Thursday, July 30, 2020
12:30-1:30 PM
Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the expenditure of $2 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) for the Empowering Youth Program, which will allow the Department of Health and Human Services to fund summer youth programming as part of the State’s Invest in the Future Fund.
Empowering Youth Program funding is available for youth summer and fall programs. The summer programs may be transformed into afterschool or weekend programs when the school year resumes. Permitting programs that extend beyond the traditional summer break will incentivize the creation of opportunities that will serve as a bridge for students as they transition back to school in the fall. This format also allows providers to proactively explore alternative community-based programs, which could prove beneficial in the event that schools revert to remote or hybrid operations at some point during the 2020-21 school year.
The Empowering Youth Program is designed to benefit middle and high-school aged youth. The program’s incentives target providers that will either expand current programs to middle and high-school students or initiate new program opportunities for these age groups. Similarly, providers may access program resources to fund adolescent youth counselor positions within existing programs that are aimed at younger children. This will provide teenagers the opportunity to learn leadership and mentoring skills.
