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Partner Guide—The Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program
Scale your organization with a grant-supported employee and cultivate the next generation of Maryland talent with The Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program
The Maryland Corps/Service Year Option (MC/SYO) Program through Maryland’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation (DSCI) connects young adults—primarily 18–24-year-olds—with Maryland organizations for a minimum 9-month workforce and service opportunity.
Application Announcement
The MC/SYO Program application is not live yet! Get ready for our launch in early February by heading to the Apply Soon page for more information.
By becoming a partner, your organization enters a community of Host Site Partners who grow our state’s talent pipeline with energetic and service-minded talent.
You will bolster Maryland’s economic growth and build the next generation of leaders.
Grow your own workforce
Members spend at least 9 months contributing to your team and developing skills that matter to your organization. During their service term, they’re immersed in your organization's culture, making it easier to convert Members to full-time employees once the program concludes. The annual program cycle means your business can recruit new talent every year.
Backed by DSCI every step of the way
DSCI actively invests in the talent serving at your organization. We provide dedicated Member Success coaches, on-the-job training offered through monthly member trainings and weekly professional development opportunities, and Host Site Partner resources.
Members can earn specialized apprenticeship credentials and other certifications on their own schedule, bringing fresh ideas and skills to your organization—plus, we cover the $6,000 completion award to incentivize their success.
Build community
Join a network of like-minded organizations who believe in the power of service and the importance of training the next generation. Together, we’ll build a talent pipeline for Marylanders that uplifts our communities and prepares the next generation for fulfilling careers across all sectors.
Meet with our team to connect and learn more about becoming a HSP
Whether they're preparing our state for climate change, tutoring our students, or caring for the sick, young people should have the option to perform important service today and build a foundation for our shared future. This is the first effort of its kind in the nation, and Maryland will lead the way.”
– Governor Wes Moore announcing MC/SYO
What we’re looking for
As a Host Site Partner (HSP), your Maryland-based organization (whether nonprofit, for-profit, government/public agency—to name a few) will be part of an innovative program that supports the growth of your work and the talent of Marylanders.
We are seeking Host Site Partners that meet the following requirements:
Your organization’s mission, values, and programming offer direct service and community impact within the state of Maryland
Your organization can maintain at least one full-time equivalent (FTE) staff and preferably host a minimum of two (2) program Members
Your organization designates a supervisor and mentor (can be the same person) to provide on-site guidance for every Member
Your organization has the financial capacity to meet Members' salary and benefit requirements, with assistance from state resources
Your organization provides a physical location to serve and creates meaningful work experiences through mentor check-ins, professional development, and on-site job training
Your organization provides fringe benefits for all Members, including health insurance as needed, and assists with wraparound services (e.g., childcare, transportation, financial literacy)
Your organization supports Members in participating in required professional development activities
Your organization commits to using DSCI’s online Learning Management Platform to assign work and manage Member progress
DSCI is especially looking for organizations that can demonstrate the following within their application:
Produce measurable community outcomes
Build a sense of team/community across their Members
Strike an appropriate balance between the importance of service impact and Member development
Provide an environment that supports professional growth
The program model
Together with your organization, we aim to develop young talent to create a thriving workforce for Maryland that meets the demands of our ever-changing world.
By partnering with organizations across the state, including nonprofits, state agencies, and for-profits, we equip Members with professional skills and civic engagement lessons–while you coach them in their role.
Your program roadmap
Submit an application on DSCI’s Application and Matching Portal to join The Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program. Both HSPs and Members are required to submit applications. For HSPs, part of your application will require you to submit positions for which you'd want to hire Members
You can nominate potential Members you think would be great in the program or to serve at your organization! (Please note: nominees must not be current employees or relatives!)
DSCI reviews and accepts applications on a rolling basis. At times, DSCI may need to request additional clarification before we finalize this process.
After you’ve been accepted into the program and your positions are approved, you’ll move into the candidate matching process where you’ll use DSCI’s Application and Matching Portal to explore potential Members, interview candidates, and extend offers to candidates for your positions!
Before service begins, all HSPs and Members attend a required program orientation to align on goals and expectations.
The MC/SYO Program officially launches in August/September. Members begin their minimum 9-month full-time service placement with your organization.
We host a graduation ceremony for Members in June of every calendar year. Depending on when they started, their service will conclude in June or July. Upon successful completion of this term and other program requirements, Members earn a completion certificate from DSCI, a $6,000 grant award, and any apprenticeship or trade credentials earned during the program.
We hope you will consider retaining them as full-time employees and, of course, make room for new Members in the next cohort of the program!
Who you’ll hire
DSCI recruits two streams of Members:
(Primary)Service Year Option: Maryland residents, ages 18–24 who have graduated from high school or earned an equivalent credential (such as a G.E.D. or Certificate of Completion)
Maryland Corps: Maryland residents, ages 18 and up
Your role as a HSP: training, coaching, & Member support
Host Site Partners are responsible for providing on-the-job training and mentorship, including designating a manager and on-site mentor to ensure the Member’s success. All Members are W-2 employees of your organization and are employed full-time (30–40 hours per week).
An average MC/SYO Member's week looks like:
30 - 40 Working Hours at HSP
10 Hours of Paid Professional Development
Your organization must provide fringe benefits for all Members, including health insurance as needed, and assist with wraparound services (e.g., childcare, transportation, financial literacy).
As part of the program model, we ask you to reserve approximately 10 of those work hours for DSCI-led professional development.
DSCI's role: Member support & workforce development
DSCI provides Members with ongoing professional development, coaching, and credentialing resources.
During the dedicated 10 hours of professional development, Members will:
Participate in regularly scheduled coaching sessions with DSCI’s Member Support team
Attend monthly in-person professional development trainings and other weekly opportunities for development
Complete apprenticeship trade certificate trainings that support their career development and on-site responsibilities
Engage with our alumni network
Specialized Corps
DSCI partners with organizations to create specialized corps that address pressing statewide challenges. These designated corps provide Members with additional training and support, allowing them to deepen their expertise and serve in high-impact areas. Our current specialized corps focus on the following priority areas:
Benefits Navigator Corps: Fighting child poverty by helping families access essential state services in partnership with Maryland’s Department of Human Services and the Governor’s Office for Children.
Climate Corps: Driving climate action and protect Maryland’s environment in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
IT & Accessibility: Helping make government digital services accessible to everyone in partnership with Maryland’s Departments of IT, Disabilities, and Housing & Community Development.
Youth Mental Health Corps:Promoting student well-being and peer support in schools in partnership with various HSP organizations.
To learn more about one of our specialized Corps, please reach out to DSCI directly at [email protected].
How grant funding works
The MC/SYO program model offers a sliding scale of supplemental grant funding to offset some of the cost of salary and benefits, making your finances stretch further. For more information about the grant process, visit the Manage Your Grants Page.
Join our diverse, statewide partner network
At DSCI, we take pride in a partner network that spans all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. See current and previous partners below.
Organization types:
Municipal Government agency
County Government agency
State Government agency
For-profit
Nonprofit
Private school/university
School System
Sectors:
Climate
Conservation
Education
Historic Trades
Health
Information Technology
Public Safety
Public Service
Arts
Current and previous partners:
Please note: this list is not exhaustive.
A Wider Circle
Action Youth Media
Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation
Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Inc.
Art Works Studio School
Baltimore Center Stage
Baltimore Collegetown Network
Baltimore Gas & Electric
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland
Building Families for Children, Inc.
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc.
The Civic Circle
Community Forklift
Community Legal Services, Inc.
Community Mediation of St Mary’s County
The Complete Player Charity
Deep Roots Family Homeless Shelter
Dent Education
Endangered Species Theatre Project (ESP Theatre)
Epoch Dream Center
Essex Community Development Corporation
Friends of the Patuxent
Girls on the Run of Mid & Western Maryland
Glorious Mental Health
Habitat for Humanity of Carroll County
It Takes a Village to Help Our Children, Inc.
Joe's Movement Emporium
Larbi Tech Llc
Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc.
Linking All So Others Succeed, Inc (LASOS)
Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation
Maryland Department of Aging
Maryland Department of Emergency Management
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Maryland Department of Planning and MD250 Commission
Maryland State Bar Association
Maryland State Department of Education
Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA)
MD Department of Housing and Community Development - DHCD
Mentoring Mentors INC.
MISSIONFIT
Nemas Gardens LLC
Prathertown
Sunflower Bakery
Urban Strategies Inc
Wide Angle Youth Media
What our partners are saying
We were honored to host the exceptional members from the second Maryland Corps/Service Year Option class, whose contributions sparked innovation and momentum within our agency. Their initiative and fresh perspective helped us better serve the people of Maryland. As DSCI’s programs grow, we’re proud to deepen our collaboration – and we strongly encourage other public agencies to take part in building a dynamic pipeline of future public servants.”
- Maryland Department of General Services Secretary Atif Chaudhry
The Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to continue our partnership with DSCI and Governor Moore in the second year of the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps – Maryland Corps and Service Year Option programs. These programs are growing Maryland’s pathways to green careers by building on the success of and expanding the Bay Trust’s long-standing Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps Program, preparing new leaders for the jobs of the future, and helping our state meet its ambitious climate goals.”
- Chesapeake Bay Trust President Dr. Jana Davis
Partnering with DSCI on initiatives like the IT Accessibility Corps allows us to make state services more accessible for all Marylanders, especially those with disabilities. This collaboration helps agencies meet ADA standards while giving Maryland’s emerging leaders hands-on experience and credentials that prepare them for future careers.”
- Maryland Department of Disabilities Secretary Carol A. Beatty
Common HSP FAQs
Host Site Partner (HSP) = You! Partner organizations that host Members during their service term.
Member: A potential participant in the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Program who serves for a minimum of 9 months with a partner organization (i.e., your potential employees)!
DSCI = Maryland’s Department of Service and Civic Innovation.
The Department of Service and Civic Innovation is a cabinet level agency in Maryland that Governor Wes Moore created in 2023. The Department was charged with creating two new streams of service, Service Year Option and Maryland Corps as well as expanding a legacy service program, AmeriCorps. The Department also plays a leading role in promoting volunteerism across the state as well as signature Days of Service, the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and the commemoration of September 11th.
We are grateful that you are interested in hosting Service Members at your organization. Our application is not open yet; please check back in February and stay connected for application updates here.
Service Year Option: Individuals ages 18–24 who have graduated from high school or earned an equivalent credential (such as a G.E.D. or Certificate of Completion). The Service Year Option also has a Maryland residency requirement for all of its Members.
Maryland Corps: All eligible adults 18 and older; no education requirement.
Host preferably two (2) participants at each location
The strongest partners will be those who provide meaningful work experiences including on-site supervision and professional development, job training, and on-site mentoring
All Host Site Partners must provide an on-site mentor for each Member and a physical location for Members to serve
Host Site Partners must have at least 1 FTE
All Host Site Partners must provide fringe benefits for all Members, including health insurance as needed, and assist with wraparound services (e.g., childcare, transportation, financial literacy as needed by individual participants.
Provide a Supervisor and Mentor (they can be the same person) to work with the candidates placed at your program
Commit to using an online training platform to manage and assign your Members work
Yes, Host Site Partners are required to provide fringe benefits, including healthcare if the member requires it. See above for all of the commitments to be a Host Site Partner.
Depending on requirements and factors such as organization type, operating budget and Members hosted, the cost-sharing model for Host Site Partner organizations varies. The Host Site Partner Application Financial Section has the most up-to-date information for you to understand further requirements.
Please enter the physical address of your Maryland headquarters.
Host Site Partners who would like to direct prospective Members to their postings can nominate someone through their portal account. (Current employees and relatives are not eligible to receive nominations to serve at your organization)
Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Members work full-time (30-40 hours/week) commitments at your organization over a period of at least nine (9) months. An average MD/SYO Member's week looks like:
30 - 40 Working Hours at HSP
10 Hours of Paid Professional Development
Inclusive of hours at your organization, Members must complete and be compensated for in-person and virtual professional development activities as required by DSCI and their Host Site Partners. We ask you to reserve approximately 10 work hours a week for DSCI-led professional development.
