Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Youth Bureau Executive Director Gabriella Marano-Holahan announce that the Rockland County Youth Bureau is now accepting Concept Papers from nonprofits, municipalities, and community-based organizations who wish to apply for 2026-2027 Youth Development Program (YDP) funds. Deadline to submit concept papers is August 7th.

The Youth Bureau administers NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) funds to promote Positive Youth Development through programs that advance the well-being of Rockland County youth. Agencies can apply for reimbursement funds to support a variety of youth development programs for young people under 21 years of age. Priority is given to programs that respond to local community needs and expand opportunities for youth in under-resourced communities.

Programs areas include, but are not limited to:

• Citizenship and Civic Engagement (youth leadership, cultural competency, race equity)
• Community (youth activism, mentoring, community service)
• Economic Security (career development, life skills)
• Physical and Emotional Health (seasonal activities, opportunities for creative expression)
• Education (“out-of-school time” programming, drop-out prevention services)
• Family supports (conflict resolution supports including restorative practices)

Programs Eligible for Funding:

• Provide community-level services, and opportunities designed to promote positive youth development.
• Have a non-discrimination policy and not deny youth services based on ethnicity/race, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or other disability, national origin, or any protected characteristic under local, state, and federal law.
• Collect data, including participant demographic information, as required by OCFS in a manner that allows for accurate reporting of anonymized aggregate data.
• Demonstrate competency in the areas of governance, monitoring and evaluation, partnership, and financial stewardship.

The funding term runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. To request a Concept Paper Outline and instructions, please email [email protected].

Applicant Information Sessions will be offered to assist with the application process on Wednesday, July 29th @ 10:00am OR 4:00pm via Microsoft Teams. To register, email [email protected].

The completed Concept Paper must be submitted via email to [email protected] by 5:00 PM on Friday, August 7th, 2026. No other attachments will be considered.

Approval of Concept Paper only provides access to submit a full application for funding.
It is not a guarantee of 2026-2027 funding.