Blossom Philadelphia closing at end of the year

Blossom Philadelphia, which last year lost its license to operate residences for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, will close its remaining operations by Dec. 31, the Chestnut Hill nonprofit said in a letter to families.

The agency, which still operates day programs for adults and children with intellectual disabilities, declined to comment or say how many clients it has.

Pennsylvania regulators revoked Blossom's residents license last October after finding "gross incompetence" in Blossom's management of 32 group homes with 89 residents at the time. At the end of last year, the state transferred care of Blossom's clients to new operators.

During the transition, a resident at one of Blossom's group homes died after being given a slice of pizza the day before even though he was on a doctor-ordered diet of pureed food only.

The undated letter to families from Blossom's interim chief executive and the president of its board said Blossom examined numerous options that might have allowed it to remain in business, including "reductions in staff, changing our business model and location, aggressively reducing expenses, and even considered opportunities with other agencies."

Blossom, which used to be known as United Cerebral Palsy Association of Philadelphia, said it "will work diligently toward an orderly transition of our clients to other providers."

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services said Blossom serves about 150 in its adult training facility, 41 children in the Montgomery County Infant Toddler Early Intervention program that serves infants to the age of 3, and 347 children in the Elwyn Early Intervention program that services children ages 3 to 5 within the Philadelphia School District.