All Rochester Youth Year projects fall under one of the main themes listed below.
EDUCATION
Rochester Youth Year will give priority to projects that support or facilitate equitable access to services and resources that contribute to improved educational outcomes for Rochester youth.
Projects should focus on:
- School readiness for economically disadvantaged young children
- K-12 success in student educational and behavioral outcomes in low-achieving schools
- Post-secondary success for underrepresented students
- STEM education programs that build partnerships between students, faculty/staff, and community partnerships to bolster the number of underrepresented students who obtain STEM degrees
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Rochester Youth Year will give priority to projects that support or facilitate access to services and resources that improve economic well-being and financial security for Rochester families.
Projects should focus on:
- Financial literacy: Improving access to services and benefits aimed at contributing to enhanced financial literacy
- Employment: Improving or creating job skills training programs that lead to increased employment
- Housing: Transitioning individuals into or helping them remain in safe, healthy, affordable housing
HEALTHY FUTURES
Rochester Youth Year will give priority to projects that meet health needs, including access to food resources and health care.
Projects should focus on:
- Obesity and food access: Improving access to nutritious food to counteract hunger, particularly through inter-generational food programs
- Access to health care: Connecting individuals to preventative and primary health care services, particularly through culturally-relevant services, wrap-around support, and insurance coverage assistance
Rochester Youth Year will also accept projects focused on supporting veterans and military families.