Saying “Yes” to Children in Foster Care CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS OF PROKIDS By: Sarah L. Flohre
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orty years ago, ProKids was started to advocate for the “The Junior League – they were the first people to say ‘yes’ to then four thousand children in the child welfare system our kids,” writes Tracy Cook, current Executive Director of in Hamilton County. Frustrated with the number of children ProKids. “Without them coming forward we may never have needing homes and the length of time launched and been able to grow for a child might stay in foster care in Ohio the last four decades. Junior League (at the time ProKids was founded, members were also our first class of “The Junior League - they “the average length of temporary CASA volunteers and we’re proud to were the first to say ‘yes’ to placement was six years,”) Darlene be a part of Junior League history.” Kamine of the Young Lawyer’s Section our kids, without them coming And grown they have – in 2020 alone, of the Cincinnati Bar Association and forward we may never have ProKids served over one thousand Judge David Grossman of Hamilton launched and been able to grow youth in foster care in Hamilton County Juvenile Court designed the County (Cite: ProKids website). for the last four decades.” project that would become ProKids Congratulations to ProKids on four and approached the Junior League decades of service, and stay tuned of Cincinnati for support. ProKids for more information on how you assigns a trained volunteer (a Court Appointed Special can volunteer with ProKids as a CASA as they are planning Advocate or “CASA”) to children who have been adjudicated to host a virtual session for interested Junior Leaguers in dependent, abused or neglected. The Junior League the near future. You can also find out more information on contributed $75,000 and agreed to provide the first class their website at www.prokids.org. of volunteers1. 1
Cite: ProKids: A Project of the Junior League of Cincinnati
Junior League of Cincinnati
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