Spaulding for Children is a multi-faceted organization that provides help to children who wait the longest for permanency and support services for their adoptive, foster and kinship families. Spaulding for Children, a private, non-profit child welfare agency was established in 1968 when several entities, each seeking a way to make life better for children without families, joined together. One of these entities was Warren Spaulding, an elderly gentleman farmer who donated his farmhouse and surrounding land to establish Spaulding’s first office. Spaulding’s founders had a dream that all children are adoptable, without regard to their age, race or disability. On Sunday, February 4, 1968 Spaulding for Children was officially established with the signing of its articles. Harr, the executive director of Spaulding,
held an “open inquiry meeting” for anyone interested in adoption. By September, Spaulding had completed its first adoption. The Spaulding home was built in 1872 by Dennis Spaulding, father of Warren
The Spaulding home was built in 1872 by Dennis Spaulding, father of Warren
From these beginnings, Spaulding has become internationally acclaimed for its pioneering work in the field of special needs adoption. The Agency has provided training and consultation to professionals in England, Scotland, South Africa and throughout the United States of America and Canada. In 1985, Spaulding was designated as the site for the National Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption because of its contributions to the field. Since then, over 100,000 additional people have been trained in Spaulding’s methods and philosophy. Spaulding continuously develops and disseminates new training curricula, publications, and training videos that set the standard for special needs adoption practice worldwide.
