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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2009

Contact: Tara L. Martin | TaraM@westchesterlegislators.com | 914-995-2016
(office) | 914-380-0931 (cell)

CHAIRMAN
RYAN SECURES FUNDING FOR CRUCIAL YOUTH PROGRAMS IN WHITE PLAINS

Ryan secures over $150,000 in county funds needed to meet
the needs of White Plains
youth

(White Plains, NY)
– To save vital youth programming, Chairman Bill Ryan (D, I,
WFP-White Plains) and the Board of Legislators approved $150,000 over the next
three years for the city of White
Plains.  These funds will support “Step
Up!”, a unique training/mentoring youth development program, designed to
foster better relationships between law enforcement and at-risk youth. 

Launched as a local
youth initiative program in 2006, modeled after a Juvenile Justice Delinquency
Prevention, Step Up! has quickly become a critical component of the
city’s efforts to combat gang activity and street violence.  Once
youth become engaged with the program, they receive individual case management
and wraparound services to address such risk factors as truancy, poor school
performance, substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness concerns and family
separation issues.   

“Today’s
youth face many challenges,” said Ryan.  “In just a short
time, White Plains’
Step Up! has become the very best program of its kind in Westchester.
Programs such as these do a tremendous job in keeping kids out of trouble and
off the streets.”  The Step Up! program has serviced more than 110
young people between the ages of 14-21. Some of the program’s most
surprising successes are that 80% of youth within the program go on to college
and that 90% of youth becoming employed through the summer youth employment
program.

As the fiscal
crisis deepens, now more than ever, the County Board
is doing everything possible to help local government preserve vital resources
and programs for youth.  Providing our kids with high-quality youth
development and delinquency prevention programs and helping families to keep
their children safe and engaged in positive and productive activities are
important priorities of the County
Board.

###

Additional
news available at www.westchesterlegislators.com/mediacenter

________________________

Tara
L. Martin
Press Secretary

Westchester
County Board
of Legislators
148 Martine Avenue,
8th Floor
White Plains, NY  10601

Tel:  (914) 995-2016

Fax:
(914) 995-3884

Mob:
(914) 380-0931
Email: TaraM@westchesterlegislators.com

Please be sure to sign up for our e-newsletter and receive
additional news available at www.westchesterlegislators.com/MediaCenter