The Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) was created in 1996 to provide the City of New York with high-quality youth and family programming. DYCD invests in a network of community-based organizations and programs to alleviate the effects of poverty and to provide opportunities for New Yorkers and communities to flourish. DYCD is also the designated Community Action Agency for New York City, which is the local grantee for the Federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). CSBG funding supports a wide variety of programs that address the conditions of poverty. DYCD is committed to building and expanding on partnerships that generate innovative and practical programs for youth, their families and communities.

DYCD funds a wide range of programs, including COMPASS and SONYC afterschool programs, Beacon Community Centers, Cornerstone Community Centers, Runaway and Homeless Youth Services, Youth Workforce Development, Literacy, Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), Immigrant Services, Office of Neighborhood Safety, Saturday Night Lights, and Neighborhood Development Area programs.