By Peter Roos
Most of the advertisers in Paradise News over the years have fit into a few general categories, like Real Estate, Medical, Home Improvement or Entertainment. One of our favorite new advertisers in 2023, OurChildrenHaveRights.org, fits in none of those categories. Co-founders Jake Hornstein and Greg Hill started their not-for-profit organization to help children be properly parented, by providing education, resources, and support services for successful co-parenting strategies. They work full time at other careers, and take no compensation from their non-profit, yet spend their free time giving 950 one-on-one consultations via Zoom, FaceTime, phone, email, or text, and 300 document reviews, all at no cost, saving each client hundreds, totaling over $300,000 in savings for 2023.They also make themselves available for workshops and speaking engagements.
Children who grow up without access to both responsible and accountable parents are:
- 4 times more likely to live in poverty
- 9 times more likely to drop out of school
- 10 times more likely to abuse drugs
- 11 times more likely to have violent behavior
- 20 times more likely to land in jail
The goal of OurChildrenHaveRights.org is to make the often difficult challenge of establishing custody of a child, a seamless process for parents. Their efforts were recognized by Amplify Clearwater with 2023 “Launch” and “Community Spirit” awards. They got a small grant from Florida Kidcare and recognition from the Florida Coalition for Children, the Florida Juvenile Justice Association and Tampa Bay Thrives.
They aid the State of Florida by:
- Strengthening families to keep them off welfare
- Increasing public safety
- Lowering the burden on publicly funded programs. When child support is paid regularly, children’s custodial parents are less likely to rely on welfare, food assistance and Medicaid. Fathers who pay child support are more likely to be involved in their children’s lives.
Co-founder and COO Jake Hornstein says the organization’s success stories in Paradise News in 2023 helped them connect with new clients, including grandparents calling about a child’s kids as well as with donors helping them pay for their outreach.
Paradise News truly appreciates our partnerships with not-for-profit organizations like OurChildrenHaveRights.org, the five Chambers of Commerce to which we belong and local churches like the Island Church in Tierra Verde and Pass-a-Grille Community Church.