Who We Are

The ACT for Youth initiative in Monroe County is a collaboration between Rochester-Monroe County’s Youth Bureau and the City of Rochester’s Bureau of Recreation. This positive youth development initiative works to strengthen and support Monroe County’s Community Asset Partner Network (CAPN) and Rochester-Monroe County’s Youth Voice, One Vision (YVOV) youth council.

CAPN is a county-wide network that links asset initiatives in the suburban towns and villages in Monroe County and in the City of Rochester. The network has over 25 active members and meets the first Thursday of every month to network, share resources and work on annual events. CAPN membership is open. For more information, contact Melanie Killian, ACT for Youth Coordinator, at (585) 428-7371 or Joan Bickweat at the Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau, (585) 753-6464.

YVOV is a city/county youth council that was created by youth to bridge the city with the county; to encourage youth interests in civic planning, developing youth/adult partnerships, and building the skills to interact with public officials; and to create activities to educate one another on the importance of civic involvement. YVOV has nine elected youth officers and an estimated 80 active members, ages 6 - 18. To get involved, call YVOV at (585) 428-7371.

Goals for Monroe County's ACT for Youth Initiative

 

Increase Opportunities for Young People By: 

  • Strengthening sharing and linkages between members of CAPN and YVOV

  • Increasing diverse city sectors/organizations/individuals involvement in the CAPN

  • Developing a plan to address safe pathways to create opportunities for youth to participate

Increase Youth Engagement and Youth Voice By: 

  • Increasing opportunities for participation in YVOV’s “Steppin’ Up to Solutions” youth conference

  • Working with YVOV to develop legislative connections to different branches of government

  • Engaging youth in assessing the quality of youth programming offered in the community

  • Exploring opportunities for youth as decision makers

  • Expanding Youth As Resources grant making capacity and sustain board membership 

Create Organizational Change Reflecting Positive Youth Development By: 

  • Strengthening local youth services organizations’ ability to integrate, infuse, and apply positive youth development principles

  • Strengthening local front-line and mid-level staff knowledge, competencies and skills to apply positive youth development in their day-to-day work with youth

  • Providing opportunities to assess quality program offerings in youth serving organizations

  • Educating the larger community of adults, programs, and organizations on the benefits of asset building and promoting positive youth development

Promote Community Policy Changes Reflecting Positive Youth Development Principles By:  

  • Encouraging local funders who fund in the youth arena to incorporate the language and principles of positive youth development in their funding guidelines and priorities

  • Working with CAPN and YVOV to target policy/procedure changes in mutually identified areas

  • Developing a media campaign with the Ad Council to engage more adults positively in the lives of youth

Youth Voice, One Vision Partners

Adams Street Rec Center
Avenue D Rec Center
Boys and Girls Club
Campbell Street Rec Center
Carter Street Rec Center
City of Rochester Bureau of Recreation Program Development Office
Edgerton Community Center
Field Street Rec Center
Flint Street Community Center
Gardiner Rec Center
Humboldt Rec Center
Metro Council for Teen Potential
Nazareth College
North Street Community Center
Rochester-Monroe County Youth Bureau
South Avenue Rec Center 
St. Joseph’s Villa 
Teen Empowerment
Webster Avenue Community Center
Youth As Resources

Community Asset Partner Network

Brighton Parks and Recreation
Brockport School District and Recreation Department
City of Rochester, Bureau of Recreation and Youth Services
Cornell Cooperative Extension - Monroe County
East Rochester Youth Activity Center
Fairport School District
Gates Chili Central School District
Genesee Valley BOCES
Greece Parks and Recreation
Henrietta Youth Bureau
Hilton/Parma Recreation
Honeoye Falls-Lima School District
Irondequoit Parks and Recreation
Metro Council for Teen Potential
Monroe County Health Department
Penfield School District
Pittsford Parks and Recreation
Rochester After School Academy
Rochester Area Community Foundation
Spencerport Family Support Center
Town of Wheatland
United Way of Greater Rochester
Webster Parks and Recreation
Youth Services Quality Council

Links

www.monroecounty.gov

www.cityofrochester.gov

www.search-institute.org

www.yvovrochester.com

Contact

Melanie Bloodworth
ACT for Youth Coordinator
Rochester Parks & Recreation
(585) 428-7371
bloodwom@cityofrochester.gov