The New York State (NYS) Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) and Community Multi-Services Offices (CMSOs), are seeking information and collecting input from interested parties regarding the opportunity for qualified entities to provide venues, coordination, and meals to host community-based Family Nights for OCFS-placed youth and their families.

DJJOY’s goal in issuing this RFI is to collect information from organizations that can:

• provide a culturally diverse buffet style meal
• arrange for a safe and inviting venue
• communicate with OCFS DJJOY and CMSO staff relative to menu and venue
• host up to 40 people per Family Night Dinner (these numbers will vary slightly based on youth population in each region)
• coordinate Family Night Dinners with CMSO staff once a month for up to a total of 24 months

DJJOY endeavors to enhance their engagement with families and parents by offering monthly family night dinners. Family night dinners would be hosted by vendors in the community and would be a safe space that encourages family attendance and participation. These family night dinners would include a sit-down meal for youth, their families, and CMSO staff, with the hope that the gatherings will help to build rapport and trust and lead to better participation and involvement in aftercare programming.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or an Invitation for Bid (IFB), or a promise to issue an RFP or an IFB.

Please see the RFI document for additional information and submission requirements.