We strengthen children in
foster care and empower the families
who care for them.

Our Mission

Empowering Georgia’s families and communities to transform the lives of children impacted by foster care. 

Our Vision

Every child has a safe, nurturing family. 

Our Values

Integrity Imagination Boldness Kindness Gratefulness Joyfulness

A nationally-recognized and accredited 501(c)3 non-profit located in Fayetteville, GA, Bloom connects the community to evidence-based, outcome-driven programs that support and strengthen the lives of vulnerable children and their families.

Our programs are based upon the conviction that….

Each child is an individual, with the right to the kind of care that meets his/her needs regardless of sex, race, creed, national origin or social circumstance.

It is important to preserve and strengthen the child’s relationship with family members, when possible.

Each youth has a right to stability, security, continuity, and a plan for permanence.

OUR HISTORY

Bloom has been helping children since 1986.

1986

Bloom (formerly known as Fayette Youth Protection Homes) was founded by local resident and airline pilot Jim Friday. After serving on the jury of a domestic violence case, Jim became concerned when he discovered there was no safe place to shelter child abuse victims in the area besides a youth detention facility. Jim spearheaded a grassroots movement in Fayette County to offer abused children a safe place to live. Jim and a small group of citizens incorporated as the Fayette Youth Protection Home and began plans to raise funds to build a safe place to live for child abuse victims.

1989

The organization’s first group home, the Jim Friday Home, opened its doors in August of 1989. With accommodations for up to 12 children, the home would offer refuge to hundreds of children in need.

1998

Bloom broke ground on a second residential group home in Brooks, GA.  With the opening of the Asden Johnson Home in August of 1998, program capacity doubled. The Johnson Home was similar in design to the Friday Home and provided shelter for children ages 6 through 17.

2007

Bloom created the Bloom Foster Parent Program to recruit, train, and oversee foster families. Bloom became licensed to recruit, train and support a network of family foster care homes to serve children of all ages.

2009

Bloom Executive Director, Becky Davenport, started up a free clothing resource center called The Bloom Closet in the office basement.

2013

SMC3 donated an 8,000 square foot building located at 150 Marquis Dr., Fayetteville, GA to Bloom which became the headquarters for The Bloom Closet.

2015

Bloom became licensed to serve medically fragile and therapeutic foster children, as well as pregnant (or parenting) teen girls living in foster care.

2017

Bloom launched a new program, called “Bloom University,” which trains and equips foster families to care for traumatized children.

2019

Bloom’s Foster Parenting program provided homes for more than 100 abused and neglected children, and over 4,500 foster children traveled to The Bloom Closet from 90 Georgia counties to receive free clothing and supplies.
After running a successful capital campaign, Bloom opened a Volunteer & Donation Center around the corner from The Bloom Closet.

2021

Bloom purchased and launched The Bloom Closet Express, a 20’ fashion delivery truck, in order to reach foster children living in underserved areas of the state.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board, consisting of individuals representing a wide array of industries, governs the Bloom organization. These individuals volunteer their time and talent to oversee the continued operation of Bloom. They also work directly with management to determine policy and future programs for the organization. Their function is to protect and enhance Bloom’s capacity to serve the community.

OFFICERS

Chair Person
Mayor Vince Williams 

Vice-Chair
Stephen Porter

Secretary
Angie Wright-Rheaves

Treasurer
Normer Adams

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Eric Arnold
Heidi Becker
Rep. Josh Bonner
Dan Bradfield
Tim Fosnough
Jeff Giglio
Cory Hewett
Becky Mautner
Erick McReynolds
Courtney Oldenburg
Jason Pace
Emily Poole
Deena Seckinger

BLOOM STAFF

BECKY DAVENPORT

President & CEO

NANCY CONNERAT

Director of Finance & Administration

MIKE TYRE

Chief Marketing Officer

STEPHANIE KING

Director of Development

CRISTIE WILT

Marketing & Development Coordinator

GOSHA SCHULTHEIS

Administrative Assistant

KRISTIN MELTON

Grants Manager

MELISSA BASS

Human Resources

FOSTER CARE

PAMELLA TALLEY, MPA

Director of Foster Care Services

MEAGAN BELLA

Recruitment & Licensing Manager

STEPHANIE HAWKINS, MSW

Family Consultant Supervisor

KATIE NEW, MSW

Bloom University Clinical Director

SHENIKA FRETT SPANN

Licensing Specialist

REBECCA PENNELL

Family Engagement Specialist

JENNIFER RAMSAY

Foster Care Event Specialist

TIARA POTTER

Family Consultant

ELISE VOLK

Family Consultant

SCOTT WILLIAMS, JR., MSW

Family Consultant

CHRISTOPHER HAMILTON-WILSON, MSW

Family Consultant

ASHLEY BROWN

Family Consultant

SHAKEIRA TAYLOR

Family Consultant

DENISE JOHNSON, MPA

Family Resource Center Manager

THE BLOOM CLOSET

GINA LICWINKO

Director of Operations

LAUREN WYATT

Community Engagement Specialist

BRITTANY ANDERSON

Volunteer Coordinator

LEAH HOLDER

Donations Center Coordinator

EMILY ROWLAND

Lead Store Associate

MATISON MCDANIEL

Bloom Express Coordinator

SUSAN SNELL

Store Associate

KATIE FUESTER

Donations Associate

MARIANN GEBHART

Program Associate

SUSAN WALTON

Donations Associate

MORGAN GARNER

Program Associate

Program Accreditation

Bloom’s foster care program is licensed by the Georgia Department of Human Services and nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation.

Normer Adams – Board President, Becky Davenport – Bloom President & CEO, Pamella Talley – Foster Care Services Director

ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Nationally accredited in 2021 by the Council on Accreditation, an independent, not-for-profit accreditor of the full continuum of community-based behavioral health care and social service organizations in the U.S. and Canada with over 2,000 accredited organizations.

Together Georgia’s “Most Outstanding Foster Care Agency in Georgia” Award for 2017-2018

Darkness to Light Partner in Prevention™ distinction for 2017-2018

Bloom Foster parents, Lanell & Andrew Wilkins, awarded with Together Georgia’s Foster Parents of the Year Award for 2016

Bloom Foster Parenting program maintains an “A+” rating by Department of Human Services for excellence in program delivery

We are a MAAC Contract Provider

Awarded 2019 Nonprofit Award of Excellence by Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Becky Davenport, Bloom President & CEO, awarded the Carolyn Cary Dreambuilder award for her work with Bloom.

Bloom Commended for 30 Years of Service to Georgia’s Foster Children

Named a Chick-fil-A® 2022 True Inspiration Awards™ recipient, Regional Category, Southeast

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

In order to be considered for one of our open position, please complete an application by clicking on one of the job openings below. All applications require the submission of a cover letter and resume.

 

FOSTER CARE FAMILY CONSULTANT

b

FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

b

FOSTER CARE INTAKE SPECIALIST

b

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

b

DONATIONS CENTER COORDINATOR, THE BLOOM CLOSET

b

Annual Reports

“Fostering has been one of the most rewarding experiences we could ever ask for. The children that have come into our care have not only become a part of our family, but also our hearts. As foster parents, we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to provide a loving, nurturing, and safe environment for children in need. There is nothing more precious than seeing the smile on the face of a child for the first time, it brings us so much joy and happiness.”
SHARDE AND AARON, BLOOM FOSTER PARENTS

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Bloom
150 Marquis Dr.
Fayetteville, GA 30214

Bloom Volunteer & Donation Center
115 Marquis Dr.
Fayetteville, GA 30214