D.A. Blodgett for Children

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News and Events
	May is Foster Care Month!
	2008 PRIDE Training
	Special Needs Adoption Training
	Foster and Special Need Adoptive Parent Orientation

Quick Facts

Agency History:

Established as the first Children’s Aid Society in West Michigan in 1887 by the Blodgett and Clark families to care for children in our community who were “nameless, homeless, sick babies needing special nursing care and the children of parents who were temporarily disabled or without means.”
Built a nonsectarian children’s institution in 1908 on Cherry Street. Donated the building to Mary Free Bed Hospital in 1949 in recognition of D. A. Blodgett Home’s transition from an orphanage to a foster care/adoption agency. Building restored in 2007 to house Inner City Christian Federation. Present location built in 1957.
In 1910, D. A. Blodgett Home for Children became one of the first orphanages in the United States to recognize that children were best raised by families in the community, rather than in institutions and began placing children in foster and adoptive homes.
Purchased and developed Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan in 1917 as “a summer fresh air camp” for the orphans. Camp Blodgett became a separate, independent agency in 1952.
In 1917, D. A. Blodgett became a charter member of the Federation of Social Agencies in Grand Rapids which ultimately became the Heart of West Michigan United Way.
In 1965, started the Big Brother Program of Kent County and added the Big Sister Program in 1974.
In 2003, successfully completed first ever Capital Campaign by exceeding our goal of $3 million raised.
In 2006, COA reaccredited through August 31, 2010.

Recent Awards:

2007	Awarded our first ever Federal grant support for two BBBS initiatives
2005	The Standards of Excellence in Child Welfare Award – Kent County DHS
2002	Lead and 03/04 Featured Charity for the Grand Rapids Jaycees’ Farmers Charity Golf Classic
2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002	Child Welfare Agency Excellence Award-Foster Care/Adoption – Kent County FIA
2001	West MI Nonprofit Agency of the Year Award – Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
2001, 2000 and 1999	Best Foster Care Agency Performance Award – Kent County FIA
2001 and 1999	Best Adoption Agency Performance Award – Kent County FIA
2000	Best Adoptive and Foster Care Quality Services Award – Kent County FIA
1999	The Nonprofit Excellence Award – The West Michigan Direction Center

2007 Programs and Service Statistics:

1.	General Foster Care	372 abused and neglected children served
2.	Parent Therapist (Specialized Treatment) Foster Care	146 emotionally impaired youth served
3.	Young Delinquent Intervention Program	43 children and families served
4.	Special Needs and DCH Adoption Programs	85 children served and placed in adoptive homes
5.	Infant/International Adoption Programs	8 babies/5 International children placed
6.	Encouraging Family Foundations	173 young parents with children educated
7.	Post Adoption Support Services	10 families served
8.	Family Intervention Program	94 troubled adolescents and families counseled in-home
9.	Multi-Systemic Therapy	30 youth and their parents/families served
10.	School Based Outreach Services	254 youth and families served
11.	Kent School Services Network	in 14 elementary schools 8 Community School Coordinators in 8 schools
12.	Pregnancy Support Services	96 adolescent and pregnant woman counseled; 59 mothers mentored by a Sisters In Support volunteer
13.	Big Brothers Big Sisters	696 active and assigned volunteer matches; Community Based 422; School Based 274
14.	Amachi Mentoring	64 children matched with recruited volunteers
	Total Services:	Over 2,500 disadvantaged and abused children and families served per year throughout West Michigan.

2007 Funding:
7.6 million

Sources:

Agency Board:
24 people representing the strengths, skills, and diversity of the Greater Kent County Community.