ProKids - "Standing Up for Foster Children Since 1981"

As parents, there are so many "firsts" that we get to experience with our children. They are the joy of our lives and we want to experience all those first moments with them. In turn, our children want us to share in their joy, console them if they are scared, and be there for them when we are needed. We are their safety net providing unconditional love and countless hugs and kisses. Unfortunately, for many local children this is not the case. Instead of a safe and secure home, their lives may consist of a series of unknowns, "what ifs" and broken promises. There are over 1200 children in the foster care system in Hamilton County alone. Many of these children have been so severely abused or neglected that the courts have to step in and remove them from their homes ⁽¹⁾. The heartbreaking reality is that these children may never be able to say goodbye to their friends, may be separated from their siblings and may not be able to have any of their personal possessions (a favorite stuffed animal, toy or book, a family photo, clothing) since they had to be removed from their home so swiftly in order to protect them.

Many of these children enter the foster care system not knowing if anyone is going to be there to look out for them or speak up for them. Although, many of us may think that foster care is the answer, the reality is that the foster care system is flawed. Abuse still happens, and many of these children only stay with a foster family for a short period of time. These kids may end up moving from one foster family to the next while continually changing schools. Think about how difficult it would be to try to "fit in" and make friends as you adjust to strangers and new surroundings. Academically these children lag behind and emotionally they struggle. Fortunately there is a wonderful organization, ProKids, that is there to help and support these children.

ProKids trains volunteers to be CASA's (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and they help the children feel safe, supported and cared for while working to place these children into safe and nurturing permanent homes in a timely manner. ProKids Community Director, Jennifer McKettrick, has worked with ProKids for over eighteen years. She is their main cheerleader continually trying to get the community more involved with ProKids and to "help people find ways that they can use their time and talents to help our children and to raise money for ProKids through our events". Caring and committed volunteers are what makes ProKids succeed. Jennifer states, "The heart of our program is our CASA volunteers. CASA volunteers work directly with a foster child. To be a CASA you need to have a flexible schedule and be able to devote 2 to 4 hours of volunteer work a week. The United Way categorizes this as one of the most challenging volunteer opportunities that they support. With the current economic challenges we could really use volunteers that could help us raise money. We have a variety of different activities already in place or you could have a car wash or host a bake sale." If you aren't able to commit to being a CASA, www.prokids.org has a very good outline of other ways you can get involved and Jennifer and the staff at ProKids are happy with any level of support that comes their way.

When asked what three things Jennifer would want the public to know about ProKids she responded," Primarily, I want people to know there is something that they can do. That they shouldn't assume someone else, especially the government, is taking care of these children. ProKids can turn their time, their knowledge or their financial help into a real difference not only for individual children but also for our community. Secondly, I wish people fully understood how much abuse and neglect affects everyone. That outside the emotional aspect of caring for these children the cost of doing nothing leads to these children growing up angry and abused. A high percentage of them will grow up to be criminals, teen mothers, homeless, uneducated, and re-abuse their own children; repeating the cycle for generations. Third, I'd like people to know that investing in ProKids works. Abuse and neglect stopped for 98% of the children that we served last year. And this is a percentage that we have maintained for over a decade." ⁽²⁾

If you aren't able to volunteer directly with ProKids, think about supporting them in other ways. On October 3^rd & 4^th, Natorp's will be hosting PumkinFest in support of ProKids. This is a FREE fun family-friendly event featuring crafts, games, face painting, treats, pumpkin patch pictures and a free pumpkin for all kids. Donations are welcomed. On November 7^th, make plans to attend the Perfect Party at the Mayerson JCC in Amberly Village. Jennifer states, "The Perfect Party is an evening of live music, silent auction, live auction, dinner and FUN!! There will be a 16 piece band, Under Cover, as well as a few more entertainment surprises. The menu is by the bite and catered by Funky's Catering - really yummy!" Although all their donations are not in yet, in the past they have enjoyed the support of hundreds of Cincinnati's best artists including Barbara Heimann, Michael Meyer, Pam Folsom, Jack Meanwell, and New York-based artist Michael Manning. They have offered relaxing vacations to Costa Rica, Hilton Head, Las Vegas, and Cancun. Both the silent auction and live auction have featured jewelry, painted furniture, golf and spa packages, Bengals' and Reds tickets, wine shipped direct from some of the best wineries in Italy, Rookwood pottery, catered dinners and much more. Starting in October their website will be updated weekly with what to expect. Tickets are available for purchase on line or by contacting their office to receive an invitation. You can also think about giving a donation as a present for someone for the upcoming holidays. They have these great decorated gift boxes with a certificate of donation placed inside. This "gift of hope" will make both the giver and the receiver proud.

I hope you will take the time to see the positive impact ProKids has had on foster children. To help them transition from living in a home filled with abuse and neglect to a permanent, nurturing home is all that they want to accomplish. In 2008, they were able to help 434 children and according to ProKids, "86% of the children were placed in permanent, safe and caring families after leaving the foster care system.^"(3) Those are results to be proud of and since 71 cents of every dollar raised for ProKids goes directly to the children, the ProKids volunteers should be thanked since they are the ones who dedicate their time, talents and treasures in order to help these children succeed and get placed in permanent caring homes. If you'd like to volunteer with ProKids, you can attend an informational "Snapshot" that gives a one-hour synopsis of what ProKids is all about and what you can do to help. They offer these weekly and your can register online or contact Glenna Miller at 513-281-2000 (ext. 101).

If you'd like to learn more about Jennifer McKettrick and see some of the children from ProKids, visit MasonMetu's Women to Watch page. You can also get more information on PumkinFest. I hope to see you there!

Sources: 1, 2, 3 - Prokids: http://www.prokidscasa.org/Media_Kit