Tompkins County Youth Services Department

Tompkins County Youth Services Department logo

Our Mission:

The Tompkins County Youth Services Department invests time, resources and funding in communities to enable all youth to thrive in school, work and life.


Our Vision:

Tompkins County is a community where all youth are given opportunities which allow them to thrive from childhood to adulthood.


Our Core Values:

Vision: Seeing the bigger picture and planning for the future

Empowerment: Helping others to achieve their own success

Innovation: Continually searching for new approaches

Integrity: Commitment to honest and fair communications and interactions

Stewardship: Proper management of resources entrusted to our care


County Youth Services General Information:

Photo of County Youth Services Depatment building

If you have questions or concerns about a program receiving funding through the County Youth Services Department or are trying to find the right services to meet your needs or are interested in learning more about the Tompkins County Youth Services Department, please contact us.

The volunteers who serve on the Tompkins County Youth Services Board advise the County Legislature how to spend state and county funds available to support youth services.

We work with not-for-profit agencies that run programs for children, youth, and families and we help the local volunteers appointed by municipal governments who are responsible for planning and providing youth programs in every community within Tompkins County. For more information about please view our Department Brochure.

Annually, approximately 8,000 youth receive services through Youth Services funded programs.


Our Staff:

  • Kate Shanks-Booth:  Director
  • Theresa L. Albert:  Deputy Director
  • Richard Alvord:  Coordinator of Community Youth Services