5 Organizations in Ohio Focused on Helping Kids

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 11 December 2019

Children rely on adults for everything from food and shelter to love and emotional support. Caring for kids isn't always easy, especially if they have a chronic illness or disability or their families don't have the money or resources to give them all the opportunities they need to succeed. That's why the Ohio organizations listed here are dedicated to uplifting and supporting children and their families. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Ohio Groups That Improve Children's Lives

Organization Headquarters Location Mission
Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development Shaker Heights, OH Promote positive early learning experiences through educational and therapeutic services for children and parents, training and support for professionals, and community-wide collaborations
Flashes of Hope Chagrin Falls, OH Raise funds to accelerate a cure for children's cancer while honoring the unique life and memories of every child fighting cancer
Achievement Centers for Children Highland Hills, OH Empower children and adults with disabilities and their families to achieve their greatest potential
Providence House Cleveland, OH Protect at-risk children and support families through crisis, strengthening communities to end child abuse and neglect
Crayons to Computers Cincinnati, OH Work to level the playing field in the classroom by providing students in need with the tools to succeed in school

How to Encourage Kids to Read

A great way to start is to get a bookshelf for your child's room. If they have access to their own collection of books, it'll be easy for them to read at their own pace. And if they're looking at the shelf everyday, reading will always be on their mind. It's also important to give your kids a comfortable place to sit. This can be anything from a rocking chair to a couch to a dedicated reading nook. If they have a space that's just for them, it makes reading time all the more special. As they grow, your young ones will start to read more challenging books with words they don't know. Encourage them to look up unfamiliar terms in the dictionary so they can expand their vocabulary. Finally, if you're having trouble getting your kid interested in books in the first place, try bridging the gap between visual media and literature with graphic novels.

How Many American Children Live In Poverty?

Percentage of children ages 0–17 by family income relative to the poverty threshold, according to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics

Poverty Level 1980 1990 2000 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016
Below 50% of poverty threshold 6.9% 8.8% 6.7% 9.9% 9.8% 9.7% 9.3% 8.9% 8.2%
50% - 99% of poverty threshold 11.4% 11.8% 9.5% 12.1% 12.0% 12.1% 11.9% 10.8% 9.8%

Facts About Disabilities in America

How To Report Child Abuse

If you suspect or know that a child is being abused or neglected, you should report it as soon as you can. If someone is in immediate danger, you can call 911. Otherwise, there are national and local resources that can give you the help and information you need to report suspected maltreatment. The Child Welfare Information Gateway has a number of resources available on their website.

High School Graduation Rates By State

As of the 2016-17 school year, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics

State Graduation Rate State Graduation Rate
Alabama 89.3% Montana 85.8%
Alaska 78.2% Nebraska 89.1%
Arizona 78.0% Nevada 80.9%
Arkansas 88.0% New Hampshire 88.9%
California 82.7% New Jersey 90.5%
Colorado 79.1% New Mexico 71.1%
Connecticut 87.9% New York 81.8%
Delaware 86.9% North Carolina 86.6%
Florida 82.3% North Dakota 87.2%
Georgia 80.6% Ohio 84.2%
Hawaii 82.7% Oklahoma 82.6%
Idaho 79.7% Oregon 76.7%
Illinois 87.0% Pennsylvania 86.6%
Indiana 83.8% Rhode Island 84.1%
Iowa 91.0% South Carolina 83.6%
Kansas 86.5% South Dakota 83.7%
Kentucky 89.7% Tennessee 89.8%
Louisiana 78.1% Texas 89.7%
Maine 86.9% Utah 86.0%
Maryland 87.7% Vermont 89.1%
Massachusetts 88.3% Virginia 86.9%
Michigan 80.2% Washington 79.4%
Minnesota 82.7% West Virginia 89.4%
Mississippi 83.0% Wisconsin 88.6%
Missouri 88.3% Wyoming 86.2%

Transforming The Lives Of Children

In Depth

As much as we try to protect children from life's larger problems, the reality is that many kids are having to deal with the effects of serious illness, financial hardship, and abuse. Fortunately, there are organizations out there who are dedicated to helping kids who find themselves in these tough situations, and need our help. By donating to these groups, you too can help support these children in the time they need it most. In no particular order, here are five organizations focused on doing just that.

#1 on the list is Hanna Perkins Center for Child Development, a nonprofit partner that helps children understand and manage their emotions for success in school and life. The state-chartered Hanna Perkins School offers kindergarten, preschool, and parent/toddler programs as well as Epic, an early learning program for children with autism. The Hadden Clinic for Children & Families offers mental health assessments, counseling and therapy from birth to 18, and for new moms struggling with postpartum depression.

Hanna Perkins is a community partner of United Way of Greater Cleveland, which is committed to advancing education, income and health in the community. Hanna Perkins also works with other organizations, schools, child-care centers, and institutions to develop programs that provide mindful support for the emotional development of the children they serve. If you want to show your support, consider making a donation online, or contributing to its Annual Fund Campaign.

If you want to show your support, consider making a donation online, or contributing to its Annual Fund Campaign.

At #2 we have Flashes of Hope, a volunteer driven organization solely focused on childrens cancer. Every year, it provides free portrait packages to 5,000 children in 55 cities across the country. At the photo shoot, each child receives a Happy Pack filled with items that provide comfort and distraction from the monotony and isolation of a long hospitalization.

By organizing fundraising events like the Kick-It Program, Flashes of Hope also raises funds to accelerate a cure for children's cancer. It partners with respected national organizations to identify the most promising research projects and clinical trials across the country. If you want to show your support, consider sponsoring a Happy Pack and or Happy Pack items online. You can also purchase an authentic Puravida Bracelet. For every bracelet you purchase, Flashes of Hope will give a Puravida bracelet to a child with cancer.

#3 on our list is the Achievement Centers for Children. This Cleveland-based nonprofit empowers children and adults with disabilities and their families to achieve their greatest potential. Since 1947, the Achievement Centers' Camp Cheerful, located in Strongsville, Ohio, opened as Ohio's first camp with recreation programs for children with disabilities. There, children and adults with physical, developmental, and sensory disabilities are able to enjoy and benefit from typical camp activities in a barrier-free environment.

This Cleveland-based nonprofit empowers children and adults with disabilities and their families to achieve their greatest potential.

Achievement Centers for Children also offers pediatric therapy services for children and young adults with developmental, neurological, and physical disabilities to help reach their highest potential. If you'd like to help, consider making a cash donation by check or credit card benefits. Alternatively, you can donate therapeutic horsemanship items from its wish list.

Coming in at #4 we have Providence House. This organization is Ohio's first and one of the longest operating crisis nurseries in the country. Providence House provides free emergency shelter to children, newborn to twelve years old, actively living in crisis situations that place them at risk of abuse or neglect. During their stay, these children receive basic personal necessities, medical care, developmental and educational enrichment, and most important, unconditional love.

Its Certified Trauma Specialists also provide interventions and therapies to address the long-term impacts of trauma on child development and family dynamics. By partnering with nearly 100 public and private service providers in wrap services, Providence House also connects families to the resources they need to cultivate nurturing practices and encourage responsibility. If you'd like to help, consider becoming a Providence House childcare volunteer, or you can donate items directly through its Amazon Wish List.

By partnering with nearly 100 public and private service providers in wrap services, Providence House also connects families to the resources they need to cultivate nurturing practices and encourage responsibility.

For #5 we have Crayons to Computers. Since 1997, this organization has worked to give students in need the tools to succeed in school. Through its Teacher Free Store and Mobile Outreach Program, Crayons to Computers is able to offer a variety of materials that support learning, from basic supplies to enrichment and incentive items that motivate and inspire student engagement.

Its Crafts with Conviction program collaborates with incarcerated men, women, and youth who transform raw materials into products such as flashcards, journals, and book bags. Crayons to Computers also works with local knitters to create much-needed winter clothing items to help keep students warm during the bitter-cold months. You can help by donating money directly through the Crayons to Computers website, or by dropping off any of the school supplies detailed on its online wish list.