ProKids Review

About ProKids

ProKids is a non-profit organization that has been serving the Cincinnati, Ohio community for over 35 years. The organization's mission is to recruit, train and support community volunteers to speak up for abused and neglected children in the court system as Court Appointed Special Advocates or CASA Volunteers.

The need for ProKids' services arises from the fact that every year, thousands of children in Cincinnati are victims of abuse or neglect. These children often end up in foster care or other out-of-home placements where they face numerous challenges such as instability, trauma and lack of access to basic needs like education and healthcare. ProKids' CASA volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that these vulnerable children have a voice in court proceedings and receive the support they need to thrive.

ProKids' approach is unique because it relies on trained volunteers who are not lawyers or social workers but ordinary citizens with a passion for helping others. These volunteers undergo rigorous training that equips them with the skills needed to advocate effectively for their assigned child's best interests. They also receive ongoing support from ProKids staff who provide guidance, resources and supervision throughout their volunteer journey.

One of the key benefits of ProKids' model is that it allows for personalized attention to each child's case. Unlike other professionals who may have multiple cases at once, CASA volunteers focus solely on one child at a time which enables them to build strong relationships with their assigned child and understand their unique needs better.

ProKids has achieved remarkable success over the years thanks to its dedicated team of staff members, board members, donors and volunteers who share its vision of creating a world where every child can grow up safe, healthy and happy. Some notable achievements include:

- Serving over 15,000 children since its inception
- Achieving an average reunification rate (returning children back home) of 70% compared to national averages ranging from 30-50%
- Increasing adoption rates by 50% through advocacy efforts
- Providing training opportunities for hundreds of professionals working in related fields

In addition to its core programmatic work supporting abused/neglected children through CASA advocacy services; Prokids also offers additional programs such as "Fostering Success" which provides educational assistance & mentoring services aimed at improving outcomes among youth aging out-of-foster care; "Guardian ad Litem" which provides legal representation & advocacy services specifically focused on custody disputes involving domestic violence; "Child Welfare Initiative" which advocates policy changes aimed at improving outcomes within Ohio’s Child Welfare System; among others.

Overall, Prokids plays an essential role in ensuring justice for some of society's most vulnerable members - abused/neglected kids - by providing them with dedicated advocates who fight tirelessly on their behalf within our legal system while also offering additional supportive programming designed specifically around meeting these kids’ unique needs holistically beyond just legal representation alone. If you're looking for ways you can make an impact locally here in Cincinnati - consider volunteering your time or donating funds towards this worthy cause!