OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego City-County Youth Bureau is accepting funding requests to support programs that focus on team sports and physical fitness activities for youth.
“These funds are provided by the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services,” said Oswego County Youth Bureau Executive Director Brian Chetney. “This is an opportunity for adults and older youth to take on a mentoring role, teaching life skills to our young people. Team sports foster an environment that focuses on teamwork skills and create a community for youth that will follow them throughout their life.”
A one-page summary must be submitted electronically to the Youth Bureau by Friday, July 12. Completed application packets are due by Friday, Sept. 6. Funding decisions and awards will be based on New York State guidelines.
The Youth Bureau Board of Directors will review and evaluate each proposal for cost effectiveness, impact, and measurable outcomes. They will also look to ensure each project serves a large cross-section of youth from different age groups and geographic areas in Oswego County. This funding is intended to provide support to local team sports programs across New York state in communities where such programs may be scarce or under-resourced.
Proposed programs must serve youth in Oswego County between the ages of 6 to 17 and provide structured sports activities. Funded programs are required to offer a variety of sports for a broad range of youth in under-resourced communities.
For the purposes of youth team sports (YTS), a team sport is defined as an organized physical activity in which groups of two or more individuals are in competition with two or more opposing individuals. Sporting activities where individuals engage in competition on behalf of an organized group, such as singles tennis, team golf, or racing sports such as swimming or skiing, are also included in this definition.
Positive youth development integrated in physical and healthy activities, and sports in particular, can positively affect aspects of personal development among youth such as self-esteem, goal setting and leadership skills. In addition, activities and sports build crucial motor skills, prevent obesity and reduce stress and mental challenges.
All funded programs must aim to foster the following:
- Physical health and well-being: increasing physical activity and positive relationships to one’s body.
- Mental health and well-being: improving outcomes related to youth mental health, and social and emotional skills development and connectedness.
- Employment: increasing qualifications and skills, such as collective problem solving, teamwork and dispute resolution, which help prepare youth for suitable employment.
- Community cohesion: breaking down barriers to reduce discrimination, crime and violence in communities to help young leaders emerge.
For further information, complete guidelines, or to request an application package, contact Tiffany Halstead at [email protected] or call the Oswego City-County Youth Bureau at 315-349-3590.
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