Tioga County Youth Bureau Grant

The Tioga County Youth Bureau, in alignment with its mission to promote the physical, emotional, and social well-being of all youth and families, is accepting applications for non-profit youth-serving organizations. This grant program, with a deadline of October 18, 2024, offers funding ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for a duration of one year, from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. The funding is allocated annually by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) for youth development programs, which the Tioga County Youth Bureau then uses to sponsor community-based organizations and municipalities. The program focuses on several key areas to achieve its impact goals. The Youth Development Programs Funding, totaling $45,754, is designed to assist programs that offer parenting education, after-school and recreation programs, and general youth development initiatives. These programs aim to support the holistic growth of young people and strengthen family units within the community. Additionally, the Youth Sports & Education Funding, with $20,000 available, specifically targets youth aged 6-17 in under-resourced communities. This funding, partially derived from mobile sports wagering tax proceeds, supports annual grants for programs that provide a variety of "organized activities with movement." The priority here is to ensure broad access to sports and educational opportunities, fostering physical activity and skill development. It is important to note that these funds are not available to school districts. A new fund under OCFS, the Team Sports Funding, provides $23,812 to support youth team sports programs for underserved youth under age 18. This funding will be awarded to local community-based organizations and nonprofits, again excluding school districts. The strategic priority for this fund is to encourage teamwork, discipline, and healthy lifestyles among a vulnerable youth population through organized sports. The expected outcome is increased participation in team sports and the development of positive social skills. The overall theory of change for the Tioga County Youth Bureau’s grant initiatives is that by investing in diverse, community-based programs, they can effectively promote positive youth development. Measurable results would include an increase in the number of youth participating in parenting education, after-school, recreation, sports, and team sports programs, as well as improvements in the physical, emotional, and social well-being of these young individuals and their families in Tioga County.