Youth Programming
The Community Development Division (CDD) supports a range of programming that helps prepare school-age children and youth for lifelong success. CDD prioritizes programs that serve low-income children and youth, especially those of color.
City-Funded Youth Programming
Programs apply to receive City funding through a competitive RFP process. City-funded programming includes:
- Multi-activity after-school and summer programs serving elementary, middle, and high school age children and youth.
- Topical or skill-focused small group programs such as leadership, culturally focused, gender specific, STEM, or LGBTQ+ programs serving elementary, middle, and high school age children and youth.
- Late-evening programs on weekends during the school year and/or on various nights in the summer, serving large groups of high school and middle school-aged youth.
Standards and Guidelines
City-funded school-age child and youth programs follow standardized expectations related to quality and program structure.
CDD looks to the MOST Effective Practices as a foundation of shared quality agreements with local providers. All CDD-funded school-age child and youth programs are also required to follow the guidelines and parameters included in the policy paper Building Human Capital: School-Age Child and Youth Development (accepted by the Common Council on June 11, 2019).
Youth Services Funding
Agencies can apply to receive funding to support youth programming through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process. RFPs typically run every few years. CDD has information and an anticipated timeline of upcoming funding processes on our Funding Opportunities page.