Youth Bureau

Location: Niagara Falls Office, 301 10th Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14302

Telephone Hours:  (716) 278-6872 

Staff Directory:
Director: Benjamin Bunker

The Youth Bureau is a Unit within the Niagara County Department of Social Services whose mission is to plan, coordinate and support the positive development of youth through not-for-profit agencies and community organizations.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services allocates funding each year to counties to provide youth development services for youth. The Youth Bureau is the agency responsible to distribute these funds. With these dollars, funding is provided to cities, towns, villages and not-for-profit agencies that are located in and provide services to youth in Niagara County.
If you are interested in applying for funding, please contact our office at 278-6872.

The Youth Bureau is overseen by a Youth Advisory Board, made up of both youth and adult members and appointed by the county legislature.

Interested in joining the Youth Board?
Please reach out to your county legislator. You can find their contact information here. https://www.niagaracounty.com/government/legislature/index.php

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Youth Bureau Programs:

The Summer Food  Service Program is offered for 9 or 10 weeks each summer from June thru September. The goal of the program is to provide all eligible youth with a healthy meal each weekday during the summer months. Many city recreation programs, summer camps and church programs take advantage of this free program.

If your organization would like to participate in the Summer Food Service Program, please contact the youth bureau.

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More information can be found at:  https://hungersolutionsny.org/find-food-help/summer-meals/

Resources for Adolescents Program:

The Youth Bureau provides a speakers series throughout Niagara County, primarily in school district health classes. Independently contracted speakers include topics of Mental Health and Suicide Awareness, Substance Abuse Awareness, Human Trafficking Awareness, Homelessness, Vaping and Violence Prevention.
For inquiries, please call (716) 278-6872.

Youth Council:

The Niagara County Youth Bureau seeks a representative for the New York State Governor’s Youth Council. The Youth Council is to be made up of 62 young people ages 13-21, one representing in each county is to be selected. Terms of representatives are up to 3 years.

The Youth Council provides an effective way to engage youth in state government and creates a platform for their voices to be heard by policymakers. Members of the NYS Governor’s Youth Council will offer their solutions to key issues facing young people in NYS. Youth voice is recognized through this initiative