Agency Details:

D.A. Blodgett For Children

The mission of D.A. Blodgett for Children is to enhance the well-being of children and their families by providing them with traditional and innovative programs that will assure them the best opportunity to realize their potential as human beings.

Description:
D.A. Blodgett for Children is a child welfare agency that serves 2,000 children per year. We provide children in Kent County with loving homes offering stability and structure. For the past 37 years D.A. Blodgett Services has managed the area's Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The agency provides an on-site clinic, foster care, adoption, mentor programs, and a variety of ways to donate time to serve children and families in the community.

History:
D.A. Blodgett for Children is the area's oldest child welfare agency, established more than 115 years ago. The agency was far ahead of its in time when, in 1910, it made the decision that children are better served in foster homes than in an institution and began moving children out of its orphanage and into the community. Still true to that vision, D.A. Blodgett currently serves 2,000 children per year. In 1917 the agency became a charter member of the communities' first United Way, and in 1965 the agency collaborated with the United Way to organize a Big Brothers Big Sisters program. To this day, D.A. Blodgett continues to operate the Big Brother Big Sisters program for all of Kent and Eastern Ottawa County matching 500 children a year with an additional 400 children always waiting. D.A. Blodgett Services was named Best Foster Care and Adoption Performance Agency by the Kent County Family Independence Agency in 2000, and in 2001 was chosen as the Non Profit Agency of the Year by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

Contact people:

Greg Cooper, (phone) General Agency, (phone) Mary Lou Bomgaars, Foster Home Licensing Supervisor, (phone) Ron Apol, (phone) Mary Jo Sabaitis, (phone)

Office fax number: (616) 451-8936

Address:

805 Leonard NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.dablodgett.org

Directions:

D.A. Blodgett for Children is located on the North side of Leonard Street NE between College and Diamond. We are directly across the street from Vitale's restaurant.

Last updated on October 13, 2009