Niagara County Youth Bureau

05/29/2026

The Niagara County Youth Bureau is the recipient of funding from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services related to: Youth Development Programming, Youth Sports Programming and Runaway and Homeless Youth Funding.

Funding for the new program year begins October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Eligible Grantees: The following organizations are eligible to apply for funding through this RFP: not-for-profit including, but not limited to, secular and faith-based, organizations operating in Niagara County; Niagara County municipalities (cities/towns/villages); and partnerships or consortia consisting of the foregoing.

Programming and/or services must be provided within Niagara County, with the exception of occasional trips outside of the County, with prior approval granted by the Niagara County Youth Bureau.

Interested organizations should reach out to the Niagara County Youth Bureau for application and eligibility questions. Applications are due on August 7, 2026 and can be found on https://www.niagaracounty.gov/departments/s-z/social_services/youth_bureau.php

Please email [email protected] for information.

04/14/2026

The sensory room grand opening is scheduled for Friday, April 17, during the National Week of the Young Child. The room will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and welcomes anyone interested in learning more to come in and take a look at the space.

Sensory rooms hours of operation and program information are available at https://www.niagaracounty.gov/departments/a-f/children_with_special_needs/children_with_special_health_care_needs_program.php or by contacting the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program at (716) 278-8194.

04/07/2026

Niagara County Youth Bureau Accepting Applications for the
Summer Food Service Program

The Niagara County Youth Bureau will return as a sponsor for the 2026 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This program ensures that children who are economically disadvantaged continue to receive nutritious meals during summer vacation.

The Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded program (funded by USDA and administered by the New York State Education Department [NYSED]) that provides free meals to all children at approved SFSP sites. Meals (including breakfast and/or lunch) are provided to children age 18 and under.

Applications are now being accepted from prospective Summer Food Service Program sites. Approved sites will receive meals during the program, which plans to run from June 29th to August 28th. Site requests are individualized, including meals needed and program dates.

If your organization, summer day camp or youth program is interested in serving as a SFSP site, please contact Benjamin Bunker, Youth Bureau Director at 716-278-6872 for more information. Deadline for site applications is Friday, April 24th.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, s*x, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, s*xual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request a form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities, may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

02/26/2026

Very grateful for Lewiston Kiwanis and their annual contribution to 28th Annual Kidz 'N' Kites, along with all the other great things they do throughout the community!

This evening the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston welcomed Ben Bunker, Director of the Niagara County Youth Bureau. Ben discussed the planning his department was doing for the 28th Annual Kidz ’n’ Kites which will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 11 until 2 PM at the Town of Niagara Veterans Memorial Park. The Lewiston Kiwanis is proud to support this community event which allows over 500 kids to fly kites, have a free lunch, and to win some prizes. Please consider joining them next September 19!

09/18/2025

Check out this Foster Care learning opportunity in WNY!

09/18/2025

09/04/2025

27th Annual Kidz ‘N’ Kites Event to Take Place on September 13

The Niagara County Youth Bureau and the Niagara County Department of Social Services are pleased to announce the 27th Annual Kidz ‘N’ Kites event will take place on Saturday September 13, 2025. This year, the event will return to Veteran’s Memorial Park in the Town of Niagara, located at 7000 Lockport Rd.

The event will take place from 11:00am - 2:00pm, with first come, first serve registration beginning at 11:00am. The first 500 youth will receive a free kite, t-shirt and hot-dog lunch. The Great Lakes Kitefliers will provide fantastic scenery of flying kites and volunteers are present to help kids fly their own kites. The event is a great opportunity for parents and their children to work together to fly their free kite.

“We enjoy putting this annual event on for our community year after year and it has become a staple of the calendar for many families,” said Youth Bureau Director Ben Bunker. “The event is sponsored by community organizations and local businesses to make it 100% free for youth.”

Longtime partners the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office will be providing Car Seat Safety checks on location, while Niagara PAL will be cooking up the hotdog lunches.

Entertainment will be provided by Nels Ross from Injest Inc, who has showcased his juggling magic for over 25 years.

For more information, please find the Niagara County Youth Bureau on Facebook or search for the “27th Annual Kidz ‘N’ Kites” event page.

09/02/2025

Would you like to learn how to become a foster parent? There is always a need for loving families to provide temporary or permanent homes to Niagara County children in need. Foster parents must participate in both initial and on-going training in order to receive initial and on-going certification, and receive monthly stipends to cover the costs of a child’s food and shelter.
CALL 716-278-8608

For more information about foster care or adoption click on https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/fostercare/
To begin the process of becoming a foster parent, visit https://family.binti.com/users/signup/niagara-county-department-of-social-services-initial

08/28/2025

For more information about foster care or adoption click on https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/fostercare/
To begin the process of becoming a foster parent, visit https://family.binti.com/users/signup/niagara-county-department-of-social-services-initial