Second Ward City Commissioner to Serve in New Position for KidsFirst Program

Grand Rapids Michigan, August 24, 2006 – Child advocate and Second Ward City Commissioner Rosalynn Bliss has joined St. John’s Home’s as the new program manager for its KidsFirst program.

In her new role with the agency, Bliss will be responsible for program development, quality assurance, staff supervision
and development for its KidsFirst program.  KidsFirst provides emergency shelter care annually for approximately 700
children of all ages in Kent County who are removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.

“We are extremely pleased to add someone of Rosalynn’s caliber to the KidsFirst team at St. John’s Home,” said
KidsFirst Director Kevin DeKam. “Her experience aligns perfectly with our goals to continue serving the needs of
abused and neglected children, as well as increasing our assessment and case-planning capabilities.

“Her experience in program development and evaluation, her expertise in the area of trauma and child maltreatment,
and her reputation as a consummate professional committed to serving the needs of our community’s children make
Rosalynn the perfect choice for this position.”

Bliss, who was elected to serve a four-year term on the Grand Rapids City Commission in 2005, brings nearly a decade
of social work experience to her new position.  Prior to joining St. John’s, Bliss served as director of prevention services
for the Child and Family Resource Council, where she was responsible for the organization’s child abuse prevention
programs and staff.

Additionally, she has served as a medical social worker for the DeVos Children’s Hospital Child Protection Team and as
an education specialist for Kent County’s Child and Family Resource Council.

Active in the community, Bliss serves as co-chair of the Kent County Domestic Violence Community Coordinated
Response Team, president of the Michigan Professional Society for the Abuse of Children and co-chair of the Body
Safety Task Force.  She is also a member of the West Michigan Community Critical Incidence Stress Management
Team, the National Association of Social Workers, Kent County Advocacy Coalition and the Kent County Sexual
Assault Prevention Action Team.

She has received awards for her work with children and women, including the Christine Nelson Service to Children
award.

A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Bliss graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama with a bachelor or arts
degree in psychology and criminal justice. She also holds a master’s degree in social work from Michigan State
University.

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Michelle Hoexum
St. John’s Home, 616.361.5227
or
Mary Ann Sabo
Sabo Public Relations, 616.485.1432

About St. John’s Home
St. John’s Home is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based nonprofit, nondenominational agency that provides a variety of award-winning services for
troubled children and teenagers throughout West Michigan. Since its founding in 1889, St. John’s has served more than 10,000 boys and girls
through a variety of programs, including in-house residential treatment, emergency shelter through KidsFirst, foster care through Host Homes
and adolescent substance abuse treatment through Discovery.