Happy Spring! There are some important things that are happening around Tompkins County, and I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight those for you:

TCAT’s FreeRyde Program

Beginning on May 29, 2022 all youth under the of age of 17 will be able to ride TCAT buses for free! This is a huge win for youth, especially those in rural areas, because one of the largest barriers to youth accessing resources, services, and getting back and forth to school or work is transportation. We are so thrilled to have worked with TCAT and other community partners to bring this program to fruition. We are still working out some of the finer details, but we will be working with school districts, youth serving organizations, and TST BOCES to make sure the Youth Passes get into youth hands this summer! 

For more information visit https://tcatbus.com/freeryde.

Tompkins County Youth Services Department Seeks Proposals for Youth Programming

The Tompkins County Youth Services Department is inviting local not-for-profit organizations to propose programs for funding that improve youth outcomes as outlined in the Achieving Youth Results Framework. Programs that meet the criteria identified in the request for proposals will be evaluated by the Department and the Youth Services Advisory Board subject to final approval by the Tompkins County Legislature.

Proposals are due by 3:30pm on May 13, 2022 and will be reviewed with recommendations and notification of final awards at the end of June. To read the request for proposals, visit: https://www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york/tompkins-county

Municipal Youth Services System (MYSS) Community Needs Assessments

The MYSS was created by the Tompkins County Legislature on September 19, 1989, which means it is in its 33rd year of operation. Its mission is to provide opportunities for underrepresented and underserved youth to deal successfully with the challenges of adolescence. One of the most wonderful features of the MYSS is that the program offerings, provided by Rural Youth Services System (RSY) housed at Cornell Cooperative Extension, are completely customizable to the needs of the youth in each of the different municipalities. 

This is where I am going to ask for some help from you. We have teamed up with your local Youth Commissions/Community Councils to create a Community Needs Assessment for each municipality. Please take a couple of minutes to visit our website and complete the assessment tied to your residential municipality. The assessments will only take a few minutes and provide us with critical information about what types of programming the youth in your area would like to see.  

Please make sure to check out the links above and let us know if you have any questions about any of the information provided to you! I wish you health, wellness, and lots of sunshine as we move into warmer weather!

In the service of youth,

Kate Shanks-Booth

Director, Tompkins County Youth Services

If you have not had the pleasure to grow up in Groton, you may not know one of their most dedicated citizens, Betty Conger. For over 20 years Betty has served on the Groton Youth Commission. “Our goal (is) to improve the lives of the youth in the community and to offer programming that will help the youth look at ways they can help themselves and those around them. We offer so much for the youth and the program continues to grow and evolve,” states Betty.

Betty is a lifelong resident of Groton.  She has attended Groton Central Schools, had her first job at the Smith Corona Typewriter factory and worked at NY Dairy Herd Improvement (Dairy One). But some of her best years were spent raising her two sons, Gordon and Michael Shults. As a widow of 30 years, Betty has stayed committed to Groton and her family, which includes 2 grandsons and 2 great-grandsons. 

With over 40 years as a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Betty’s favorite work involves a program called Empire Girls State. This week-long program encourages high school juniors to build a 51^st mythical state from the local level to the state level. “They elect mayors, senators, and a governor. Campaigning and elections are also involved. They also create bills and hold a mock senate session to vote on those bills,” Betty says.  

“I would like to see us continue to inspire the youth of Groton to take pride and ‘ownership’ of the future of our Village and Town. My hope is that when someone joins the commission, it is to help our youth become better citizens and to have a sense of pride in what they can accomplish in the various programs we offer. Also, have a sense of pride in our community.” With a person like Betty in their community, I’d say that Groton must have a lot of pride. Tompkins County Youth Services Department thanks Betty for her amazing dedication and efforts in Groton.

Saturday June 11, 2022

9 AM Shot Gun Start

Newman Golf Course

Two-person Captain & Mate; All Teams must have one youth (16 or younger) and one adult.

Entry - fee for team: $50, includes greens fee & cost for 9 holes, putting contest, catered lunch, and goodie bag. 

Scholarships available.

Options

Golfing Participant:

As an adult - sign up for the event, if you don't have a youth partner, you will be matched with one.

As a youth - if interested, have your parent/guardian sign you up for the event, include the name of the adult you will be golfing with, if you don't have an adult partner to golf with, you will be matched with one (only pay $25).

Sponsor: 

Make a donate towards the event or specifically towards an entry fee. 

Sponsor a hole - your name/agency name will be posted at that hole!

All checks should be made out to:  Friends of CCHY

Send completed form and check(s) to:

Theresa Albert

TC Youth Services Dept

320 W. MLK Jr./State St

Ithaca, NY  14850

Questions? Contact:

Gale Smith, (607) 277-4136, m.gale.smith930@gmail.com, or

Theresa Albert, (607) 274-5310, talbert@tompkins-co.org