***PRESS RELEASE*** WESTCHESTER COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU INVITES COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR THE INVEST IN KIDS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR YOUTH SERVICES.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY YOUTH BUREAU INVITES COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO APPLY FOR THE INVEST IN KIDS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR YOUTH SERVICES.

(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Executive George Latimer and the Westchester County Youth Bureau are pleased to announce the release of the 2020 Invest In Kids Program (“IIK”) Request for Proposals (RFP). The Bureau is requesting proposals from qualified community-based organizations that will be contracted to provide innovative positive youth development services, and opportunities and supports for “at-risk” youth ages 21 and under. Proposers may apply for up to $46,000 to deliver offerings that are youth-centered and responsive to both youths’ needs and interests.

Established in 1993, the IIK program legislatively prioritizes “at risk” youth ages 21 and under in eleven urban communities: Elmsford, Greenburgh, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Ossining, Peekskill, Port Chester, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, White Plains and Yonkers. However, given the recent demographic and socio-economic shifts throughout Westchester County, justification for service provision to at-risk youth residing outside of the eleven targeted communities are taken under consideration in this RFP.

Executive Director of the Youth Bureau Dr. DaMia Harris-Madden said: “The new vision of the Youth Bureau includes an equity lens, which affords the opportunity to contract with providers who are culturally responsive and prepared to provide the highest quality of services to the most vulnerable children and youth. Not only do we rely on the community-based agencies to help us identify the physical, economic, social, institutional and/or other challenges that adversely impact Westchester County’s youth, but to implement effective programming that will address salient youth needs, fill service gaps and demonstrate impact over time.”

Details and instructions for the Invest In Kids RFP can be found at the Westchester County Youth Bureau’s webpage at www.westchestergov.com/youthbureau. An informational presentation has been posted on the Westchester County Youth Bureau website, which can be viewed at any time.

The proposal must be delivered in person and received at the Westchester County Youth Bureau, 112 East Post Rd., 3^rd Floor, White Plains, NY 10601 no later than September 6 at 2 p.m.  Late and/or incomplete proposals will not be accepted.  Details about this and other RFPs are available at www.westchestergov.com/rfp