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Out-of-School Time RFP
to be released July 2012!
Local communities will have an opportunity to secure funding up to $45,000 for sports, tutoring, college preparation, arts, or other out-of-school-time offerings for youth, as part of an effort to expand needed after-school and summer programming countywide. Cities, school districts, and other community coalitions are encouraged to begin planning now, to be ready for a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will be issued in July 2012.
This expanded youth development initiative is a response to the NYU study on youth development commissioned last December by the County Executive. "We are pleased to be working with our community partners to ensure we are investing in effective out-of-school time programs that meet the whole needs of our children," says County Executive FitzGerald.
"Most communities need more options for safe, healthy ways for children to spend their time when they are not in class, and that problem is increasing due to school cuts and family income losses," says Robin R. Martin, Program Director of the Family & Children First Council, the county agency that will provide the funding.
Starting Point, a local resource and referral agency for childcare and after-school programs, will issue the RFP to fund out-of-school-time programs in 28 communities throughout Cuyahoga County, allocated across the City of Cleveland and inner- and outer-ring suburbs.
Communities must apply as a consortium that includes schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, elected officials, parents, and youth, with a proposal based on a planning process that also includes residents, social service agencies, and local businesses.
Starting Point will negotiate performance-based contracts with awarded vendors, with the goal of services beginning in September 2012.
Anyone interested in learning more about the community planning process required for the RFP can submit written questions to rmartin@cuyahogacounty.us, or review the online Q&A.
For the original announcement, visit the Cuyahoga County Executive's webpage. | 
