Since 1960, the Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau has been a planning, funding, and coordinating agency which is dedicated to developing, implementing and evaluating a comprehensive system of services for youth in the Rochester and Monroe County community. We believe youth and their families deserve the best services possible.

To make this happen, we:

• Help plan and coordinate services for youth
• Assess youth needs to determine funding priorities
• Promote partnerships with agencies and community providers for comprehensive services
• Provide funding to youth service agencies
• Monitor and evaluate Youth Bureau funded programs to ensure quality services
• Coordinate Runaway and Homeless services for youth
• Study/examine different segments of the youth services system and issues that affect youth
• Advocate for legislation, systems change, and funding to improve/assist the youth services system
• Create mentoring opportunities for youth to interact with seniors, professionals, and community leaders

Vision

We promote a positive future for all youth.

Mission

To create a community that supports a comprehensive range of opportunities for positive youth development.

Linking Research to Practice in Youth Development - What Works and How Do We Know?

Youth development providers are increasingly expected to base their programs and practice on research. Policy makers, state and local government, and funding agencies increasingly demand the use of evidence-based programs and/or practices to decide which youth development programs they should support. Service providers also have an interest in being able to show that their programs are effective and make a difference. The information provided in the following PDF “Linking Research to Practice in Youth Development – What Works and How Do We Know?” is provided as a guide and resource tool for those developing and implementing programs with youth.

        Download the Linking Research to Practice in Youth Development PDF

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2013 Young Citizen of the Year Awards

The Young Citizen of the Year Awards were established by the Monroe County Legislature as one of the highest honors for youth and adult leadership, community service, advocacy and perseverance. The winners are dynamic Monroe County residents with the passion and drive to change the world, as well as identify and realize solutions to problems. They are committed to strengthening their communities and themselves. The awards pay tribute to outstanding citizens who have made a local contribution toward advocacy and action. An individual is eligible for consideration if he/she has exhibited outstanding leadership and performed extraordinary acts on behalf of others or whose achievements have greatly enhanced the quality of life for Monroe County, or has served as a role model for youth advocacy. As you are completing applications, please be as specific as possible and include the full complement of contributions the youth has made to the community. Specifically include achievements beyond those that are academic and sport related. This year's Young Citizen of the Year Awards ceremony will take place at Monroe Community Hospital on Thursday, June 13th at 6:00 PM.

2013 Prom Safety

On Friday, May 10^th Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks launched the County’s 2013 Prom Safety Campaign to help local young people make the right choices about alcohol and other drugs on prom night. Brooks unveiled a new brochure for parents and students offering safety tips, facts regarding teen drinking, and other helpful information about making prom a positive and memorable experience. “This time of year, local young people aren’t only making decisions about dresses, tuxedos, and limousines - they will also be making important choices on prom night that could affect the rest of their lives,” said County Executive Brooks. “By communicating openly about the many dangerous risks and positive opportunities presented on prom night, parents and students alike can do their part to make this prom season a safe one in Monroe County.” The “Monroe County Guide to Prom Safety” was created as a tool to help promote open dialogue between parents and their children about staying safe on prom night. In addition to providing helpful preventative information, the guide also includes a sample “Prom Pledge” that parents and students can sign together. Please click on the provided link to sign your own copy of the this year's "Prom Pledge."

• 2013 Monroe County Guide to Prom Safety

Youth As Resources (YAR)

Youth As Resources seeks to empower and engage youth as partners with adults in creating positive community change and development. Youth and adult members govern the YAR board which provides mini grants to local youth in order to develop and carry out service projects that addresses a clear community need.

To find out more about YAR, please click here

• YAR Information Pamphlet
• YAR Grant Application Form
• YAR Board Member Application Form

The 5^th Annual Cardboard City Lockout

In the Summer of 2013, a collaborative of members from Youth As Resources, Youth Voice One Vision, and Nazareth College, will once again, raise awareness and funds for homeless youth/youth in transition service providers in Monroe County. The annual Cardboard City event provides the opportunity for Monroe County youth to spend the night out in Cobbs Hill Park to engage in a Service-Learning experience with community leaders, peers, and program providers. Youth and adults participate in a series of activities that increase awareness and understanding of the plight of homelessness in our community.

For more information about how to get involved in this year's Cardboard City, contact Nick Ponterio, Youth As Resources coordinator, at 585-753-6953.

County Executive's Call to Action to Prevent Bullying  

Ten years ago, a cross-section of concerned community members formed the Community Task Force on Bullying Prevention that included representatives from local school districts, the County Departments of Mental Health, Public Safety and Youth Bureau, law enforcement agencies, human service agencies and parents. The work of the task force was recognized nationally and Monroe County was cited in the national “Stop Bullying Now!” campaign’s tip sheet on “What Communities are Doing.” Unfortunately, one only has to turn on a computer or television, or read a newspaper or magazine to know that bullying has captured our local and national attention once again.

Organizations and agencies serving youth must be given the tools and resources necessary to maintain physically and emotionally safe environments for our younger residents. Therefore, with the assistance of the RMCYB, the County Executive hosted a Call to Action to Prevent Bullying (CECTA) on March 20th at Monroe Community Hospital. The CECTA brought people together from across Monroe County who work with youth; including parent/teacher associations, school superintendents and personnel, youth organizations, mental health professionals, law enforcement officials, church leaders and youth leaders, and our youth.

The CECTA was led by bullying prevention experts including internationally renowned, Dr. Samuel McQuade from the Rochester Institute of Technology, who helped define the many factors that contribute to environments where bullying persists and also outlined the ongoing commitment that is necessary to create and implement culture change. Also presented at the CECTA were the County Executive's 7 Steps to Prevent Bullying and Pledge To Prevent Bullying (located below) which encourage the community to take advantage of moments to do the right thing, provide support to targets of bullying and send a firm message to those who engage in bullying behavior that it will never be tolerated.

Please contact us at 585-753-6455 with any questions or concerns about bullying.

Download the 7 Step Action plan for CECTA

2013 Monroe County Intergenerational Fishing Day

On Friday, April 5^th 2013, youth, parents, grandparents and helpful seniors gathered together with County Executive Maggie Brooks at the Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park to participate in the 5th Annual Monroe County Intergenerational Fishing Day. After a terrific presentation by the New York State Department of Conservation explaining the various kinds of marine life in NYS, as well as demonstration on the proper method of catch and release, participants both young and old fished throughout the park on a crisp, sunny spring morning. Fish are released into the creek by the staff at the Fish Hatchery for the event. The Fish Hatchery provides an enjoyable and educational visitor experience, regardless of age. It also serves an important conservation function for the environment of our region. The Monroe County Fishing Advisory Board (MCFAB) once again generously provided their donation of 100 fishing rods to the youth participating in this year’s Fishing Day. The members of MCFAB study the problems associated with maintaining and improving the Monroe County fishery, including: lakes, bays, rivers, ponds, streams, and canals, to determine needs for improved access, support facilities and services and to advise the County Legislature, the County Administration, and local governments as to actions that could be taken to realize the full potential of the County’s fishing resources. All participants enjoyed this year’s Fishing Day, and will no doubt return in 2014.

Youth Yellow Pages

The Youth Yellow Pages offers resources, services, and support for youth in Monroe County.

The Youth Yellow Pages is in its fifth printing and was recently updated by the Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau. This guide is also available in hard copy by calling the Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau at (585) 753-6455.

Download the Youth Yellow Pages (297k PDF)

The Youth Yellow Pages is the companion guide to the Adult Guide to Youth Services. The Adult Guide to Youth Services is also available in hard copy by calling the Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau at (585) 753-6455.

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Adult Guide to Youth Services

The Adult Guide to Youth Services offers resources, services, support and good ideas for parents and others who care about youth in Monroe County.

The Guide is in its seventh printing and was recently updated by the Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau. This Guide is also available in hard copy by calling the Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau at (585) 753-6455.

Download the Adult Guide to Youth Services (232k PDF).

Download the Drugs Chart (94k PDF) companion to the Adult Guide to Youth Services.

The Youth Yellow Pages is the companion guide to the Adult Guide to Youth Services.

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Capacity Building

Capacity Building (formerly Best Practices Partnership) Mission

The Best Practices Partnership is a voluntary group of management level youth and family providers that come together to learn, share, communicate, plan and empower each other. Along with the Best Practices Implementation Team, funders, organizations, staff, youth and families, the Partnership identifies and develops the critical organizational elements and functions that must be impacted to implement and maintain best practice consistent with Community Youth Development philosophy.

This includes:

• Developing consistent frameworks for implementing Best Practice
• Identifying barriers and issues to implementation and recommendations to address and resolve.

Partnership Members

• Boys and Girls Clubs of America
• Catholic Youth Organization/Catholic Family Center
• The Center for Youth
• Crestwood Children’s Services
• Community Place of Greater Rochester
• Department of Social Services, Child and Family Services Division
• Hillside Children’s Center
• Hillside Work Scholarship
• Metro Council for Teen Potential
• Puerto Rican Youth Development
• SouthWest Area Neighborhood Association
• Unity Health Systems
• Urban League of Rochester