Youth
Department of Youth Job Openings
Mission
The Department for Youth will provide youth ages birth to 21 with opportunities through positive leisure time activities and social intervention to grow and mature into responsible productive adults. We will strive to fund a range and variety of quality programs and services available to all youth.
Programs
New York State Office of Children & Family Services Resource Allocation Plan
OCFS provides funding to Rensselaer County for youth development programing through the Resource Allocation Plan to youth serving agencies that focus on Youth Development. All programs are monitored to ensure the goals set, are being met.
Summer Food Program
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is a Child Nutrition Program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In New York State, the State Education Department (SED) administers the program. The SFSP provides reimbursement for nutritious meals served to children in lower income areas at no cost when school is out. Meals must be served in low-income communities where at least 50 percent of children are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals or in other locations where at least 50 percent of the children enrolled in a specific program are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals. Children 18 years of age and younger are eligible to participate in the SFSP. Persons over 18 years old who are physically or mentally disabled and participating in a public or nonprofit private school program established for children with these disabilities may also participate in this program.
Rensselaer County has been a proud sponsor of this program since 1974 with several feeding locations throughout the County. The mission of the Summer Food Program is to ensure that all children under the age of 18 receive healthy meals during the ten (10) weeks of summer vacation. Each site is open and welcomes all youth regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, color, or disability.
To find a food site near you, visit the New York State Education Department website or call 211.
If you would like to host a feeding site, please contact Debbie Fleming @ 518-266-7501 or dfleming@rensco.com for more information before the end of April.
Community Backpack Program
The Rensselaer County Community Backpack Program is a collaboration with the Department for Youth, Rensselaer County Probation and Mental Health, Troy Housing Authority, local Boys & Girls Clubs, Schools and Municipalities as well as several not-for-profit agencies throughout the County who work with disadvantaged youth, to provide the basic back-to-school supplies to disadvantaged children/families in our county.
This program has been operating since 2012, and runs strictly on donations from agencies, sponsors and Rensselaer County employees to ensure disadvantaged children in grades K-8 have the supplies needed to start the school year.
Our goal is to ensure that every disadvantaged child have the basic tools available to them, beginning with the tools needed to succeed in the classroom, in the end they are both academically and psychologically prepared.
Donations
Donations can be made during the month of July and August at the following:
- County Office Building (Donation box is located in the Lobby of the 3rd Floor or in any department)
1600 7th Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations can be sent to:
- Rensselaer County Department for Youth
Back to School Supplies
599 Troy Road, Suite #402
East Greenbush, NY 12061
Annual County Executive Golf Tournament
Coats for Kids Program
A charitable golf tournament in collaboration between the County Executive’s Office and the Department for Youth is held in September to raise money to purchase brand new winter coats for disadvantaged youth in Rensselaer County. The County partners with schools, towns and villages as well as not-for-profit agencies in the County that are currently working with this population.
The Holiday Raffle Basket Challenge / Toy Drive
During the month of December each department has the opportunity to create/donate a themed basket to the Department for Youth that will be on display for a week. During that week tickets will be sold and all baskets will be raffled on the last day. All the proceeds will be used to purchase new toys for underprivileged families (children birth – 14 years old) in the County during the Christmas Season. If you would like to donate a new unwrapped toy during the months of November and December see the list of locations below:
Donations
Donations can be made during the months of November and December:
- County Office Building (Donation box is located in the Lobby of the 3rd Floor or in any department)
1600 7th Avenue
Troy, NY 2180
* These locations are subject to change
- County Court House DA’s Office 3rd Floor - Not open to the public
- County Van Rensselaer Manor - Not open to the public
- Blade Work Barbershop
568 Columbia Turnpike
East Greenbush, NY 12061 - Bob De Meo’s Discount Wine
501 Campbell Avenue
Troy, NY 12180 - CrossRoads American Grille
43 Mall Way
West Sand Lake, NY 12196 - Custom Cutters
10 Sheer Road
Averill Park, NY 12018 - Eadilyn’s Table
175 Main Avenue
Wynantskill, NY 12198 - Eastwick Press (Old Grafton Elementary School)
13 Babcock Lake Road
Petersburgh, NY 12138- Monday through Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 5 pm
- Saturday from 9 am to Noon
- Jimmy’s Pizzeria
475 5th Avenue
North Troy, NY 12182 - Lauren Elizabeth Salon II
501 Campbell Avenue
Troy, NY 12180 - Lavish Nail Lounge
102 Van Rensselaer Square
Number 102
Rensselaer, NY 12144
Monetary Donations
Monetary donations can be sent to:
- Rensselaer County Department for Youth
Toy Program
599 Troy Road, Suite #402
East Greenbush, NY 12061
Summer Youth Employment Program
For questions concerning the Summer Youth Employment Program please call 518-270-2860.
The Summer Youth Employment is not part of the department for Youth
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Pierce Hoyt
Deputy Commissioner
-
Department for Youth
Physical Address
99 Troy Road
Suite 402
East Greenbush, NY 12061
Phone: 518-266-7501