The New York State (NYS) Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has released this Request For Proposals (RFP) to solicit competitive proposals for a vendor to develop two websites that will each have an online application: one website to support the Chafee Funds Program – Beyond Foster Care (CFP-B) and another website to support the Education Training Voucher (ETV) program. CFP-B and ETV are federally funded and, generally, disseminate limited financial assistance to youth ages 18-23 (CFP-B) and ages 17-23 (ETV) who are aging out of foster care or formerly in foster care. Refer to Sections 2.1 and 4.1 for more specific information regarding the target population of these programs. The portals being sought via this RFP will provide the ability for eligible young adults to apply for the programs, as well as the ability to transfer funds to colleges/universities, vocational programs, and eligible young adults via electronic transfer, paper check, and/or the use of a cash card.

Component 1: Chafee Funds Program – Beyond Foster Care (CFP-B)

The Foster Care Independence Act was signed into law on December 14, 1999, and replaced the former Independent Living Initiative Provisions authorized under Title IV-E of the Federal Social Security Act. The law requires the provision of financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, and other appropriate support and services to youth who have left foster care because they attained 18 years of age, and made the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) funds available to support such services. OCFS receives an annual (Federal Fiscal Year) federal grant for the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and will use a portion of this grant to continue the statewide CFP-B program.

Component 2: Education Training Voucher (ETV) Program

The Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001, Public Law 107-133, were signed into law on January 17, 2002. Title II, Section 201, of the amendments, entitled “Education and Training Vouchers for Youths Aging Out of Foster Care,” amended section 477 of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, targeting additional resources specifically to meet the education and vocational or training needs of youth. The vouchers awarded to youth under the ETV program may be available to pay for the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education as defined in 20 U.S.C. §§ 1001 and 1002 and shall not exceed the lesser of $5,000 per year or the total cost of attendance as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1087ii (see 42 U.S.C. § 677(i)(4)).

Please refer to the RFP document on the "Documents" tab for additional information and submission requirements.