ALLEGANY COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU
Linda Edwards, Coordinator
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Allegany County Youth Bureau and
Board to work collaboratively with all youth service providers to provide our families and youth with opportunities to participate in a variety of
educational and recreational programs which will enhance and promote a wide range of assets necessary for healthy development. We strive to provide innovative programs that will encourage
empowerment, constructive use of time, positive values, positive identity, and social competencies so all our young people will grow up to be healthy, caring responsible adults.
WHAT IS THE ALLEGANY COUNTY
YOUTH BUREAU?
The Allegany County Youth Bureau functions to assist in
the development and funding of programs which encourage positive youth development. These programs encourage all youth to become involved, assist them in developing a sense of
responsibility, and motivate them to make a positive contribution to their community. Throughout Allegany County, cultural and recreational opportunities are made accessible to young people so
that they may build character and continue to mature physically, intellectually, and emotionally.
WHAT DOES THE YOUTH BUREAU DO?
PLANNING:
Involves data collection and assisting youth programs to
design appropriate objectives and measurable goals. The purpose is to develop local strategies that effectively meet
the needs of Allegany County’s youth. The results are incorporated into an annual plan.
COORDINATION/NETWORKING
Requires creation and maintenance of linkages among
service providers and funding sources.
PROVISION OF SERVICES:
Funding is available to implement planning
objectives. The Bureau contracts with community agencies for various services annually. Monitoring and evaluation of funded programs are primary
activities.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/ADVOCACY
The Youth Bureau is responsible for community education
regarding youth issues, needs and problems.
GRANTS/FUNDING:
The Youth Bureau administers funds made available to the
county from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
To be eligible for Youth Bureau funding, organizations
must be incorporated as a not-for-profit agency (501 C 3) under the laws of New
York State and have a tax exempt status in accordance with IRS code.
Organizations seeking Youth Bureau funding must respond
to Requests for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Bureau in early spring for the
following year’s funding. This is an open and competitive process. All services provided through the Youth Bureau are free of charge.
All applications for funding must be approved by the
Youth Bureau Board of Directors, the County Legislature, and the New York State Office for Children & Family Services.
There are currently (2) Office of the Children Service
(OCFS) funding streams accessed by Allegany County, viz. Youth Development and
Delinquency Prevention (YDDP) and Special Delinquency Prevention (SDPP).
Funding for Special Delinquency Programs targets youth
who are considered “high risk” for pregnancy, dropping out of school, using
alcohol and drugs, and exhibiting criminal behavior.
Special Delinquency Programs which receive Youth Bureau
funding include:
- Prevention Education through the Allegany Council On
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
- Youth Compeer Program through Allegany County Mental Health.
- Special GED through
Southern Tier Traveling Teacher
- Youth Court through The
Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
- Success Tracks through
Literacy West
Youth Development and Delinquency Prevention funding is
given to new programs initiatives, youth service agencies, municipal youth
service programs and municipal recreation departments. These programs are funded at 50%
reimbursement. The agency or
municipality must supply the match.
Currently initiatives
funded include:
-
Southern Tier Traveling Teacher GED Program.
-
"When I'm in Charge" through the Allegany County Chapter of Red Cross
-
Children Learning Initiative through Alfred University
-
Peers helping Peers through Literacy Volunteers.
The goal of service programs is to provide organized,
supervised activities which will prevent youth delinquency and promote youth
development.
Currently, the Youth Bureau funds Service Programs:
-
Wellsville Skate Park through Youth for Christ
-
Week of Alternatives (Youth Day Camp) through the Allegany
Council on Alcoholism.
-
Government for Youth – Intern Program through BOCES.
-
First STEP & STEP – free to all Allegany County Youth – Outdoor
Adventure – based activities to build self-esteem and problem solving skills
through Houghton College
-
Teen Centers at Youth for Christ
-
Natural Helpers (Peer helpers) through Allegany Council on
Alcoholism.
The Youth Bureau also funded (3) Municipal Service
Programs including:
-
A Sound Beginning through the Cuba Library.
-
Dance & Theatre Program – Town of Wellsville.
Recreation Programs are usually operated by local municipalities. Their outcomes include
development of healthy athletic skills, development of hobbies and leisure
interests and relaxation and socialization.
Currently, the Youth Bureau funds (22) town and village
recreation programs. Additionally the
Youth Bureau funds the Rushford Lake Beach area.
PARTNERSHIP AND
COLLABORATION
Although the Allegany County Youth Bureau traditionally
does not provide direct services, but it partners with several
agencies to bring new youth initiatives to the County. For example, the Youth Bureau collaborated
with ACCORD Corporation to secure funding for a Youth Peer Court. Area youth are recruited and
trained to serve as Court personnel. The Youth Bureau has partnered with Genesee Valley Central
School, Allegany/Cattaraugus BOCES and several other groups to support an
outdoor environmental learning center at the new Genesee Valley School
site.
The Allegany County Youth Bureau also assists youth
agencies in seeking and applying for grants.
For example: The Youth Bureau
collaborated with Southern Tier Youth for Christ to apply for a $50,000 SAFE
Places grant. The Bureau has also
assisted the Cuba Skate Park Association in their search for funding.
The Allegany County Youth Bureau assists youth agencies to provide a variety of services to youth. The Director has served on a panel of judges for
the Eckerd Drug Quiz sponsored by the Allegany Council on Alcoholism and
Substance Abuse for area high school students.
The Director participated with several County teens in a local
conversation on Youth Development sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s
4-H Division.
The Youth Bureau provides
two other programs under our umbrella of services. Annually, we have
received a NYS Bicycle Safety Grant which provide funding for bicycle safety
training and materials at local schools and health fairs.
The Juvenile Arson Program
conducts evaluations of any you referred for being involved in fire-setting
behaviors. These evaluations determine if the behavior was experimentation
or if a referral needs to be made to mental health providers for treatment.
WHAT IS THE YOUTH BOARD?
The Youth Board is an advisory body made up of citizens
from each of the five County Legislative Districts. Members are appointed by the Board of Legislators. The Allegany County Youth Board is
responsible for setting goals, establishing priorities, and recommending
funding allocations to the Board of Legislators.
The Allegany County Youth Board meets quarterly and all meetings
held by the board are open to the public.
ALLEGANY COUNTY YOUTH BOARD
MEMBERS
|
District 1
|
District 4
|
|
Deborah Aumick
|
Ralph Eastlack, Chairman
|
|
|
Michele Henry
|
|
|
Ann Baldwin
|
|
District 2
|
District 5
|
|
Kathy Morris
|
Gary Ostrower
|
|
James Cross
|
Vicky Westacott
|
|
Sue Myers
|
Edna Kayes, Secretary
|
|
District 3
|
|
Sherry Weirich, Vice-Chairman
|
|
Jack Emrick
|
|
|
YOUTH PARTICIPANTS
|
District 2 |
District 3
|
|
Thomas Galatio |
Kellen Wissert
|
