Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office to expand summer youth program

ALBANY – The Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office’s summer youth program is being expanded this year in the wake of the cancellation of another long-running summer program, and on Monday Sheriff Terron Hayes presented the price tag to the Dougherty County Commission.

A cost increase will come from hiring more staff to handle the increase in participants, the sheriff told commissioners during the Monday work session. 

“Our main priority was getting people paid to work,” he said.

The Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office Youth Summer Camp has traditionally operated largely with law enforcement officer volunteers from the sheriff’s office as well as the Albany, Dougherty County and Dougherty County School System police departments. With more children, the sheriff’s office is looking to hire more paid staff.

The estimated cost for 2026 is $70,860. 

“This program is free,” Hayes said “This is the only free summer program in Dougherty County and Albany. That is possible because of you.”

For 2026, the sheriff’s office is hoping to host some 175 to 225 children ages 7 to 14. Typically, almost half of the children are girls, the sheriff said.

Local residents associated with the National Youth Sports Program reported recently that the annual program hosted at Albany State University has been canceled for 2026. 

In response, the sheriff’s office, as well as the city of Albany, is looking at boosting the number of children it can accommodate with its program this summer. 

The Albany City Commission also has expressed interest in another look at a proposal from the United Way of Southwest Georgia to coordinate summer programs with an eye toward boosting participation.

Last week the County Commission announced that it would not be participating through the United Way, which requested $170,000 in funding, but would instead look to boost numbers in the sheriff’s program. Instead the county announced in a news release it will work to expand the sheriff’s program from 150 to up to 350 participants.

The program will run from June 1 through June 30 and will provide breakfast, lunch and snacks. Registration closed on May 18.

The United Way had requested funding of $170,000 from the county as its share of the proposed Albany summer collaborative.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler also is requesting additional donations this year to fund the Swim for Life program he launched in 2016 that offers summer swimming lessons to young people. 

Swimming lessons were a core component in the program held at Albany State, according to Fowler.

Looking at the sheriff’s proposal, Commissioner Russell Gray said that one way the county could cut costs is to ask area businesses that sell sporting goods to donate equipment needed for the summer program. That could defray some of the costs, Hayes said, but with the number of students, donations are not going to cover all of the items needed.

“We’re going to see what (businesses’) interest will be in this program,” he said.

Dougherty County Schools Superintendent Ken Dyer offered the use of one of five schools that will not be in use for summer school or other school-related activities, Hayes said. The sheriff’s office staff will make a decision on which site will work best, considering a central location to make transportation convenient for parents.

The summer program includes character education, the sheriff said.

“We feel good about this,” Hayes said. “We have a pretty comprehensive program.”

The commission could vote on the funding request later this month.