Our Children
Founded in
Flint, Michigan in 1978, Robert Ennis established Ennis Center for Children with only $6,000, which he borrowed from a friend, and a commitment to 33 children. Today, Ennis Center provides foster care, adoption, and related support services to more than 2,500 children and families each year, and is the largest African-American founded nonprofit organization in Michigan.Some children, like Abe, who came to us straight from the hospital at just two-days old, have a long history of domestic violence in their home. The latest incident was two weeks before he was born when his mother was beaten nearly to death by her boyfriend, the baby’s father.
Sometimes, horrible abuse is discovered. Eight-year-old Kayla had numerous scars on her legs and behind from being whipped with extension cords, boards, and house gutters by her father, who is being criminally prosecuted.
By providing an array of support programs such as mental health, delinquency, reintegration and post-adoption services, Ennis Center addresses a child’s problems at the roots to prevent future trauma. This commitment to each child’s welfare is evident in our organization’s mission: with the support of the community, we preserve families when possible and create new families when necessary. All programs are based on a strength assessment model and promote family stability and family reunification whenever possible.
