Coronavirus Update

CareerWise New York is monitoring the COVID-19 situation carefully and will provide relevant updates about the program to our apprentices, their families and employer, and education partners on this page.

Email updates can be found in the following links. All updates were developed in coordination with CareerWise New York partner and incubator, HERE to HERE.

Community spread of the outbreak is something we can all do our part in fighting. CareerWise New York relies on its education and employer partners to follow the guidance of qualified public health professionals and government officials to keep students, employees and their families safe.

Our entire team is working intensively to understand and respond to the needs of students, high school and CUNY partners, employers, and community-based organizations as this situation unfolds. Our goal is to help us all mobilize effectively and collectively to support NYC and Bronx students during this dynamic time. Thank you for your support, partnership. and commitment to this shared effort.


The CareerWise New York team is in direct contact via phone and email with apprentices to help them navigate the changing work and school environments as more employers turn to remote working and schools implement online coursework to limit community spread. An FAQ for apprentices and their families can be found here:

APPRENTICE FAQ

At this time, CareerWise New York is making plans to support your transition to online learning provided by your school.  We are also supporting students who are applying for Cohort 2 with preparation for interviews coordinated by our employer partners. We will be working with partners and applicants to provide training, facilitation and technology as needed to ensure as many quality hires as possible this spring.

But, CareerWise is also acutely aware of the impact of the outbreak on the economic outlook for New York businesses. We are providing employers additional support in navigating the hiring cycle this spring, while also accommodating hiring into the summer months.

The health of our community is important to us; as the situation evolves, we will continue to respond accordingly in keeping with the most current guidance of health officials.


STUDENT FAQ

May I continue my apprenticeship by working remotely?

Yes. Beginning May 1 and continuing through June 26th, most apprentices will be working remotely. This follows The NYC Department of Education’s (DOE’s) decision to lift its moratorium on apprenticeships. Employers will communicate work from home plans directly with apprentices, and CareerWise New York staff will follow up with each apprentice to ensure they have clarity on expectations and policy, and the support they need to be successful.

Will I still get paid while my apprenticeship is suspended? 

We are still getting information from our employer partners about pay during this period of apprenticeship suspension, and we will update you when we know more. 

What if I rely on my school’s free-or-reduced lunch program and they are closed?

Visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/free-meals-for-all to find current food pick up locations near you. 

What if I am taking community-college coursework as part of my training and the college closes or wants me to take my courses online?

Make sure you have access to a computer and internet, and that you are receiving emails from your professor/s. Contact CareerWise New York if you need help.  

What if I am currently applying to become an apprentice? Are companies still hiring?

Many of our employer partners plan to move forward with hiring new apprentices. The Hiring Hub is still open! Follow this link to create a profile and apply for available apprenticeships. Speak with the CareerWise New York point person for your school if you have questions. 


EMPLOYER UPDATES

Community spread of the outbreak is something we can all do our part in fighting. CareerWise New York relies on its education and employer partners to follow the guidance of qualified public health professionals and government officials to keep students, employees, and their families safe.

At this time, CareerWise New York is focused on supporting students and families to transition to online learning provided by their schools. We are also supporting students who are applying for Cohort 2 with preparation for interviews coordinated by you, our employer partners. We will be working with partners and applicants to provide training, facilitation, and technology as needed to ensure as many quality hires as possible this spring.

We are also preparing resources and support for virtual work, following The NYC Department of Education’s (DOE’s) decision to lift its moratorium on apprenticeships. Summer work from home guidance is still in development. NYC DOE will be making decisions based on updates from us, including any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. We will be issuing apprentice communications to inform them of the latest situation and to answer any questions they may have. We will keep this page current as that information is available.

We’re also suggesting apprentices consult with their parents to make the decision that is best for their families when it comes to exposure to further community spread of the disease (FAQ provided to apprentices). Because of the concerns surrounding the severity of COVID-19, CareerWise is asking employers to honor those decisions with or provide leave for apprentices until the outbreak subsides.

CareerWise recognizes the specific impact COVID-19 is having on NewYork’s employers today and will continue to have in the near future—particularly those whose businesses are reliant on travel. We are providing employers additional support in navigating the hiring cycle this spring, while also accommodating hiring into the summer months and our fall cycle as necessary.

We are working to think about the best ways to connect this spring. We will host April and May training virtually. We will hold a supervisor check-in for all CWNY supervisors on April 8. We are also planning to create a virtual session for Cohort 2 supervisors as the first portion of the training that they will receive to supervise an apprentice next year. Only new supervisors should join the 5/4 session and they will receive an update on a Part II at a later date. Upcoming dates to continue to hold include:

  • 4/8 – Virtual Supervisor Check-in – Cohort I Supervisors (Confirmed from 1:30 – 3)
  • 5/4 – Virtual Supervisor Training Part I for Cohort II Supervisors (Timing TBD)

We will continue to update you on training as we approach the summer months.

CareerWise is here to support your program—and more broadly, your business—in any way we can. We will, of course, continue to be a conduit of communication between you and the school districts, but please don’t hesitate to reach out with any other questions or ideas about how we can make this difficult time easier.

You can reach your usual contact at CareerWise with any questions, or you can contact Greg Mateo at gmateo@heretohere.org.


EDUCATOR UPDATES

Community spread of the outbreak is something we can all do our part in fighting. CareerWise New York relies on its education and employer partners to follow the guidance of qualified public health professionals and government officials to keep students, employees, and their families safe.

Following The NYC Department of Education’s (DOE’s) decision to lift its moratorium on apprenticeships, most apprentices will be working remotely May 1st through June 26th. Summer work from home guidance is still in development. NYC DOE will be making decisions based on updates from us, including any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. Please note that while the apprenticeship suspension has been lifted, the temporary suspension of internships remains in place. We will be issuing apprentice communications to inform students of the latest situation and to answer any questions they may have.

We’re also suggesting apprentices consult with their parents to make the decision that is best for their families when it comes to exposure to further community spread of the disease (FAQ provided to apprentices). Because of the concerns surrounding the severity of COVID-19, CareerWise is asking employers to honor those decisions with or provide leave for apprentices until the outbreak subsides.

A number of CareerWise New York’s employer partners intend to continue hiring apprentices this spring and are planning to conduct all interviewing virtually until further notice. We will be working with partners and applicants to provide training, facilitation, and technology as needed to ensure as many quality hires as possible this spring. Your students are encouraged to continue applying for available positions in the Hiring HubWe currently have 595 students in the recruitment funnel, 266 students approved to apply, and 192 students filling out over 600 applications.


The health of our community is important to us; as the situation evolves, we will continue to respond accordingly with the most current guidance of health officials and keep you informed of any updates.

Companies are also looking into how they can support the CWNY school partners (all of you). All CWNY principals received an email asking for specifics around tech needs. If there is anything else you need, please reach out. You can reach your usual contact at CareerWise with any questions, or you can contact Noel Parish, Vice President of K12 Partnerships at nparish@heretohere.org.