The Wayne County Department of Aging and Youth is seeking applications from qualified non-profits or community-based organizations for youth team sports. This funding was enacted in the 2023-2024 state fiscal budget, to support youth team sports programs for underserved youth under age 18. This funding has been continued in the state fiscal budget for 2024- 2025. Youth team sports are grounded in the principles of positive youth development. It is intended to provide support to local team sports programs in communities where such programs may be scarce or under-resourced. The definition of “team sports” for this application is defined as an organized physical activity in which groups of two or more individuals compete with two or more opposing individuals. Sporting activities where individuals engage in competition on behalf of an organized group, including, but not limited to, team tennis, team golf, or racing sports such as swimming or skiing are included in this definition. YTS funding may be used for programming that provides opportunities for youth in under-resourced communities to learn and participate in team sports activities. This may include educational instruction necessary to prepare youth to participate in team sports. The target population for YTS funding includes but is not limited to the following: Under-resourced communities High rates of public housing or homelessness Opportunity zones or neighborhoods/areas deemed “low-income.” Marginalized communities or groups with greater barriers to participating in team sports (youth with disabilities, girls, transgender, gender non-binary youth, youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning.) Neighborhoods with higher rates of crime and poorer performing schools.
