Ennis Center For Children

What Ennis Center For Children does

Ennis Center For Children is a Michigan-based nonprofit child welfare organization founded in 1978 by Robert E. Ennis. It provides foster care, adoption, and related therapeutic and educational services to abused, neglected, abandoned, and at-risk children from birth through age 19, as well as support to their families. The organization serves more than 6,000 Michigan children and families annually, with more than 500 children in its foster care program on any given day, and operates physical offices in Genesee, Oakland, St. Clair, Saginaw, and Wayne counties while running a state-contracted Regional Resource Team covering 17 counties.

Its core service portfolio comprises foster parenting and adoption, specialized adoption for children with special needs, Treatment Foster Care for Wayne County adjudicated youth ages 13-17, a Community-Based Delinquency Program, Respite Foster Care, the Fostering Creativity therapeutic arts program for youth ages 5-21, the Jill Ennis Educational Center alternative school for expelled Wayne County high schoolers, and outpatient mental health counseling. The Jill Ennis Educational Center is co-located on the Covenant House Detroit campus.

The business model is structured as a contract-and-donation nonprofit. The primary revenue source is a direct services contract with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services covering foster care, adoption, and Regional Resource Team operations; this single state counterparty also functions as the principal referral channel for the population served. Services are provided free of charge to families. Supplementation comes from individual donations (PayPal, annual appeal, Legacy Circle of Giving for $100+ contributors), event-based fundraising (annual golf outing, summer picnic, holiday parties, sponsor-a-child program), and corporate giving channels (Kroger Community Rewards, GoodSearch, American Express Members Give). The organization is Council on Accreditation (COA) credentialed, holds 501(c)-equivalent tax-exempt status in Michigan, and is led by CEO Erin Covert with a board that includes representatives from Wayne State University, PNC Bank, Slalom, and the University of Michigan-Flint.

Name

Ennis Center For Children

Legal name

Ennis Center For Children, Inc.

Website

https://enniscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ennis Center For Children is a Michigan nonprofit founded in 1978 that delivers foster care, adoption, therapeutic arts, delinquency intervention, and alternative education services to over 6,000 abused, neglected, and at-risk children and families annually across five counties, primarily under contract with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare and Foster Care Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Homeless, Foster Care & Highly Mobile Youth Education Services (EDAJAEAG), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ)

Keywords

• Foster care services
• Adoption services
• Child welfare programs
• Juvenile justice services
• Mental health counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Contract with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services providing foster care, adoption, and related services. State funding covers core operations including foster parent recruitment, training, and support services.
2. Private Donations: Individual donations through PayPal, annual appeals, Legacy Circle of Giving program ($100+ contributions), and general fundraising campaigns.
3. Event Fundraising: Annual golf outing (33rd annual scheduled for June 2026), summer picnic, holiday parties, and sponsor-a-child programs generate donations from individuals and corporate sponsors.
4. Corporate Giving Programs: Kroger Community Rewards (NPO #91627), GoodSearch toolbar, American Express Members Give loyalty rewards donations.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ennis Center For Children delivers a comprehensive suite of child welfare and social services across Southeast Michigan, including foster care placement, adoption services, treatment foster care for adjudicated youth, community-based delinquency intervention, a free therapeutic arts program (Fostering Creativity), an alternative education center for expelled youth (Jill Ennis Educational Center), respite foster care, and outpatient mental health counseling. These services are provided free of charge to children and families in crisis, funded primarily by a state government contract with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and supplemented by private donations.

Product overview

Ennis Center For Children operates as a social services organization offering a comprehensive suite of child welfare programs centered around foster care, adoption, and therapeutic support services. The core offerings include foster parenting and adoption services, treatment foster care for adjudicated youth, the Fostering Creativity therapeutic arts program, community-based delinquency intervention, regional resource team support for foster families, respite care, the Jill Ennis Educational Center for alternative education, and outpatient mental health counseling. These programs work together to serve children from birth to age 19 and families in crisis across Southeast Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jill Ennis Educational Center: Educational center for high-school-aged youth (grades 9-12) expelled from public school in Wayne County who are involved in the Juvenile Justice system
• Fostering Creativity
• Regional Resource Team

Products and services

• Foster Parenting & Adoption Comprehensive foster care and adoption services providing children with safe, stable placements while supporting birth family reunification or permanent adoptive homes; serves children from birth to age 19 in Michigan.
• Adoption Services Specialized adoption services exclusively for children in the foster care system, including evaluation, advocacy for special needs resources, recruitment and training of adoptive families, licensing, placement, and post-adoption support.
• Treatment Foster Care
• Community-Based Delinquency Program Intensive services for Detroit-area delinquent youth and families including strength-based assessment, individual and family counseling, mentoring, educational tracking, and substance abuse services.
• Fostering Creativity Free therapeutic arts program for youth ages 5-21 affected by foster care or juvenile justice involvement, offering art therapy and creative activities facilitated by credentialed art therapists and music therapists.
• Regional Resource Team Contract through Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to recruit, train, and retain foster families across 17 Michigan counties, providing GROW training, support groups, and navigator services.
• Respite Foster Care Short-term foster care services providing temporary respite for foster families while children experience safe, enjoyable environments for a few hours, overnight, or up to 5 days.
• Jill Ennis Educational Center Alternative education program for high-school-aged youth (Grades 9-12) expelled from public school or involved in the juvenile justice system, providing second-chance educational opportunities.
• Outpatient Mental Health Counseling Outpatient mental health services including individual therapy for children, teens, and adults, family therapy, grief groups, and marriage counseling at multiple Ennis Center locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,000 children and families served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Council on Accreditation (COA)coreOthersEnnis Center displays the Council on Accreditation credential seal on their website and locations, indicating they have received COA accreditation for their programs and services. COA is an international independent nonprofit organization that accredits human services organizations.
• Michigan Department of Health and Human ServicescoreOthersState government contract holder. Ennis Center operates as a contracted agency for DHHS providing foster care, adoption, and Regional Resource Team services. This is the primary funding source and referral mechanism for services.
• Covenant House (Southwest) CampusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovenant House provides supplemental educational support services for youth with special education needs at the Jill Ennis Educational Center, which is located on their Detroit campus.
• Golf Outing SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors and advertisers for the annual Scramble for Kids Golf Outing fundraiser. Corporate sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available for the event.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan: Large regional social services agency providing foster care, adoption, counseling, and family services across Southeast Michigan. Comparable as a multi-service, government-contracted child welfare provider.
• Lutheran Social Services of Michigan: Michigan-based nonprofit offering foster care, adoption, refugee services, and behavioral health. Comparable as a state-contracted, multi-county child welfare provider with similar funding model.
• Samaritas: Michigan-based nonprofit providing foster care, adoption, residential, and family preservation services. Comparable to Ennis Center as a multi-county, multi-program Michigan child welfare contractor.
• Orchards Children's Services: Michigan nonprofit delivering foster care, adoption, and behavioral health services for at-risk children. Directly comparable to Ennis Center in service scope, target population, and state contracting model.
• Starr Commonwealth: Michigan-based nonprofit serving at-risk and adjudicated youth through residential, community-based, and educational programs. Comparable to Ennis Center's Community-Based Delinquency Program and Jill Ennis Educational Center.

Regional players

• Family Services of Western Michigan: Western Michigan-based child and family services nonprofit offering counseling, foster care, and adoption. Comparable service mix, but operates in a different region of Michigan than Ennis Center.

Broad incumbents

• Boys Town: National nonprofit providing residential, foster care, and community-based services for at-risk children and families. Comparable in serving adjudicated and at-risk youth with a wraparound service model.
• National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP): National nonprofit providing treatment foster care, community-based services, and juvenile justice programs across multiple states including Michigan. Comparable in adjudicated youth and treatment foster care focus.
• Bethany Christian Services: One of the largest U.S. foster care and adoption agencies, with deep Michigan operations. Directly comparable to Ennis Center as a state-contracted foster care and adoption provider serving abused and neglected children.

Others

• Detroit Urban League: Detroit-based social services and youth development organization addressing systemic issues affecting children and families. Comparable as a Michigan-based nonprofit serving vulnerable youth, though with a different programmatic focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EnnisCenter
• Xx.com/EnnisCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ennis-center-for-children

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ennis Center For Children