN), a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization, has provided young people summer employment opportunities through the WorkReady program. In Spring 2020, as a result of the impact of COVID-19, PYN pivoted WorkReady Summer programming to include virtual (mostly synchronous) and hybrid (i.e., a mix of virtual and safe in-person) experiences to continue offering Philadelphia’s young people summer career readiness opportunities.
In June 2021, PYN engaged RFA to conduct a six-month study of the virtual and hybrid WorkReady Summer experience. Through this partnership, RFA, in collaboration with PYN and its providers and employers, has aimed to:
- document cost structures of virtual and hybrid WorkReady Summer programming in 2021;
- examine perceived differences in these cost structures compared to in-person programming;
- define high-quality virtual and hybrid summer youth employment programming; and
- identify resources needed to implement virtual and hybrid programming.
