Warren, Washington counties work together to improve services for youth
Warren and Washington counties are combining forces to improve the services to youth offered in Warren County at a time when there is an increasing need.
Warren County has contracted with Washington County to assume administrative duties for the Warren County Youth Bureau, which will result in significant additional programming for youth being available for Warren County residents.
“What we will be able to provide to the residents and municipalities of Warren County will be bolstered by this relationship with the Washington County Youth Bureau. This is a win-win for the residents of both counties,” explained Christian Hanchett, Warren County Commissioner of Social Services.
This new arrangement is already paying dividends through additional offerings for young people in Warren County.
Among them are free lifeguard trainings (which began earlier this spring), assistance for community recreation programs, roadside cleanup events and cognitive-based intervention programs for at-risk youth. In the months to come, educational offerings about the dangers of “vaping” and intervention programs to assist families of at-risk children before they become involved in the Family Court system will be available.
In recent years, staffing issues resulted in Warren County Youth Bureau being able to offer a very limited amount of programming, instead passing New York State funding it received for youth services on to towns in the county to operate programs such as summer recreational initiatives. Even with this new bi-county collaboration, the town recreation youth programs will still continue to get this funding.
“Our intention is to continue recreation program funding to municipalities and to continue funding community-based organizations that serve Warren County youth,” said Mike Gray, Director of the Washington County Youth Bureau and the Warren County Youth Bureau.
The arrangement was approved by the Boards of Supervisors in each county as well as the New York State Office of Child and Family Services. There will no additional costs to residents of either county.
Samuel J. Hall, Fort Ann Supervisor and Chairman of the Washington County Board of Supervisors, said: “This bi-county collaboration will provide more opportunities to promote positive youth development in both counties.”
Kevin Geraghty, Warrensburg Supervisor and Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, said: “We are thankful for the inter-county cooperation from our friends and partners in Washington County, and are looking forward to being able to provide these beneficial services to the residents of Warren County.”
The Warren County Youth Bureau can be reached at (518) 746-2330. More information can be found at www.warrencountyny.gov/youth/programs.