September 12, 2019 - Recognizing that vacant staff positions impede the mission of Westchester County’s nonprofit service providers, the Westchester County Executive’s Office, the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) are holding a Job Fair on Thursday, October 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
In delivering their broad array of programs to Westchester County residents, more than 75 different not-for-profits contract with Westchester County, through DSS and/or DCMH to provide community-based services to thousands of people across Westchester. More than 20 different potential employers, with over 400 open positions, will be participating.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “Westchester’s nonprofit providers are an integral part of our delivery system. They provide a vast array of the social services, mental health and substance use services that County residents need and rely on. Helping them recruit staff and fill job vacancies is one small thing we can do as a County government to ensure that they continue to provide the highest quality care.”
To bring together the nonprofit service providers with prospective employees, DSS and DCMH reached out to not only the contract provider agencies that work with the departments, but schools, colleges and universities across the County, as well as Not-For-Profit Westchester and other employment focused organizations, and members of the advocacy and faith-based communities.
Commissioner of DCMH Michael Orth said: “Not-for-profits are our partners in meeting the mental health and substance use needs of Westchester’s adults, children and families. Getting their job done means they need quality staff working day in and day out. By connecting these employers with prospective employees, we hope to help them better fulfill this mission.”
Commissioner of DSS Kevin McGuire said: “Statutes, regulations, and accreditation standards set the staffing patterns for many of the services DSS provides and contracts for. Not just regulations for housing or treatment requirements, but also the skills, education and even staffing ratios involved in providing services. We can ensure optimal effectiveness of our services when we make sure our providers have the staff they need.”