Genesee, Orleans end long relationship with youth bureau

ALBION – Genesee and Orleans counties will no longer share services for a county youth bureau. For about 30 years, Orleans has paid Genesee to administer youth bureau services for Orleans using Genesee County staff based in Batavia.

But that will end on Dec. 31. The Orleans County legislature said the two counties made a mutual decision to end the agreement and run their own youth bureaus. Orleans County Legislators said it wasn’t due to litigation between the two counties over whether a sewer main can be constructed on Route 63 in Orleans County, with treated sanitary sewer from the STAMP manufacturing site going into the Oak Orchard Creek.

The Orleans County Legislature last week voted to create a new part-time youth bureau administrator. Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrator officer, will serve as the temporary youth bureau administrator until the position is filled.

The Youth Bureau administers funding to counties made available by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. The Youth Bureau contracts with agencies and municipalities to provide prevention, intervention and recreation programming.

Current Youth Bureau contract programs are Orleans Juvenile Adjustment Services, ARC Camp Rainbow, Hoag Library and the LIFE Program.

Youth recreation programs serve youth year round or during the summer months through drop-in programs and structured sports. The programs that receive state funds are Albion, Holley, Kendall and Medina recreation programs.