Westchester County Now Accepting Applications for Partnership for Inclusive Internships (PII) Program

Westchester County, in collaboration with The Arc Westchester and AHRC New York City, today announced it is accepting applications for its Partnership for Inclusive Internships (PII) Program. Through PII, interns with disabilities are placed directly within County departments to build professional skills in a supportive environment. All interns will receive approximately 320 hours of paid internship experience. Opportunities are currently available with the Westchester County Department of Mental Health, the Independent Office of Assigned Counsel, Senior Programs & Services, and the Office for Women. Additional internship opportunities will open for applications on a rolling basis.

Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: "Everyone deserve access to meaningful internship and job training opportunities that can help put them on the path to securing a job that is well suited to their skills and abilities. We are excited to offer inclusive opportunities in departments across the County and look forward to building a more inclusive workplace."

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Westchester County Director of Policy and Programs, Small Business and Chambers of Commerce Shari Rosen Ascher said: "The PII program is a wonderful opportunity for people with disabilities who want to make a difference to do so by working for County government. We are offering internships that provide real work experience and build an inclusive workplace model that our local businesses can emulate. This is an incredible opportunity to gain hands-on work experience, and I encourage all Westchester residents with disabilities to consider applying for this powerful program."

Westchester County Office for People with Disabilities Director Carin Horowitz said: "PII empowers individuals with disabilities to build workplace skills and progress towards their future employment goals. We have worked closely with the various County departments to build internships that are well-supported and give true work experience. The five internship opportunities that are currently accepting applications are incredible paid learning opportunities and I encourage interested parties to learn more about them."

The Arc Westchester's Senior Director of Employment Innovation Shari Lewitt said: "The Arc Westchester has a longstanding history of training and supporting people with disabilities to be successful in the workplace. The collaboration with Westchester County, with the support of our partners at AHRC New York City, offers a tremendous opportunity to expand and diversify the internship opportunities available for individuals with disabilities. We are excited to be accepting applications for the first PII opportunities and look forward to advancing this dynamic initiative."

To help make the placements as successful as possible for all parties, PII also provides support for participating departments, helping them build inclusive workplaces and strengthen their talent pipelines.

Individuals interested in applying for the PII Program can do so through The Arc Westchester's website. For more information and to apply, visit: https://arcwestchester.org/services/career-employment/pii-program/.

PII is a three-year program, running through February 28, 2029, and is funded by The Taft Foundation. It is a collaboration between Westchester County, The Arc Westchester, and AHRC New York City, focused on connecting individuals with disabilities to meaningful internships that help build a pathway to long-term employment.

For an up-to-date list of Westchester County's job fairs, and other skills training opportunities, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/events/.

About The Westchester County Office of Economic Development

The Westchester County Office of Economic Development works to improve the County's economic well-being and quality of life. This includes a broad range of activities to attract, create, and retain jobs, and to foster a resilient, pro-growth, and inclusive economy. For information, visit https://westchestercatalyst.com/.