The Domestic Relations Court appoints a GAL through Voices for Children, a nonprofit in Lorain County that recruits, trains, and supports volunteers to serve as Guardians Ad Litem (GALs). Court-appointed attorneys and social workers typically have high-volume caseloads making it difficult to give each child’s case the attention it calls for. The GAL works independently as the child’s voice in court, focusing solely on protecting the best interest of the child.
A $9,000 grant announced by the Community Foundation of Lorain County is supporting the work of Voices for Children, as part of its recent distribution of $860,646 to Lorain County nonprofits. The grant supports volunteer training and marketing for volunteer recruitment. Since 2002, the Community Foundation has awarded over $100,000 to Voices for Children.
“The grants from the Community Foundation of Lorain County have been a true blessing to our program and has given us the ability to ensure we are doing our very best to advocate for the children; recruit, train and further educate the volunteers in order to reach out to the children and speak up for their best interests,” said Timothy W. Green, Program Director of Voices for Children – Lorain County CASA Program.
Volunteer recruitment is critical, and Voices for Children needs volunteers to ensure that each child has an advocate. According to its 2017 annual report, 135 Voices for Children volunteers worked over 7,500 hours and advocated for 413 children in court, compared to 150 volunteers serving 415 children in 2016.
Those interested in becoming a volunteer can contact their main office on the second floor of the Lorain County Justice Center, 225 Court St. in Elyria, at 440-329-5158, or visit their website at www.vfclc.org. Volunteers who are male and/or people of color are especially encouraged to apply to become a GAL.
The Community Foundation also announced its distribution of $860,646 grants to nonprofits serving Lorain County. The complete list of grants follows.
The Community Foundation of Lorain County is a public foundation established in 1980 with income from endowment funds contributed by individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. The Community Foundation is an open and inclusive anchor institution that works to improve the quality of life for those living and working in Lorain County, Ohio. It responds to the changing needs of the community by making grants to local nonprofit organizations and giving scholarships to help local students. In 2017, the Community Foundation received over $5.8 million in gifts, distributed over $6 million in grants and scholarships, and ended the year with assets of $138 million.
Arts, Culture & Humanities ‑ $129,341
Center for Arts‑Inspired Learning
Digital Storytelling Residencies at Elyria Middle Schools ‑ $17,036
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Transforming Science and Health Education in Lorain County Schools ‑ $14,555
Credo
Music Outreach and Service ‑ $4,000
Great Lakes Theater Festival
2018‑19 Great Lakes Theater Education Programs for Lorain County Students ‑ $35,000
Lorain Historical Society
Community Conversations: Capturing Stories of The International City ‑ $10,000
Lorain Palace Civic Center
Roof repairs and Youth Theater program 2019 ‑ $25,000
The MAD Factory
Theatre Arts Based Programming ‑ $5,000
Northern Ohio Youth Orchestras
2018‑2019 NOYO Season ‑ $15,000
Spark Theatre Company
General Operating Support ‑ $3,750
Education ‑ $44,800
Atmosphere Adventures
Atmosphere Adventures Science Enrichment Project ‑ $15,000
College Now Greater Cleveland, Inc.
College Access Advising for Lorain County ‑ $20,000
Educational Service Center of Lorain County
Young Authors & Spelling Bee Programs 2018‑2019 ‑ $9,800
Environment ‑ $24,110
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Lorain & Elyria Schools Participation at Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center ‑ $14,110
Western Reserve Land Conservancy
Land Conservation activities in Lorain County ‑ $10,000
Health Care ‑ $118,995
Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center
Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing ‑ $15,000
Easter Seals Northern Ohio
Council on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation ‑ $3,995
Family Planning Services of Lorain County
Operating Support ‑ $50,000
Lorain County Free Clinic
General Operating Support ‑ $50,000
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention ‑ $65,000
Lorain County Safe Harbor Genesis House
Aftercare Program ‑ $50,000
Let’s Get Real Inc.
Independent Peer Support Services ‑ $15,000
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition ‑ $52,000
Lorain Co Lutheran Presbyterian Cooperative Ministries
Food Distribution and Community Assistance through Food Pantries, Hot Meals and Community Programs ‑ $10,000
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio
Increasing Food Resources for Lorain County and Child Hunger Summit ‑ $42,000
Youth Development ‑ $113,000
Achievement thru Community Education and Support
Youth programs ‑ $25,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County
School Year Teen Out‑of‑School Time Enrichment ‑ $30,000
Camp !magine
Camp Counselors/Camp Nurse 2019 ‑ $12,000
Great Expectations Ministries
Great Expectation Music Project ‑ $6,000
Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland
Programs for Lorain County students ‑ $15,000
Ohio State University Foundation
4‑H Positive Youth Development (Preparing Youth for Success) ‑ $25,000
Human Services ‑ $259,400
Achievement Centers for Children
Day and Overnight Camp Opportunities for Children and Adults with Disabilities ‑ $7,500
American Red Cross, Lake Erie / Heartland Chapter
Supporting Disaster Services in Lorain County ‑ $10,000
Catholic Charities Corporation
St. Elizabeth Center and Teen Parent Mentoring Program ‑ $80,000
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Basic Needs through Legal Aid ‑ $30,000
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
Volunteer Guardianship Program of Lorain County ‑ $23,000
Neighborhood Alliance
Haven Center Shelter and Senior Nutrition ‑ $60,000
Oberlin Community Services Council
General Operating Support and Emergency Assistance ‑ $30,000
Voices for Children
General Operating Support ‑ $9,000
YWCA of Elyria
Active Elders Project ‑ $9,900
Community Improvement & Capacity Building ‑ $50,000
Lorain County Urban League
General Operations and UYEP ‑ $40,000
Main Street Wellington
Operating Budget ‑ $10,000
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundation ‑ $4,000
Foundation Center Cleveland
Grant writing and fund development training for Lorain County nonprofits ‑ $4,000