CANTON - The St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau is now accepting funding proposals from community-based non-profit organizations, public agencies, faith-based organizations, St. Lawrence County municipalities, and government agencies to provide services to the youth of St. Lawrence County for funding years 2022-2024.

These programs will fall under New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Youth Development Program funds distributed through the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau for programs operating from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2024.

Eligible programs must provide community-level services designed to promote positive youth development and respond to locally identified youth needs in St. Lawrence County. Applicants should reference the Youth Bureau’s Needs Assessment Survey results to review current youth data and needs. Needs Assessment results and data will be included in the (online) application packet.

Additionally, applicants should consider providing services, opportunities, and supports for youth who have had their lives changed by COVID-19. Youth are eager to be involved in activities that are engaging, connecting peer to peer interaction, and assisting youth who have fallen behind academically and socially due to this year’s COVID isolation. St. Lawrence County youth could benefit from supports that do not currently exist in some communities, such as art programs, photography, culinary arts, outdoor exploration activities, or programs supporting social and emotional growth.

“We are really excited to offer access to the Needs Assessment Survey results. Last month, we received 696 completed youth and 146 adult survey responses. There’s a lot to learn from these results and we want to ensure that youth serving programs are willing to closely examine and meet the current needs of our youth. Much has changed, through the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s our responsibility to meet those needs,” stated St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau Director, Alexa Backus. “We are very thankful to everyone who supported our efforts in completing the surveys, including area teachers who made sure their students completed them. This truly was a community effort. It’s imperative we listen to what our youth had to say.”

This Request for Proposal (RFP) supports youth development programs (YDP) for youth 0-21 years of age. Eligible programs must be outcome based and provide quantifiable and verifiable indicators by which program performance will be measured. All programs seeking funding must track outcome measures for the service, opportunity and support the program is addressing.

Proposals for funding must be submitted to the St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau by Friday, July 30. Proposals received after this date will not be considered.

All those interested in submitting a proposal must contact the Youth Bureau at (315) 379-9464 or email slcyouthbureau@gmail.com for an electronic copy of the RFP and application. The St. Lawrence County Youth Bureau is committed to its continued advocacy on behalf of the children, youth, and families of St. Lawrence County and to the support of those agencies that provide invaluable services to its residents.