The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYSOCFS) designates the Albany County Department for Children Youth and Families-Youth Bureau as its agent for distribution of four financial resources.

• Youth Development Program (YDP)
• Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funding (RHYA)
• Youth Sports and Education Opportunity Funding (YSEF)
• Youth Team Sports (YTS)

The Albany County Youth Bureau discharges its responsibilities for administering these two financial resources through annual application and contract processes with not-for-profit agencies.

Parameters for the two sets of resources are set by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Priorities are determined by the Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families -Youth Bureau and the Albany County Youth Bureau Board. Albany County seeks proposals from not-for-profit organizations that meet the requirements of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and Albany County.

Please find below the OCFS forms required to submit an application with instructions attached to each. Application deadline is September 10, 2025.

Any questions can be directed to:

Valerie Johnson
Executive Director Youth Bureau
Albany County Dept. for Children, Youth and Families
112 State Street, Room 300
Albany, NY 12207
Email: valerie.johnson@albanycountyny.gov
Phone: (518) 447-3053
Fax: (518) 447-7578

Application Documents

• Application Cover Letter
• 5001 OCFS [Updated Sep. 2024]
• 5002 OCFS [Updated Sep. 2024]
• 5003 OCFS [Updated Sep. 2024]
• 5003 Coding Document for OCFS
• 5005 OCFS
• 5011 OCFS [Added Sep. 2024]

Claiming Documents

• Claim Form
• 3125 DCYF
• 3126 OCFS
• 3129 OCFS
• 5005 OCFS

Deadline: The application date for 2026 grants has passed. New opportunities will be posted for 2027.

Eligibility: Not-for-Profit and Community-Based Organizations Are Eligible to Apply

Types of Programs Covered: A wide variety of youth sports and physical recreation activities can be supported. Priority is given to under-resourced communities.

Grants Can Fund: Coaches/instructors/referee fees, equipment and uniforms, facility and field improvements, adaptive sports equipment and programming and more!

For more information, email Valerie.Johnson@AlbanyCountyNY.gov or call (518) 447-3053.

• NYS OCFS Youth Sports Webpage

Each year we host the Youth Recognition Awards, an exciting initiative that recognizes youth who have overcome adversity, shown tremendous resiliency and growth, athletic achievement, artistic expression or demonstrated their citizenship and civic engagement through community service.

Initiated in 2003 to celebrate youth that would not ordinarily be recognized, this program honors the positive achievements of those youth.

Last year’s program was a great success and we anticipate that this year’s program will be even better.

Five Albany County middle school and five high school students will be recognized and awarded in different achievement categories:

• Most Improved Student
• Artistic Expression
• Lt. John F. Finn Community Service
• Ed Roche Outstanding Youth
• George Roe Athletic Achievement

 Nominations are due by Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Learn how to nominate a deserving student this year:
Download the 2025 Youth Recognition Awards Nomination Packet