Washington County NY Youth Bureau

10/28/2026

Calling all artists in their Junior and Senior year of high school!

We want to feature your art on posters and billboards across New York State.

Check out the details and send us your best work!

10/22/2026

NEWS FLASH: WASHINGTON COUNTY MUNICIPAL CENTER TO CLOSE ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026 FOR PUBLIC SAFETY / EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EXERCISE

Washington County, in collaboration with our New York State Police, New York State Office of Court Administration and New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services will be conducting a comprehensive Public Safety / Emergency Preparedness exercise at the Washington County Municipal Center (383 Broadway, Fort Edward) on Friday, October 23, 2026. Accordingly, the main Municipal Center Campus and ALL County Departments / Offices in Buildings A (including DMV), B (including Social Services) and C will be CLOSED for the entirety of the day to the members of our community for in person transactions to allow our team members and partners to safely conduct the exercise.

The exercise is designed to review and strengthen the county's response capabilities and best ensure the safety of our employees and those that visit our facilities during potential emergency situations. The exercise will include participation and support from local and state law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services from the Fort Edward Rescue Squad and the Department of Public Safety's EMS Division. Members of our community will see an elevated presence of emergency response vehicles and personnel at the Municipal Center during the exercise.

EMERGENCY COURT FILINGS & COURT OPERATIONS
Emergency filings for the Office of Court Administration may be filed up until 1:00 PM on that day at the Washington County Law Enforcement Center / Sheriff's Office at 399 Broadway, Fort Edward (rear of the Municipal Center Campus). After 1:00 PM, only County Court and the New York State Office of Court Administration offices located at the Municipal Center in Building C will be open to allow for scheduled County and Family Court actions and proceedings.

County Departments located at offsite locations at the Burgoyne Avenue Campus (Board of Elections, Public Health and WIC) and the Public Defender's office on Main Street in Hudson Falls will remain open to our communities and operating on a regular schedule.

We understand that closing our facilities and county departments for the day may be challenging for members of our community, we appreciate your understanding to allow our employees and First Responders the day to conduct these important training evolutions that are critical for our operations and communities.

We wish to thank Sheriff Murphy and our Washington County Sheriff's Office (NY) leadership team, the leadership of our Washington County, NY - Department of Public Safety team and our many state partners from the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services, Office of Court Administration and State Police for all of their assistance with the planning, coordination and ex*****on of this critical exercise.

Read the full News Flash on our website here: https://ny-washingtoncounty.civicplus.com/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/1670

10/22/2026

CHILD SEAT CHECK IN QUEENSBURY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21

If you want to make sure your child's seat is installed correctly, and that it's not the subject of a recall, our certified car seat technicians will hold their next free car seat safety check at Aviation Mall in Queensbury.

Our staff will be on hand in front of ADK Karting (the former Sears store) from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Come by to make sure you child's seat is protecting them fully.

Questions? Give us a call at 518-761-6580.

And if you can't make the event, call us to arrange a check that works for your family's schedule.

10/19/2026

10/19/2026

Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to process payments

10/07/2026

🎄 Need a little extra support this holiday season? Several local organizations are offering holiday assistance for families. The flyer includes information about toys, warm clothing, and Thanksgiving help, along with how to apply.

Please review each program’s requirements and apply to only one assistance program. You can contact the organization listed for more details.

Please share this post so it reaches families who may need it! ❤️

09/02/2026

Social Media Challenges:
Why are teens drawn in by social media challenges?
Teens’ brains are still developing. The part of the brain that handles rational thought, the prefrontal cortex, is not fully developed until the mid-20s. This means teens are naturally more impulsive and likely to act before thinking through all the ramifications.
The role of social media - rewarding outrageous behavior
Social media rewards outrageous behavior, and the more outrageous, the bigger the bragging rights. It’s a quick moving, impulsive environment, and the fear of losing out is real for teens. That environment plays into a teen’s underdeveloped ability to think through their actions and possible consequences.
Kids won’t necessarily stop to consider that laundry detergent is a poison that can burn their throats and damage their airways. Or that misusing medications like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and similar medicines can cause serious heart problems, seizures and coma. What they will focus on is that a popular kid in class did this and got hundreds of likes and comments.
The role of parents – building a better brain
As a parent, you can help your teen build intellectual muscle. Here's how:
• To start a conversation, ask your kids about the biggest challenges they’ve heard about in their circle of friends. Ask them (calmly and without judgment) what they think about the challenge. This helps build the skill of judging risk by talking about what could happen to someone who takes the challenge. You can still exercise your parental options such as limiting contact with certain kids or making specific activities off limits.

• If your child seems interested in participating in a challenge, use open-ended questions to encourage them to think through each step of the challenge. Ask them to consider the worst outcome. Ask them to think about why they would do it, and if it’s worth it. Are likes and comments worth hours in the emergency department?

• Be sure to "friend" your kids on social media. Staying in touch on their preferred communication platforms can help you keep in touch with what goes on in their day-to-day lives. Watch their stories for clues about what is going on in school and with their friends. Let your children know that if you pay for the device and the wireless network, they have to friend you in exchange.

• Sometimes kids are more willing to talk about their peers than themselves. Asking questions about school trends, friends and fads may yield more answers than direct questions about their own activities. No matter what, it is important to keep the lines of communication open and avoid passing judgment. Instead, calmly discuss the dangers in those choices.
For more information, please visit: Media - HealthyChildren.org

09/02/2026

How to Build a family media plan

Ask questions like:
• What do you like about social media platforms?
• How do you feel when you're on social media? And when I'm on social media?
• Have you seen anything concerning?

Help children understand:
• What's real and what's edited or fake.
• How to recognize ads or inappropriate content.
• How media and emotions connect.
• Make sure your kids know they can come to you about their experiences online.
Set a good example:
• Include your own habits in discussions about social media usage.
• When your attention is on your device, tell your kids what you're doing.
• Be kind to others online and talk to your kids about how you are using media for good.
• Know which platforms are age- and content-appropriate for your children.
• Set and follow safety rules for who we can chat with online.
• Set privacy settings at the most secure level.
Watch for warning signs, like if your child is:
• Withdrawing from social interaction and hobbies.
• Letting screen time interfere with physical activity, healthy eating or bedtime.

For More information on Social Media please visit: How to Build Healthy Digital Habits: 5 Tips for Families - HealthyChildren.org