Allendale Mission
We understand that kids need more than a safe haven from a life of crisis, trauma and neglect. That’s why we champion their best interests – empowering each of them to transcend their circumstances – with positive support and consistent, ongoing guidance. We believe everyone deserves a healthy childhood, a caring family, and a chance to learn, grow and change course. Allendale is a place where kids have the opportunity to restore their lives and discover a better future. We believe in every kid until they can believe in themselves.
Founded in 1897, Allendale is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to excellence and innovation in the care, treatment, education and advocacy for families, children and youth with serious emotional, mental and behavioral health challenges.
Allendale Values
We look upon our youth and families with compassion, patience, tolerance and understanding.
Safety
Everything begins with ensuring the safety of our clients, our families, and our teams.
Connections
We are dedicated to developing and strengthening CONNECTIONS within families as we assist in linking them to supportive resources and structures. All KIDS need a circle of people that surrounds them to provide guidance, support and comfort.
Voice
Our clients have a voice in their recovery. We support empathic and compassionate listening – free from judgment or blame – so we may thoroughly understand how to best support children and families in meeting their unique needs and achieving their individualized goals.
Learning
As an organization, Allendale is committed to providing ongoing learning opportunities that help increase knowledge, skills and understanding.
Innovation
Developing resiliency is a very personal and dynamic process. At Allendale, we offer every chance for healing and growth – through evidence-based, trauma-informed programs, innovative services across our continuum of care.
Empowerment
Allendale gives kids and their families possibilities – to realign and alter the direction of their lives, to rise above their personal challenges, and to discover a better future. It’s the invaluable chance to eclipse a path of pain, abuse and heartache. It’s the life-changing gift to reset and chart a brand-new course together – to achieve mutual respect, prepare to face and overcome obstacles together, and begin to build successful relationships and purposeful lives.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Diversity, equity & inclusion at Allendale is about enhancing the work we feel compelled to do for those we serve. A standing committee of staff from every department at Allendale meet monthly to audit, develop and support DEI practices at Allendale for staff, youth and families. Our goal is to ensure all in our community have equitable access to high quality services and feel a sense of true belonging to the Allendale community.
View Allendale's complete 2021-2024 Strategic Plan here.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement
Allendale believes that diversity of perspectives, as well as the cultural diversity of staff, foster families, volunteers, and the Board of Trustees strengthens our ability to achieve the mission and vision of the agency. Diversity enables Allendale to live our core values of safety, connection, voice, learning, innovation, and empowerment.
Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of all that we do here at Allendale. It is fundamental to achieving our mission to serve children and their families, impacting goals in the care, treatment, education and advocacy for children and youth with serious emotional, mental, and behavioral health challenges.
Allendale achieves diversity through active recruitment, retention, and inclusion of staff, foster parents, volunteers, and board members, as well as through active conversation and idea sharing.
Allendale is committed to being a leader in the health and human services, and special education that meets the needs of our diverse community of children, adolescents, and families. It is our belief that our staff, foster families, volunteers, and Board of Trustees should reflect the community we serve to best understand and support their needs and goals.