Necco family powers foster care agency

Forget the superhero commercials on TV about becoming foster parents. An agency that now calls downtown Cincinnati home has spent decades placing children in foster homes and finding ways for them to plant stable roots in a sometimes chaotic world.

For more than 50 years, NECCO has provided services to children of all ages who have experienced neglect, abuse and in some cases both while in their homes. NECCO, now located in the Gateway District, has operations in four states, including Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Georgia.

Unlike government agencies overloaded with cases, NECCO partners with agencies like the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Youth Services to help children find foster care more easily.

Founded by the husband and wife team of Ed and Dorothy Necco, both experienced educators and administrators, Necco is truly a family affair. Twin children Beau and Wendy serve as the company's CEO and chief compliance officer, respectively. The Neccos understand that the foster care system is critically important and, when managed well, life-affirming.

"We conduct home assessments and studies for [potential foster parents]," says Dee Wiley Necco, who handles marketing for the non-profit. "We try our best to match kids with homes that can meet the child's needs."

Necco says that about 300 kids in Greater Cincinnati are currently working with her agency. In Cincinnati there are about 115 kids in care, and in Florence, roughly 162.

The primary concern at Necco is for the comfort and well-being of every child, from the moment they begin their intake procedures.
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"We welcome them then in, try to break the ice and establish trust early on," Necco says. "The most important thing is to ensure a feeling of safety of that child."

Do Good:

• Spread the word. Friend Necco on Facebook or find out more about Necco kids on the agency blog .

• Sell something on eBay. When you use Necco's charity link, you donate 10 percent of your sale price to benefit the non-profit.

• Consider being a foster parent. Contact Necco to find out more.

By Ryan McLendon

Photo courtesy Necco

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