If you're someone who helps kids in the City of Poughkeepsie, leaders want to make sure you count. As Curtis Schick reports, the city is trying to keep better track of programs that help young people.

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This census is about counting, but not people, instead, programs that help kids.

The city kicked off its Youth Program Census Monday. It says it is looking for every program that serves Poughkeepsie's young people and says by finding out what is out there, it will be easier for kids to find the services they need.

"We really want to be making sure we are getting our bang for our buck," said Poughkeepsie Common Councilman Ralph Coates.

The city is paying an outside firm Development Without Limits to handle the count. Sam Quiah from the group says youth program funding has faced deep cuts and says this survey will also look for ways for organizations to find new pools of money.

"We want to make sure that the groups that are out there have the support that they need," Quiah said.

Quiah says the survey will also look at how organizations that do similar things can work together to cut costs. He says his two man team will be visiting every group it can.

Joan Henry of Mill Street Lofts says the idea is good one, but left Monday's meeting wanting more details.

"It did not sound that with two people, that it could be as comprehensive an inquiry that might be helpful. And I am not sure yet what they are going to do with the information," Henry said.

The organizers say the census officially will begin in the first week of June and if your organization wants to get counted, you should get in touch.