Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc. (WestCOP ) is a private not-for-profit, multipurpose social service agency operating community programs to combat poverty and its adverse effects in Westchester and Putnam counties.
   Chartered in 1965, the organization each year receives more than 60 grants from corporations, government, foundations and individuals to sponsor numerous programs essential to the well being of the community's residents. These programs include 30 Day Care / Head Start centers, 12 Community Action Programs (CAPs), Substance abuse, Family living program, Homeless prevention and Assistance programs, Emergency food pantries, Surplus food distribution, Energy conservation and Weatherization programs and numerous employment and training programs. WestCOP services include a variety of special projects, such as the Foster Grandparents Programs, an Emergency Homeless Men's Shelter, Seniors in Community Services, Victims Assistance Services, Rape Crisis Services, a Rape Hotline, Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Community Services to the Elderly.
   The nucleus of the agency's operations is its neighborhood services centers (CAPs) which act as advocates for the poor and minorities by helping their constituencies to organize for the purpose of exerting influence on the larger community's allocation of resources and keeping their interests before local governments, and public and private agencies.
   The CAPs help the poor and the minorities to meet the needs, which they themselves identify, provide resources to neighborhood and community groups to secure professional and technical assistance and provide direct services to individuals who have no where else to turn.
   Our agency's mission is to mobilize and effectively manage resources that will help the low income and at-risk populations in Westchester and Putnam Counties become more self-sufficient.
   The main office of WestCOP is centrally located in Westchester with a staff of 40-50 employees who handle the complex administration details for more than 70 programs operating under the agency's umbrella. WestCOP employs more than 569 employees. These workers are supplemented by a number of volunteers that are dedicated to our goals and mission.
   The employees of WestCOP as well as the Board of Directors reflect the population they serve. The agency is guided by a Board primarily composed of concerned members of the community with representation from government, civic, business, and target residents themselves.
   WestCOP has serviced the community for more than 30 years. The agency's years of involvement and experience in community work have gained it the respect of government, business and community leadership. WestCOP has been able to adapt to the changing needs in the County and so target its work more effectively.
   There is an established working relationship of community people, government, business, civic leaders and service professionals. Such working relationships are found in operation at every level of WestCOP. Because WestCOP is a multi-service agency it is able to provide a more comprehensive approach to serving individuals and families and address interrelated concerns. The problems in any one of Westchester's 43 municipalities in varying degree affects directly or indirectly the quality of life of the entire County. It is from such a County wide context that WestCOP has developed as a program and now carries out its work. This work therefore benefits all who live, work and seek a better future in Westchester .