FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 6, 2009

Contact: Dana Jacob

800-837-5591

Starr Commonwealth acquires Children’s Home of Detroit

Starr to carry on legacy of Children’s Home

GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MI – Starr Commonwealth and Children’s Home of Detroit have agreed to continue the Children’s Home’s 172-year history of serving children and families. The acquisition, effective Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, makes it possible for the Children’s Home of Detroit’s mission to live on while allowing Starr to expand its presence in southeastern Michigan.

Children’s Home of Detroit closed its residential program in November 2008. Its Board of Trustees voted to transfer the organization’s Grosse Pointe Woods and Warren campuses to Starr Commonwealth, a nonprofit children and family services organization headquartered in Albion, Michigan.

“In our long-term strategic planning, we had identified Starr Commonwealth as a gold standard provider of services for children and families and a suitable candidate for affiliation to continue to our own tradition of serving children and families,” said Bruce Vande Vusse, President of the Board of Trustees for Children’s Home of Detroit. “In the challenging and evolving environment now confronting agencies like ours, we look forward to working with Starr Commonwealth to discover and deliver the highest quality and effective services that can be delivered to make a positive impact on children and their families.”

Starr currently manages the care of 600 children daily in Wayne County through an existing collaborative partnership organization called StarrVista, and operates five sites throughout Michigan and Ohio that provide transformational programs for youth, families, schools and communities.

“We are proud that the Children’s Home of Detroit is entrusting Starr Commonwealth with their rich legacy of caring for children and families,” said Martin L. Mitchell, Starr Commonwealth President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to continuing their work as we pursue early intervention and prevention services, community-based programming and possibly residential alternatives.”

Mitchell further stated, “With the current economic crisis being experienced in the State of Michigan and across the country, the demand for children’s services will surely increase. Coupled with that, however, is the reality of shrinking resources, so it is therefore imperative that we think through carefully how to best use the CHD assets in service to children and families. We expect that there will be very creative and positive ways to continue the rich traditions of Children’s Home of Detroit.”

Currently there are no residential programs operated on the Cook Road campus. As Starr evaluates programming options, the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) will continue to operate with Dr. William Steele overseeing that program.

“Our legacy of having a profound impact on children’s lives will now continue well into the future with Starr Commonwealth who for 90 years, have themselves, created positive environments where children flourish,” said Steele, Executive Director of Children’s Home of Detroit. “We are excited that with Starr we will offer a full array of services for at-risk children in the southeastern Michigan area.”

Starr Commonwealth and Children’s Home will evaluate what programs may be possible at the Grosse Pointe Campus during the next few months, and local community organizations and community leaders will be engaged in the process.

Starr Commonwealth is internationally recognized as a leader in transformational programs for children, families, schools and communities. Founded in 1913, Starr’s treatment philosophy is rooted in seeing something good in every child, which serves as the guiding principle in its strength-based approach. Starr offers a full spectrum of community-based early intervention and prevention services along with specialized residential programs. Through the Starr Institute of Training, parents, clinicians, educators and childcare professionals now have access to Starr’s highly successful and innovative techniques aimed at bringing out the best in every child. For more information, visit www.starr.org.

For more information about Starr Commonwealth and its programs and services, please call 800-837-5591 or visit www.starr.org.