Mayor Bill de Blasio, Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña, and Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Bill Chong launched on September 12th School's Out New York City (SONYC), the City's largest-ever expansion of afterschool for middle school students. The number of seats has nearly doubled to more than 71,000, and with the addition of Department of Education District 75 and non-public school sites over the coming months, the total number will exceed 78,000 during the course of the school year. Applications for City-funded middle school and elementary school after-school programs are ongoing and available at nyc.gov/afterschool.

During a visit to MS 255 Salk School of Science in Manhattan, Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Fariña, and Commissioner Chong met with students participating in a music video club operated by Manhattan Youth, one of more than 100 community-based organizations that are part of the City's after-school expansion for middle schoolers. Full story here.

New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Bill Chong, New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) Commissioner Steven Banks, elected officials, and more than a hundred students and their dads and father figures participated in the 8th annual Dads Take Your Child to School celebration in Brooklyn. The morning featured dads walking their kids from University Settlement's Ingersoll Cornerstone Community Center to the Fort Greene Preparatory Academy at P.S. 46 Edward C. Blum School, JHS 265 Dr. Susan S. McKinney Secondary School of the Arts, PS 67 Charles A. Dorsey School, and PS 20 Clinton Hill School. Steven Maisonet was honored with the "Dads Making a Difference Award."

"One of the most important roles parents can play in their child's development is that of role model," said DYCD Commissioner Bill Chong. "When I was growing up, my father didn't have as much time to spend with me as he wanted, but he always made sure that he led by example and gave me the encouragement and support I needed to become a successful adult. I encourage all parents to be there for their kids—not only on Dads Take Your Child to School Day, but every day of the year."

DYCD participates in the campaign through multiple programs and initiat's commitment to parent engagement across its funded programs and initiatives, and supports DYCD's Fatherhood Initiative, which helps non-custodial fathers reconnect with their children and actively participate in their lives both emotionally and financially.