Our Story

In 1998

A young boy needed help that simply did not exist. Removed from his home by court order, he had health needs too complex for traditional foster care but not severe enough to qualify for a medical placement. Institutionalization seemed inevitable — until a group of concerned foster parents, guardians ad litem, and committed community members stepped forward to care for him. From that single act of compassion, Grandma’s Place was born.

In the years since, children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned — including many with disabilities and developmental delays — have had a safe, loving place to land. What began in a leased home in Loxahatchee has grown into a dedicated facility in the Village of Royal Palm Beach, opened in September 2004. Today, we serve children from birth through age 12, with a capacity of 16 children, accepting emergency placements seven days a week.

Our name has a story, too. In our early years, our house mother was Bessie Gordon — Grandma Bessie, as the children called her. She was the heart and soul of the home: warm, nurturing, firm when she needed to be, and beloved by every child who sat at her table. She cooked for them, cared for them, and made them feel like they belonged. We became Grandma’s Place in her honor — and in her spirit, that’s exactly what we still are.

In October 2017, with generous support from the Youth Services Department of the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners and the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, we launched our Family Support Program. This initiative expanded our reach to include enriched respite care for children with special needs and meaningful support services for their parents and caregivers.