Office for Children, Youth & Families

Purpose 

The Office for Children, Youth and Families exists to engage the community in OCYF programs, initiatives and workshops, and to connect residents to resources and services to meet their needs. 

OCYF seeks to promote, support, and facilitate partnerships and programming within the community to provide citizens with the resources, supports, and access to services that they need to thrive and succeed.  The mission is achieved by fostering collaboration among community partners that are working meeting the salient needs of the community.

OCYF oversees the Office on Aging and the Division of Youth Programs, both of which partner with internal departments and external organizations to serve seniors and youth respectively.    OCYF is also a local affiliate of the international Youth Volunteer Corps organization.  

The Office on Aging seeks to respond to the needs of seniors, and to offer community workshops and conduct outreach to make seniors aware.  Reach out to Jamie Roper at 843-577-1306 if you are in need of assistance, or would like more information on upcoming workshops and events.

For more information on the programs of the Division of Youth Programs, visit here.

Major Events and Initiatives

First Day Festival

The First Day Festival is a celebration of education that brings families and children together the Sunday before school starts for a fun day of free activities, information on community and school-based services, and free school supplies.

Annual Youth Summit

The Youth Summit is planned and facilitated each year by high school students serving on the Mayor's Youth Commission.  Students meet with Mayor Tecklenburg to discuss the topics and issues that are relevant today, and plan a summit to engage their peers from Charleston County High Schools in discussions on those issues.  Youth interested in serving on the Mayor's Youth Commission can contact Jennifer Gorham at gorhamj@charleston-sc.gov.

Bank On Charleston Coalition

Through the Bank On Charleston Coalition, we seek to provide residents with access to safe affordable bank accounts and to financial literacy resources and services.  The mission of Bank On Charleston is to equip adults and youth with skills and knowledge to achieve their financial goals.  Bank On Charleston is part of the national Bank On Initiative led by the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund.  For more information, visit www.bankoncharleston.org.  Additional information on our partners is available here.