The purpose of the Schenectady County Youth Bureau is to enrich and empower youth ages 0-21 of Schenectady County through positive youth development. By fostering collaboration between local organizations and assessing the needs of the community, the Youth Bureau promotes the mental and physical well-being of, not only at-risk youth, but the overall youth population as well.
In 2020, Schenectady County Connects was formed and merged the services of the Schenectady County Job Training Agency and Youth Bureau. Schenectady County Connects provides universal access to the community to promote self-sustainability and economic growth through a skilled, quality workforce and partners with local agencies to ensure that tomorrow’s workforce has the supports and programming needed to thrive.
- Schenectady County Connects Youth Programming
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- Employability Skills Training
- Work Experience and Internships
- Summer Youth Employment
- School District Partnerships
- Mohonasen Central School District
- Schenectady City School District
- Community Partnerships and Initiatives
- Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Programming
- Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Youth Employment
- Juvenile Justice Initiatives
- Raise the Age (RTA)
- Supervision and Treatment Services for Juveniles Program (STSJP)
- Alternatives to Arrest
- Children and Family Services Independent Living Skills for Youth in Care
- 2024 Youth Bureau Funded Community Initiatives
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One of the responsibilities of the Schenectady County Youth Bureau is to allocate Youth Development, Runaway Homeless Youth Act, Youth Sports Education Funding and Youth Team Sports Funding to agencies throughout the community. These agencies apply for funding annually and undergo a competitive Request for Proposal process to be awarded funding. These programs provide a variety of opportunities to Schenectady County youth including sports, arts, environmental studies, STEM, and mentoring.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Schenectady
- COCOA House Inc.
- C.R.E.A.T.E
- Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region
- Hamilton Hill Arts Center
- Jack Falvo III Foundation
- Lightwork Elite
- Niskayuna Youth Basketball Association
- Rotterdam United Soccer Club
- Safe Inc. of Schenectady
- Schenectady JCC
- Schenectady Little League
- Schenectady Ring of Hope Boxing
- Schoharie River Center
- Scotia Glenville Softball League
- Town of Duanesburg
- Town of Niskayuna
- Working Group on Girls of Schenectady
- YMCA
- YWCA of Schenectady
- Young Parents United
- Youth Bureau Advisory Board Members
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- Lori Bennett, Children's Behavioral Health Coordinator, Schenectady County Community Services
- Commissioner Brandy Bouldin, Department of Social Services, Schenectady County
- Rachel Conn, Executive Director, Hamilton Hill Arts Center
- Dr. Carlos Cotto, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation, Equity & Engagement, Schenectady City School District
- Kevin Doherty, Executive Director, Safe Inc. of Schenectady
- Ginni Egan, Executive Director, Young Parents United
- Timothy Ferrara, Deputy Director, Schenectady County Probation
- Ashli Fragomeni, Executive Director, Girls Inc.
- Scott Hayden, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Schenectady
- Andrew Katz, Campus Director, Schenectady Jewish Community Center
- Abbe Kovacik, Executive Director, Brightside Up
- Simone Miranda, Board Co-President, Working Group on Girls
- Lea Montalto-Rook, Executive Director, Big Brothers, Big Sisters
- Sarah Pechar, Executive Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension
- Lauren Trunko, Director of Women & Family Services, YWCA
- Runaway, Homeless Youth Services
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"Each year, thousands of New York's youth run away from home, are told to leave their homes, or experience homelessness. Youth face these challenges not just in cities, but in suburban and rural communities as well. Often, youth are trying to escape abuse, neglect, or conflict in their homes.
Youth are still developing physically and emotionally and, when they experience homelessness, are less likely to complete their education, develop general life skills, and obtain employment. On the street, youth can become victims of violence, struggle with mental health challenges, engage in substance use, and be forced to trade sex for basic needs."
Resources:
Safe Inc. of Schenectady - 1344 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY 12304 - (518) 374-5178
National Runaway Safeline is available online, or by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY. They’re trained to listen and answer questions without judgement 24/7
- Schenectady County Summer Youth Employment Program
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The Schenectady County Summer Youth Employment Program is a unique opportunity to gain six-weeks of meaningful, on-the-job training during the summer; youth selected for program will be permitted to work for 20 hours per week earning $15.00 per hour through Schenectady Job Training Agency (SJTA).
- You must be a Schenectady County resident.
- You must be between the ages 14-24 by the start of the program
- Application: https://bit.ly/2024SchCoSYEP
* Please note: the majority of funding is allocated to youth whose family is receiving TANF (public assistance), SNAP (food stamps), or whose total household income does not exceed 200% of the poverty line.
*APPLICATIONS WERE DUE APRIL 12*
If you are accepted into the Summer Youth Employment Program, you will receive a letter in the mail in May with your interview date & time along with any documentation you are required to submit.
If you are not accepted, your original working papers will be returned to you by mail.
