Bureau on the Road

Learn more about the wonderful agencies doing terrific work in our community as Oneida County takes the Youth Bureau on the road!!!

11-29-05
Greater Utica Sunrise Rotary

The Youth Bureau was the guest of the Greater Utica Sunrise Rotary’s meeting. Director Ryan Nobles shared with Rotarians many of the positive things the Youth Bureau is doing for young people in Oneida County. Rotary is one of the most active civic organizations in the world and Oneida County is lucky to have a number of clubs in the area. The Sunrise Rotary has the distinction of having their meetings at 7am! While the early morning meetings can be tough, they work very well for professionals that don’t have time in their daily schedules to fit in a Rotary meeting. For more information on the Greater Utica Sunrise Rotary click on the link provided.

Youth Bureau Director Ryan Nobles takes part in the Greater Utica Sunrise Rotary meeting.

10-24-05
ANYSYB CONFERENCE

Livingston County Youth Bureau Director Keith Mitchell Address The Conference

The Youth Bureau was fortunate to take part in the annual Association of New York State Youth Bureaus Conference in Rochester. The conference was an opportunity to learn more about cutting edge youth development techniques. The Conference featured keynote speakers Murray Banks, James Vollbracht, NYS Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner John A. Johnson, and Judith A. Kahn. Next year’s conference is being held in Niagara Falls in October.

10-20-05
ANYSYB CENTRAL REGION TRAINING

Guest Speaker Barbara Coloroso Signs a book for a participant

The Youth Bureau received two scholarships to take part in the Learning Disabilities Association of Central New York training on Bullying. Guest speaker Barbara Coloroso has written a number of books on the topic including The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander. Her daylong discussion was based on her lengthy research on the topic of bullying. She gave many practical examples of how to change the culture in a situation to prevent bullying.

10-12-05
Utica Rides for Health

The Youth Bureau was fortunate to be a part of an event that encourages young people to get outside and do something. The Utica Ride for Health featured kids and adults from throughout the Utica School District who rode their bikes from North Utica all the way to Hughes School in South Utica. The event promotes kids getting active and eating the right way. The Youth Bureau was one of the speakers at the program following the ride.

Hughes students cheer for their fellow students and teachers who were taking part in the Ride for Health.

Their common chant was “Hughes has heart!”

(Photo Courtesy of the Observer-Dispatch)

10-6-05
Youth Court Graduation

The Oneida County Youth Court continued its excellent progress with it is annual graduation. Over 30 students from Camden, Rome, Utica and Waterville were given certificates of achievement for their work. They are now prepared to begin hearing cases in the Youth Court and help kids who get in trouble get back in the right track. Congrats to Director Kevin Crumb who single handedly makes the program move forward.


Director Kevin Crumb talks about the many accomplishments of the Oneida County Youth Court.	Oneida County Youth Court participants take the youth court oath.

Utica City Court Judge Hon. Ralph J Eannace gives the keynote address and talks about why it is important to get involved with programs like Youth Court.	From the right: Youth Bureau Advisory Board Member Michael A. Parker, Oneida County Executive Joseph A. Griffo, Utica City Court Judge Hon. Ralph J Eannace and Oneida County Legislator Patricia A. Hudak congratulate Youth Court graduates.

9-10-05
Cornhill Graffiti Busters

The two murals below were painted by a volunteer group over the weekend on the side of Gerling's market on Steuben Street. It is a spot that is routinely targeted by graffiti artists. This time a new group of artists chose to use this canvas to send a positive message and it worked big time.

9-9-05
Central Region Youth Bureau Directors Meeting

Oneida County was fortunate to host this month’s meeting of the Association of NYS Youth Bureaus Central Region. This important group includes the Youth Bureau directors from all over the Central Region. It offers us the chance to compare issues and ideas that are going on in each of our counties. We also find links to collaborate on many opportunities for youth. Next month the Central Region is hosting its annual training conference in Syracuse. This year’s training conference is on bullying and features national speaker Barbara Coloroso. If you are interested in attending you can contact the Youth Bureau or learn more by clicking here. In addition to our regional training the state ANYSB conference is also coming up. The conference offers multiple training opportunities, many of which fulfill training requirements. You can learn more about the conference by clicking here.


Local Youth Service providers discuss ideas with regional Youth Bureau Directors around Central New York		Madison County YB Director Joanne Eddy and Oswego County YB Director Kathleen Fenlon listen to the discussion.

City of Utica YB Director Lonnie Jenkins shows off the amenities in the Parkway Recreation Center.

8-15-05
Cosmopolitan Center

The Cosmopolitan Center held a special event that gave kids a look at what it takes to become an astronaut. NASA Mission Specialist Dr. Karen Nyberg spoke to the “Cosmo Kids” about how hard work can lead to success. The event was made possible by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert who as the Chairman of the House Science Committee was able to arrange for Dr. Nyberg to appear.

The Youth Bureau helps to fund three different Cosmo Programs including: Teen Recreation Center, a that offers constructive leisure time activities 6 to 8PM , M-F and some Saturdays for high risk, inner city youth, mainly from minority families involved with the human service system. SDPP is a program that offers one-on-one services for high risk youth to prevent involvement or re-involvement with the justice system and the Youth Aftercare Program offers case management, support services and independent living skills instruction for youth discharged back to the community from juvenile justice placements.

For more information click on the following links:

NASA

Dr. Karen Nyberg waits to begin her presentation.
She is flanked on the left by Oneida County Executive
Joseph A. Griffo and on the right by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert.

Sitting behind County Executive Griffo is Oneida County’s Director of Workforce Development David Mathis.

Dr. Nyberg is an avid runner, so County Executive Griffo thought it would be appropriate to present
her with a t-shirt from the largest
15K Road Race in America, The Boilermaker.

8-11-05
Camp Nazareth
The Youth Bureau visited the popular Camp Nazareth in Northern Oneida County. Hundreds of campers will make their way to beautiful camp in the Adirondack Park each year. The camp is operated by Catholic Charities.

The Youth Bureau funds a number of programs run by Catholic Charities including After School Recreation, Child and Family Development and Youth Counseling Through BOCES.

For more information click on the following links:

Catholic Charities	Camp Nazareth

The Camp Naz Mess Hall is a gathering point for the hundreds of kids that come to the camp each summer. The hard working staff serves three square meals a
day in this facility.

Camp Naz campers have the opportunity to use a portion of their fee to attend the camp at the “Canteen”. The Canteen has t-shirts, soda, candy and other fun treats for the campers to enjoy during their stay.

Camp Nazareth is located right on the banks of Little Long Lake. The camp has a special swimming area where special safety precautions are taken. As you can see the young man jumping into the lake is wearing a bright green cap that indicates he is able to swim in the deeper section of the lake.

8-11-05
City of Utica/ Boys and Girls Club
As a follow-up to a revealing study compiled by the City of Utica on Juvenile Violence in the City, The Oneida County Youth Bureau took part in a meeting with representatives from Utica Safe Schools, Social Science Associates and the Boys and Girls Club. The purpose of the meeting was to begin discussing ways the various agencies serving kids in the City can work together to address the findings of the study, chiefly an emerging gang issue in the city. The OC Youth Bureau helps to fund the Boys and Girls Club’s TEEN Passport program. The national program has a component that deals with gang prevention. This meeting is an example of the Oneida County Youth Bureau’s commitment to serve as a collaborating entity for all issues regarding kids in our county.

For More Info Click on the Following Links:

Boys and Girls Club

Utica Safe Schools Healthy Students

City of Utica

Community representatives from a number of local agencies met to discuss opportunities to work together at the Boys and Girls Club location at the Parkway Recreation Center.

6-22-05
The Family Services of the Mohawk Valley - Family Services of the Mohawk Valley invited the Bureau to present at it's annual meeting. It was an excellent opportunity for the agency to learn more about the role of the Youth Bureau and for the Bureau to meet many of the valuable contributors to Family Services' goals. The Youth Bureau helps to fund three different programs through Family Services. The Sexual Abuse Treatment Program provides individual and family treatment of sexual abuse for those not eligible to participate through the Department of Social Services. The Juvenile Perpetrators program provides group and family treatment for youth implicated as perpetrators of sexual abuse. The Partners in Prevention program offers individual and family therapy from a family system approach to direct vulnerable youth towards completion of the Young Scholars program.

One of the people honored at the annual meeting of the Family Services of the Mohawk Valley was former Youth Bureau Advisory Board member Barbara Freeman. She is seen here with from the left, Executive Director Herb Freeman, Board President Steve Darman and Board Member Ed Paparella

6-08-05
The North Utica Senior Citizens Community Center - The Bureau visited the brand new North Utica Senior Citizens Community Center. The center has been providing education, wellness, social and recreation programs for over thirty years. In August of 1998, our center began intergenerational programming with the addition of our after school program for thirty children ages five through twelve years. You can find more information on the opportunities available at the center by going to www.thenucc.com.

The brand new facility at the North Utica Senior Citizens Community Center has offered opportunity for many people in the area.

5-25-05
The MV Council on Alcoholism/Addictions Inc. - The Bureau visited with the hard working people at the MV Council on Alcoholism/Addictions Inc. MVCAA is a community resource agency that provides information and assistance on alcoholism, and drug and alcohol abuse. The Council strives to be the leader in the reduction and prevention of the occurrence of alcohol and other drug abuse through the dissemination of information. We offer free confidential information, assessment and referral counseling for individuals and their families who are experiencing difficulties with a wide variety of issues. The Bureau helps to fund the Teen Institute. This peer leadership/empowerment program is designed to reduce the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs by high school teens.

The Staff of the MV Council on Alcoholism/Addictions Inc. work hard in front of a group of paintings that children in their program depicted as an "Alcohol Free World"

5-25-05
Cornell Cooperative Extension - Cornell Cooperative Extension provides a wide variety of services to a wide variety of people in Oneida County. Their commitment to Youth and Youth Programs has been well demonstrated with terrific work, particularly through the 4-H program.

The Youth Bureau helps to fund three programs through Cornell Cooperative Extension. Be Smart...Don't Start provides tobacco prevention education to youth in grades K-6. It deals with social, physical and peer implications. Better Your Own Body is a youth development program that recruits, trains and hires high school and college students to facilitate group discussions with K-6th graders regarding the social, nutritional, physical and drunk driving implications of alcohol. 4-H Outreach is a youth development programming that utilizes Intergenerational Master Gardener, 4-H Government Interns and Conservation Education Days to provide young people with role models and meaningful participation in community awareness and problem solving opportunities.

The dedicated crew of the Cornell Cooperative extension.
front, left to right: Lynette Kay, Holly Wise, Lorraine Kinney-Kitchen
back, left to right: Deilee Calvert-Minor, Bonnie Collins, Chris Weber Mangini, Mark Giles

5-19-05
City of Utica Youth Bureau - The County Youth Bureau stopped by the Parkway Recreation Center to learn more about the programs run by the City of Utica Youth Bureau. The City Youth Bureau serves hundreds of kids in a variety of different programs. From basketball to tennis to skiing, there is something for every child at the City Youth Bureau. For more information check the city's web site at: www.cityofutica.com/YouthBureau/

City Youth Bureau Director Lonnie Jenkins at Utica's spectacular Parkway Rec Center


YWCA Executive Director Denise Cavanaugh shows off some of the fitness equipment in one of the YWCA's state of the art exercise rooms.	5-17-05 YWCA The Bureau visited the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley. Behind the doors of the YWCA, you will find women helping women. They are more than a place to turn to when women are in need - we're a place for women to grow and learn. The Youth Bureau helps to fund a number of YWCA programs including Adolescent Outreach which provides awareness/prevention education information about sexual assault and domestic/dating violence. The Youth Bureau also contributes to the Sheltered Youth Project which offers crisis and short term counseling to children in need. To learn more about becoming a member log onto www.ymcamv.org


5-17-05 The Bureau visited the kids taking part in the Thea Bowman House Program. The agency provides a safe, nurturing environment in which culturally diverse children can achieve their full potential. The Youth Bureau helps to fund the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. program. The program offers kids, that might not have the opportunity, an after school program and a 5 week all day program in the summer. The lives of many young people in Oneida County have been positively changed by the work of the Thea Bowman House.	The hard working kids at the Thea Bowman house pose for a group picture. Hiding behind their smiling faces is the agency's Executive Director Jane Domingue.

5-16-05 Insight House - The Bureau spent the afternoon visiting the staff of the Insight house. The Insight house provides professional, confidential chemical dependency treatment to individuals and their families striving to achieve and maintain a sober lifestyle.

The Youth Bureau helps to fund two programs that help kids. Keeping Connected offers life skills to kids in Utica Middle Schools. The School Prevention Program teaches many area school kids the dangers of drugs and alcohol. For more information about the Insight House log onto www.insighthouse.com

5-12-05 Boys and Girls Club - The Bureau toured the Boys and Girls Club on Lansing Street in Utica. The Club’s programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence.

The Youth Bureau helps to fund the TEEN Passport program. This program helps teens demonstrate a higher level of confidence in academics, job skills and communications. You can find out more about the Boys and Girls Club of the Mohawk Valley at www.bgcutica.org

5-11-05 Peacemaker Program

The Bureau toured the operation of the Peacemaker Program in Utica. The Program provides information, teach skills, and create opportunities for youth, their families, and adults to achieve positive outcomes within the community, and provide alternatives to the court system.

The Youth Bureau helps to fund the Court Appointed Special Advocates. This program recruits and trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in foster care. You can find more information on the Peacemaker Program at www.thepeacemakerprogram.org

Oneida County Youth Bureau
800 Park Avenue
Utica, New York 13501