The Cortland County Youth Bureau has announced that the organization will offer funding to local organizations to enhance initiatives that benefit the youth. The Bureau says municipalities, community based organizations, and faith based organizations in the county are welcomed to apply for the funding.
The Youth Bureau says all programs must take place between the dates of October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024. The organization works to support and also partially fund programs and initiatives that go towards supporting local youth and building on their strengths.
“Youth development initiatives benefit young people in their homes and neighborhoods, in schools, as well as in foster care and residential treatment. The goal is for all Cortland County Youth to reach their full potential and become healthy, productive adults.” Cortland County Youth Bureau said in a press release.
In order to encourage Cortland County’s various communities, the Youth Development Program (YDP) was created. The program creates local opportunities for a positive youth development and also supports the services that also provide opportunities for positive youth development, a youth is someone who is under 21 years of age.
The YDP must take certain steps in order to achieve the program’s goal. Those are:
- Including the involvement of youth in leadership and program planning activities
- Providing a range of youth in leadership and program planning activities, program implementation and evaluation
- Provide opportunities where youth can feel supported and safe
- Focus on asset building by supporting positive values, social competencies, positive identity, educational commitment
The funding for the program is provided by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). The Cortland Youth Bureau is now seeking applicants to provide sports programs to underserved youth between the ages of 6 and 17 years old through local nonprofit or municipal organizations.
The funds may be used to cover coaches/instructors, equipment, educational programming costs, facility/field and/or space cost, and a maximum of 15% of funds for administrative/overhead costs for the implementing agency.
Organizations looking to participate in the Youth Bureau Funding and to fill out an application, you can visit the Cortland County website, or call the Youth Bureau at 607-758-5509.
