Youth Services Department is responsible for creating opportunities for youth development for young people living in the city of Detroit. This is accomplished by combining resources from philanthropic partners, premier workforce development programs, area businesses, and the City of Detroit to create pathways for future success.

Youth Initiatives

The City of Detroit supports Detroit’s youth by combining resources from community partners, businesses, and the City to create opportunity and pathways for success.

Community Education Commission
The Community Education Commission (CEC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit The CEC has invested in innovative initiatives that increase access to afterschool enrichments and transportation, and provide transparent information about Detroit schools.

Connect for Care
Free online tool created in partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan to serve one-stop-shop for parents and caregivers of children aged 5 and younger. Parents can use this service to better understand and find early childhood education and care options in Detroit. It will also point them to programs to help with costs.

DDOT Ride to Rise

Mayor Mary Sheffield officially launched Ride to Rise: Show ID, Students Ride Free, an initiative that removes one of the most overlooked barriers standing between Detroit's young people and their future: getting there. Effective April 1, any Detroit K–12 student aged 5-18 years old can board any DDOT city bus for free, any time of day, seven days a week, simply by showing their school-issued ID. No fare. No pass. No paperwork. This means getting to school, after-school programs, tutoring sessions, enrichment activities, and more.  

Detroit Promise
The Detroit Promise, administered by the Detroit Regional Chamber, ensures that any Detroit-resident student graduating in the spring of this school year from a high school in the city of Detroit will have a tuition-free path to a associate degree, technical certificate, or bachelor's degree at any one of six participating community colleges or 20 four-year institutions

Department of Parks & Recreation
The City of Detroit's Department of Parks & Recreation offers a range of affordable, interactive, youth-focused programming throughout the year. Here's are some of the activities available to youth.

Grow Detroit's Young Talent
Grow Detroit's Young Talent (GDYT) is a citywide summer jobs program that trains and employs young adults between the ages of 14 and 24 for up to 120 hours. Youth participants must be permanent residents of the City of Detroit and be eligible to work in the United States. There are a broad range of jobs available to the participants. Examples of jobs include: community cleanups, event planning, accounting, retail and the Junior Police or Fire Cadets to name a few. Last year, over 8,000 local youth received employment, which is our goal again this year. Learn more about GDYT and register here.